Showing posts with label best. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

SOFT FOODS

After my gum surgery on Monday, I can't say that I have been enjoying my 'soft foods' diet. I have ben eating too much yogurt and too much cottage cheese. I was supposed to stay away from hot foods for a couple of days. Me thinks I am ready to add oatmeal to my diet now. Tuesday started with an appointment in Chicago. Afterwards, I drove back home to squeeze in a five mile urban hike and then headed to Indiana to be in place for a 9:00AM Eastern Time Appointment in a small town about 45 minutes east of Lafayette.

Here's the thing about taking the time to squeeze in a five mile urban hike. It takes just a bit over an hour. The time needed for a one hour workout at a gym is elongated by the time necessary to get to the gym, change clothes, workout and then get to wherever you are going next. A five mile walk from home starts the moment you step outside. As the winter months settle in, I may consider a gym membership, but for now I am sticking with my outdoor walking.

Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Dannon Light & Fit - Vanilla Yogurt	440	80	0	28	460	52
Vita Coco - Pure Coconut Water	180	44	0	0	300	44
Ground Beef - Taco Meat	150	0	12	10	40	0
	770	124	12	38	800	96
L U N C H
Roundy's Cottage Cheese Small Curd	320	20	0	52	1,800	16
Classic Bread Stuffing	100	12	5	2	438	2
	420	32	5	54	2,238	18
D I N N E R
Roundy's Cottage Cheese Small Curd	320	20	0	52	1,800	16
Vita Coco - Pure Coconut Water	180	44	0	0	300	44
	500	64	0	52	2,100	60
S N A C K S
Lucerne - Frozen Fudge Bar, 4 bar	400	84	4	12	220	80
	400	84	4	12	220	80

Totals	2,090	304	21	156	5,358	254
Your Daily Goal	2,857	357	95	143	2,300	107
Remaining	767	53	74	-13	-3,058	-147
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 927 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today... You'd weigh 216.3 lbs in 5 weeks.

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Saturday, January 21, 2017

INAUGURATION DAY YESTERDAY

Yesterday the 45th President of the United States of America was inaugurated. The direction of the country has been spun around a full 180°. Lefties everywhere are going nuts. Righties, like me, everywhere are celebrating. OK, Mr. President, now the real work begins. You have made a believer out of me. I actually think that you are going to try to be a different type of leader and that you really care about being judged by your accomplishments, not by your soaring rhetoric. This is good, because soaring rhetoric is not your strong point. You are known for speaking clearly. Right on cue, the lefties all dismissed your inaugural speech. Me? I loved it. No soaring rhetoric. Just plain spoken words. Words that can be understood by everyone (except over-educated, indoctrinated, mind-numbed robots in the universities). Still today, I am talking about a different inauguration.

Today, I am going to re-inaugurate the healthier lifestyle which I professed to discover a couple of years ago and have turned away from over the past days, weeks and months. I weighed myself today and I checked in at 244 lbs. (Yes, I can even now, still take some solace as I remember that I used to be 309 lbs.) This rationalization is becoming harder and harder to mollify myself. In fact, it no longer can mollify me at all. I am disgusted with myself. Today I am inaugurating a return to a time when every decision made to stick something in my mouth, is carefully considered. I do not intend to return to the 1000 calorie days of two years ago, but I will try to keep the calorie count under 2000. Just as the voters turned the country around by electing Donald Trump, my mind is going to turn myself around by electing to be a bit smarter in my dietary choices. This starts now. Today. That was my inaugural day speech.

Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Instant Oatmeal- Maple	800	160	10	20	1,300	60
Generic - Cinamon Roll	400	46	22	4	280	23
	1,200	206	32	24	1,580	83
L U N C H
Cracker Chips Sour Cream and Onion, 2 packages	240	44	8	4	460	4
Sanwich Artisan Smoked Turkey Chedder	700	74	21	50	2,047	4
	940	118	29	54	2,507	8
D I N N E R
Stuffed Cabbage	825	30	60	77	2,517	3
Pepperidge Farm - Sourdough Bread	300	55	4	10	550	5
	1,125	85	64	87	3,067	8



Totals	3,265	409	125	165	7,154	99
Your Daily Goal	3,011	376	100	151	2,300	113
Remaining	-254	-33	-25	-14	-4,854	14
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,081 extra calories from exercise today

Your Exercise Diary for:

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
FIVE MILE URBAN HIKE	69	934


Daily Total / Goal	69 / 30	934 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	166 / 210	1,710 / 4,130

CONGRATULATIONS, PRESIDENT OBAMA ON BEING DECLARED 5th BEST PRESIDENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY. QUITE AN ACHIEVEMENT! (and this assessment was made after only his first five years in office!)

Thursday, May 26, 2016

SUPERDAWG®

Earlier during this academic school year, our daughter with 23 other classmates, made a trip to France and each stayed in the home of a family in Paris. Each of the 24 students from Lincoln Park Elementary School stayed in various homes sprinkled around a Paris neighborhood. This week it is time for the American families to return the favor. We have hosted a delightful young woman since last Friday (although I only met her on Monday when I returned home from Salt Lake City) During the school day when my daughter Sara is studying at school, the visitors from Paris have been checking out some of the more expected sights in Chicago. Our job is to give the visitors a taste of Chicago that they might not get from that experience. We decided that an iconic hot dog stand that has been a beacon to hot dog lovers since 1948 might be a worthwhile place to visit. Since I do not feel comfortable posting photos of someone else's child without their parents' permission, I don't have a photo of my daughter with her 'correspondant' (as they are referred to by her French teacher) I hope that our guest enjoyed this particular trip off the beaten path. At the very least, I know I did - and I must admit I cannot remember the last time I visited this iconic Chicago landmark.

Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bar - Oats'n Honey	190	29	7	3	180	11
Egg, whole, cooked, poached, 3 large	215	1	14	19	446	1
Bacon Style Turkey, 4 slices	140	2	12	8	600	0
Red Delicious Apple, 2 medium apple (170g)	190	50	1	1	4	38
	735	82	34	31	1,229	49
L U N C H
SUBWAY FOOTLONG FRESH FIT - 9-GRAIN WHEAT BREAD ROAST BEEF (no cheese) MUSTARD, 1 FOOTLONG	640	90	10	48	1,400	14
Apples - Apples, 2 medium apple	160	44	0	0	0	32
Kellogs - Nutrigrain Bar - Strawberry, 1 Bar	130	25	4	2	117	12
	930	159	14	50	1,517	58
D I N N E R
Superdawg - Hot Dog W/Fries, 1 Serving	690	71	43	19	1,640	0
	690	71	43	19	1,640	0



Totals	2,355	312	90	99	4,386	107
Your Daily Goal	2,705	338	90	136	2,300	101
Remaining	350	25	0	36	-2,086	-6
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 775 extra calories from exercise today

Your Exercise Diary for:

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
MATRIX TREADMILL	99	899
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-124


Daily Total / Goal	100 / 30	775 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	266 / 210	2,895 / 4,130

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THIS WAS LIFTED DIRECTLY FROM superdawg.com

In May of 1948, Superdawg® was established at the corner of Milwaukee, Devon and Nagle in Chicago. Superdawg® continues to be family owned and operated in the same location today.

Maurie Berman, a recently returned G.I. from World War II, married his high school sweetheart Florence (Flaurie), in August of 1947. Maurie was attending Northwestern University, studying to be a CPA, while recent Northwestern grad Flaurie was teaching in the Chicago Public Schools. With their "school-year" schedules, the newlyweds wanted to open a business that they could operate during the summer months. Many other returning G.I.'s were opening roadside hot dog carts and Maurie and Flaurie decided to open their own roadside hot dog stand, one that would be as unique and distinctive as they were.

Maurie designed an architecturally distinct, 20' x 12' building topped with two 12 foot hot dog icons to beckon hungry passersby with their winking and blinking eyes. Maurie and Flaurie then created a proprietary, secret recipe to set themselves apart from the other hot dog stands popping up around the city. With a distinctive look and delicious recipe, they were almost ready to open. All they needed was a name. Inspired by the superheroes featured in the newly-created, popular comics of the '40's, Maurie and Flaurie named their signature product and restaurant. It was not a wiener — not a frankfurter — not a red hot — but their own exclusive SUPERDAWG™.

In 1948, Milwaukee and Devon was the end of the streetcar line. With the forest preserve and Whealan Pool across the street, the area was a great destination for swimming families and cruisin' teens. Kids could ride the streetcar for a nickel, and stop at Superdawg® where a Superdawg™ sandwich and drink cost only 32 cents. Many times, on their way home, they would stop and ask what they could buy for a dime. If they were a few cents short, Maurie and Flaurie would give them what they wanted and told them to bring the money back the next time they stopped, which they never failed to do.
In 1950 Maurie passed the CPA exam, but he and Flaurie decided to keep operating Superdawg® and to open year-round in order to retain the outstanding personnel that had become so invaluable to fulfilling the Superdawg® ideals. When Superdawg® first opened, the electronic speaker system had not been invented. Carhops went out to the cars to take orders and customers signaled that they were ready for their trays to be picked up by turning on their headlights. In the early 1950's the "carhop in a wire" electronic speaker system was installed, and Maurie designed the glowing blue "control tower" where the carhop sits to answer the switchboard and take orders. As Superdawg® grew into a successful business, Maurie and Flaurie found time to raise their family of three children (although not on Whoopercheesies® alone).

Throughout the years, small changes have been made to the menu, like the addition of the Whoopskidawg® in 1989 and the Superchic™ in 1991. However, the Superdawg™ recipe, the original trademark figures (continuing to flirtatiously wink at each other), and the drive-in concept have not changed. Customers can still order from their car and have a carhop deliver their order on a tray. Maurie and Flaurie's attention to quality products and service, preparing each customer's meal to order, affirming the belief that the customer is always right, and insisting that the customer should always be treated as family continues today.

In 1999, Superdawg® underwent a makeover while retaining the original building and spirit. The classic '40's drive-in was updated with the addition of neon-studded canopies across the parking lot, a crisp new speaker system and a cozy, indoor dining room. The original rooftop figures were refurbished so that they can continue to serve as a Chicago landmark for years to come.

In May of 2009 ground was broken for a second location 11 miles north on Milwaukee Avenue in Wheeling, IL. Every effort was taken to recreate the look and feel of the Milwaukee and Devon location. The blue tower, the canopies on the parking lot along with the ordering speakers, the neon and diamonds along the building and canopies, the tile inside and most importantly, the trademark Maurie and Flaurie figures on the roof all were painstakingly incorporated into the plans. Much of the equipment was custom built as well. Over the next six months, anticipation grew for a new Superdawg to open. In January, 2010, Maurie, Flaurie and the rest of the family were proud to say, "HIYA!!...From the bottom of our pure beef hearts, Thanks for stopping" in Wheeling.
Since 1948, Maurie, Flaurie, their children and grandchildren have scrupulously adhered to one goal: "always to serve you in a manner that will make you want to return – and bring your friends, and new generations, with you".

From the bottom of our pure beef hearts... THANKS FOR STOPPING®.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

ELLIPTICAL MACHINE

It is weird that during the 6 weeks or so that I was on the 'dl' (disabled list) with my hernia problem - the elliptical machine in the fitness room of my building has been broken. The left handle completely came off the unit. In fact, I was the last person to use the machine before it was completely out of order. When I returned home from Salt Lake City - with the permission of my surgeon to return to normal life - the machine was finally fixed. One might wonder why it takes 6 weeks to fix a broken piece of fitness equipment. This downtime probably would have disturbed me much more if I had been actually affected by its downtime, but I wasn't. Yesterday, I used the elliptical machine for the first time in 6 weeks. Since that machine uses different muscles than simply treadmilling or hiking - I think I did feel a good healthy soreness during the day while I was working. It was a great feeling. Now that summer is here - I will have any of three options available to me. Walking outdoors, treadmilling or elliptical machining. As I wrote yesterday - It is good to be back!

Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Egg, whole, cooked, poached, 3 large	215	1	14	19	446	1
Butterball - Bacon Style Turkey, 4 slices	140	2	12	8	600	0
Sage - Red Delicious Apple, 2 medium apple	190	50	1	1	4	38
Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bar - Oats'n Honey	190	29	7	3	180	11
	735	82	34	31	1,229	49
L U N C H
SUBWAY FOOTLONG FRESH FIT - 9-GRAIN WHEAT BREAD ROAST BEEF (no cheese) MUSTARD, 1 FOOTLONG	640	90	10	48	1,400	14
Apples - Apples, 2 medium apple	160	44	0	0	0	32
Kellogs - Nutrigrain Bar - Strawberry, 1 Bar	130	25	4	2	117	12
	930	159	14	50	1,517	58
D I N N E R
EARTHBOUND FARM - ORGANIC BABY SPINACH, 170 g (approx 3 oz, two cups)	40	0	0	4	130	0
Tomatoes - Cherry Tomatoes	24	0	0	0	0	3
Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich, 1 sandwich	540	46	27	25	700	2
Campbell's - Condensed Tomato Soup, 1 cup (120mL)	180	40	0	4	960	24
	784	86	27	33	1,790	29



Totals	2,449	327	74	113	4,536	136
Your Daily Goal	2,989	373	99	150	2,300	112
Remaining	540	45	24	36	-2,236	-24
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 1,059 extra calories from exercise today

Your Exercise Diary for:

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	92	1,167
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-108
Add Exercise Quick Tools

Daily Total / Goal	93 / 30	1,059 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	166 / 210	2,119 / 4,130

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Tuesday, May 3, 2016

SNACKED

Snacking is something that I so successfully avoided when my weight initially dropped from 309 lbs down to about 220 lbs. Over the past few weeks I have recently put back on about 20 of those pounds. It is an understatement that the recent level of inactivity due to the hernia for the past 5 weeks have not been helpful to me. Now that the surgery is behind me, I am anticipating spending more and more time burning some calories and being much more active. While it remains true that one cannot undo poorly chosen ingested calories on a treadmill or elliptical machine - it is still a better hobby than sitting on a couch and snacking. Yesterday I 'snacked' and I couldn't be more pleased. It is because I broke my personal record on WORDS WITH FRIENDS. My previous highest point total for one word was 'minivans' which earned 197 points. My new record on WORDS WITH FRIENDS is 'SNACKED' which earned 218 points. There is some kind of cosmic irony that this is the word that is likely to remain my personal record for quite some time. It took me more than 2 years to best the previous record that I had scored with 'minivans.' What is your highest word score?

new personal record Words with Friends - 218 points

Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Malt-o-meal Cereal - Honey Nut Scooters	360	72	5	9	630	27
Sage - Red Delicious Apple, 1 medium apple	95	25	0	1	2	19
3 Egg Omelette - Ham and Cheese, 1 Omelette	400	1	30	40	1,225	0
	855	98	35	50	1,857	46
L U N C H
Havarti - Costco Dofino - Cheese	110	1	9	6	210	0
Pepperidge Farm - Sourdough Bread	240	44	3	8	440	4
Cabbage Soup	100	10	0	2	79	6
	450	55	12	16	729	10
D I N N E R
Pizza Hut - Personal Pepperoni Pizza	630	67	29	25	1,590	7
	630	67	29	25	1,590	7
S N A C K S
Hershey - York Peppermint Patty	140	31	3	1	10	25
Apples - Apples, 2 medium apple	160	44	0	0	0	32
	300	75	3	1	10	57

Totals	2,235	295	79	92	4,185	120
Your Daily Goal	2,276	284	76	114	2,300	85
Remaining	41	-10	-2	22	-1,885	-34
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 346 extra calories from exercise today

Your Exercise Diary for:

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
MATRIX TREADMILL	79	512
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-166


Daily Total / Goal	80 / 30	346 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	80 / 210	346 / 4,130

Tuesday was the first day since my laparoscopic hernia surgery that I attempted (and succeeded) to have an actual cardio workout. It was not the most vigorous workout that I had ever had - but it was not nothing. As per doctors orders I have removed plastic bandages over the two incision spots on my abdominal area. My followup appointment with the surgeon has been scheduled for Friday the 13th in about two weeks time. I am on my way back.

FIRST SESSION: 65 MINUTES, 4mph, 4.35 miles, 387 calories

SECOND SESSION: 13:24 MINUTES, 4.5mph, 1 mile, 125 calories