REASONS TO EXERCISE ASIDE FROM WEIGHT LOSS

Yesterday, I stumbled on an article from a website, popsugar.com written by Leta Shy and published on November 19, 2015. I have known for quite a while that exercise contributes just a small fraction of what is required for successful weight loss. Still, I have definitely 'bought in' to the idea that exercise is essential to a happy healthy life.  The article by Leta Shy listed these six benefits:

1. MORE ENERGY
2. DISEASE PREVENTION
3. MOOD BOOST
4. BETTER SLEEP
5. INCREASED PAIN TOLERANCE
6. BETTER BRAIN FUNCTION

I thought I would comment a bit on each of these benefits. It seems counter-intuitive that exercise would make one feel more energetic. Nevertheless, it is true.  Disease prevention is easy to understand. Exercise strengthens one's heart muscle. And it would be very difficult to imagine a more important muscle to have working at optimum efficiency. Many people have heard about 'runners high.'  It turns out that this is real. A workout will release endorphins into your bloodstream and these simply will put you in a better mood. I do know that on a day that I miss exercising, I am not quite as cheerful as I like to be. It is very intuitive that exercising can improve one's sleep. Although, exercising can give you more energy during the day, it is true that when it is time to shut down, sleep comes more easily and can be more restful. The author, also claimed that regular exercise can lead to increased pain tolerance. I am not so sure that I can fully buy into this particular premise. I still find the pain of something as simple as a paper cut to be excruciating. And finally, the author claims that exercise can improve brain function. The claim is that that same endorphins that increase you mood can also help clear your mind and help you think better. 

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Your Food Diary For:

Friday, February 26, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
3 Egg Omelette - Ham and Cheese, 0.67 Omelette	268	1	20	27	821	0
Malt O Meal - Honey Nut Scooters, 60 g	240	48	3	6	420	18
International Delight - Single Creamers	120	20	6	0	0	20
Fiber One - Fiber One Bar, Oats & Chocolate, 2 bar	280	58	8	4	180	20
	908	127	37	37	1,421	58
L U N C H
YOGURT PRETZELS	380	56	16	4	360	38
HYVEE - HUGE SPINACH SALAD	750	0	0	0	0	0
Red Delicious - Apple, Large, 3	333	88	1	2	6	66
Add Food	1,463	144	17	6	366	104
D I N N E R
Spaghetti With Meat Sauce	480	126	3	21	0	0
DATE PIECES	300	75	0	3	25	55
	780	201	3	24	25	55
S N A C K S
Banana Chip	300	34	20	2	0	20
	300	34	20	2	0	20
Totals	3,451	506	77	68	1,812	237
Your Daily Goal	5,598	700	186	280	2,300	210
Remaining	2,147	194	108	212	488	-27
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 3,668 extra calories from exercise today

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Your Exercise Diary for:

Friday, February 26, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	92	2,187
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	92	1,750
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-269
Daily Total / Goal	185 / 30	3,668 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	883 / 210	13,284 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 3451 calories

total calories burned (elliptical-3 HOURS) 3937 calories

total net 486 calorie deficit

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fitbit day 177

22375 steps  

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SATURDAY WEIGHT 228.3 lbs

down slightly from last week...I'll take it...

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THE WIZARD OF OZ

Yesterday morning, my walk took me to and through Oz Park in the Lincoln Park section of Chicago. The author of 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' was L. Frank Baum who wrote that book while he lived at 1667 N. Humboldt Blvd in 1900.  The home where Baum lived was long since razed although a modest historical marker serves as a reminder.

Not far from where Baum lived is Oz Park.  Oz Park is a beautiful park nestled in the Lincoln Park section of Chicago and it is the home to 4 statues commemorating the four major characters from 'The Wizard of Oz'

The weather was a 'balmy' 40°F when I set out yesterday morning.

OZ PARK - CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT

Your Food Diary For:

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Quaker - Rice Cake - Buttered Popcorn, 14 cake (9g)	490	112	0	14	630	0
Kind Healthy Grains Dark Chocolate bar (35g)	150	23	5	2	70	8
Michigan Apples - red delicious apple, 2 large	260	68	0	2	0	50
General Mills - Kix Cereal, 2.5 cup	220	50	2	4	360	6
	1,120	253	7	22	1,060	64
L U N C H
Wow Bao - Thai Herb Broth , 320 g	40	4	0	5	1,190	3
WHOLE FOODS 7700 - ORGANIC DATE PIECES w/OAT FLOWER, 50 g (2 TBSP)	150	38	0	1	13	28
Generic - Chicken Vesuvio, 4 oz	345	4	47	32	406	0
Generic - Grilled Brussel Sprouts, 1 cup	65	13	3	6	23	0
	600	58	49	43	1,631	31
D I N N E R
WHOLE FOODS - NATURAL WASABI GREEN PEAS, 2/3 cup (30 grams)	240	38	6	8	480	4
Quaker - Rice Cake - Buttered Popcorn, 14 cake (9g)	490	112	0	14	630	0
WHOLE FOODS 8497 - CHERRY VANILLA GRANOLA, 82.5 g (3/4 cup)	360	60	11	8	90	23
	1,090	210	17	30	1,200	27
S N A C K S
WHOLE FOODS 8738 - DRIED MANGO SLICES, 46.0 g (approx 6 pieces)	126	32	0	2	1	23
WHOLE FOODS - YOGURT PRETZELS, 40 g	190	28	0	2	180	19
KROGER 90078 - BANANA CHIPS, 37.5 g (approx 3/4 cup)	203	23	11	1	0	5
	519	83	11	5	181	46
Totals	3,329	605	84	100	4,072	167
Your Daily Goal	4,786	598	159	240	2,300	179
Remaining	1,457	-6	75	140	-1,772	11
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 2,856 extra calories from exercise today

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Your Exercise Diary for:

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking, 4.5 mph, very, very brisk pace	134	1,920
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	936
Daily Total / Goal	135 / 30	2,856 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	533 / 210	8,869 / 4,130

total calories consumed 3329 calories
total calories burned (10 mile walk) 1920 calories
total net calories 1409 calorie

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fitbit day 84

40054 steps

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ten mile walking streak reached 17 days

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This was originally published by chicagonow.com

By Chicago Quirk, May 14, 2012 at 8:34 am

I've always loved Oz Park, but it seems kind of random. Where did it get its name? Where did those Wizard of Oz character statues come from? Being the Chicago nerd that I am, I did some research and found out some very interesting facts for this week's "Did You Know, Chicago?". 

L. Frank Baum, the creator of Oz, actually lived in various Chicago neighborhoods! Baum wrote for the "Evening Post," and during this time he began writing children's books. He published "the Wonderful Wizard of Oz" in 1900 and opened the play called "The Wizard of Oz" in Chicago in 1902. 

For years, fans of the books would gather in what is now called Oz Park for an Oz festival to celebrate the book, the author and the movie. The park was officially named Oz Park in 1976. 

The four sculptures that are found throughout the park - Dorothy and Toto, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow - were all created by Chicago artist John Kearney. The Tinman was the first to be installed, placed in the park in 1995. Dorothy and Toto was the last, created in 2007. The Tinman is made out of recycled automobile parts and the others are made of bronze. 

Located in the park is a playground called "Dorothy's Playlot." Not only does this relate to the whole Oz theme, but it's also named for its donor, Dorothy Melamerson. A retired local school teacher, her savings have paid for a number of park improvements in Lincoln Park. 

A number of activities take place in Oz Park every year, including movie screenings throughout the summer.

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Last evening, I found two 'ancient' photos from Oz Park taken way back in 2008. My daughter, the girl in the photos is 13 years old now.