GOLDFINGER

GOLDFINGER was the villain from the James Bond, agent 007, Ian Fleming novel (and 1964 movie) who loved all things gold.   Not sure if you should call me Goldfinger or not....but clearly....

This is how James Bond first meets 'Goldfinger' in the movie - cheating at cards

Sometimes expectations are not quite met.
This is true in movies, and real life.

...Congratulations are in order.   Apparently I have graduated from Starbucks 'Green' level to Starbucks 'Gold' level.   The remarkable thing about this that amuses me is that prior to six months ago - I was not a Starbucks customer at all. I was hardly a coffee drinker.   I started visiting Starbucks for breakfast as they do offer low calorie, healthy choices that agreed with my new lifestyle.  Once I learned about the various zero calorie sweet flavorings that I could add to coffee, I did start drinking AND ENJOYING COFFEE.  Apparently lots of coffee - as I have graduated to 'GOLD' status.  'Green' level did not merit an actual card.  Yesterday in the mail I received my 'GOLD' card!

Yesterday at my local Chicago YMCA, I had a great workout.  I have recently been enjoying the PRECOR EFX elliptical machines and setting the workout to 4:3 Interval.  The 'miles' registered on by the machine after a 125 minute workout have neared or just cleared 10 miles.  Yesterday I stepped onto the machine and set the machine to MANUAL, I set the elevation to maximum level 20, and I set the resistance to maximum level 20.  I did not know what to expect from myself.  Since I had set the machine to 120 minutes, out of habit I set the machine to a 'goal' distance of 10 miles. I had assumed that I might not reach it as my strides per minute would be reduced at maximum levels for the entire workout.  I surprised myself.  I completed the workout and the machine recorded that I had 'travelled' 10.6 miles (and burned 1738 calories.)  This was by far, my best, hardest, most effective workout on this machine.  

Sometimes when I am struggling to complete a workout on one of these machines, there is one major thing that propels me to the 'finish line.' It is my desire for the workout to run to completion so that I can enjoy the 'high' I feel when I snap the photo of my 'Workout Complete Totals' that display on the screen when I am done.  This is why I so often post these photos on my daily blog - especially when I work on the specific machines that display this information.

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 Saturday MENU

breakfast   Whole Foods Steel Cut Oatmeal, Caco Goji, Cherries     631 calories
lunch         Whole Foods Spicy Tuna Roll, various bulk items         1103 calories
dinner        HOME COOKED turkey burger, salad, asparagus
                  various bulk items                                                           1441 calories
SNACK     GIN GINS CHEWS, YOGURT ALMONDS                   195 calories

total calories consumed 3371 calories

calories burned

YMCA PRECOR EFX ELLIPTICAL 125 MINUTES, 1738 CALORIES

CALORIES BURNED 1738 CALORIES

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Saturday net calories 1751 calories

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dinner: home prepared salad, Costco Turkey Burger, Asparagus
after dinner I visited a Whole Foods for some 'desserts' that added to the calorie total

from the Starbucks website....

Keep the Free Drinks & Eats Coming

Collect 30 Stars within 12 months and step up to the Gold level for one year. At Gold level you get:

• A free drink (including bottled items such as Evolution Fresh™ juices) or food item for every 12 stars

• A personalized Gold Card

• Special Offers just for you

Once you’re at Gold level it takes another 30 Stars to maintain Gold level for another 12 months. And since you get a free drink or food reward every 12 Stars, you get at least two rewards for just staying Gold!

If you don’t qualify for the Gold level again by your anniversary date (i.e. the date you qualified for the Gold level), you’ll revert to the Green level and lose all your Stars. Don’t let that happen!

If it does though, don’t worry—if you earn 30 Stars again within 12 months, you’ll move from Green level right back to Gold level.

 and finally...some random 'GOLDFINGER' photos

Here's an 'important' heads up for all you 'Bond' fans out there.... The next James Bond movie, starring Daniel Craig will be released in theaters on November 6.  The movie is titled: 

S P E C T R E

LEVEL 17

Yesterday I had 'home field advantage.' Everyone knows that 'home field advantage' is important in sports contests. Apparently it is important with exercise equipment too. I use so many different elliptical machines as I criss cross the country and I try to set them properly for a vigorous workout - but there is little way to compare how effective I am exercising as each machine is calibrated differently.  Back on my home machine yesterday, I changed the difficulty level to '17' for the first time.  Of course, this is a random number which has no meaning outside the small circle of people who use this specific branded machine,  STAR TRAC.  However, for me it is very meaningful as my workout was more difficult - and I was still able to work through the 32 minutes and kick up quite a sweat.  The machine recorded that I burned many more calories than I usually do when the machine is 'only' set to '16.'   When I started on this machine a few months ago - I began with he 'level' set to only '10.'  Progress is being made - my workouts are becoming more aggressive and surely providing increasingly beneficial results.

elliptical machine at the conclusion of the 30 minute workout and 2 minute  'cooldown'

That I was able to 'burn' 528 calories in only 32 minutes is a nice achievement.  It will be interesting to see how much I can improve on these numbers as the days and weeks progress.  My wife even joined me in the fitness room and she worked out on the treadmill.  

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Today I had a day trip which was nearly 2 hours from home (in traffic).   I live in Chicago - there is always traffic.  My wife prepared an amazing delicious salad that I was able to eat during the day - very much like the salads that I almost always have at home, but this was was improved by the addition of a cut-up salmon burger on top.  

delicious salad prepared at home - prepared 'To Go' (a very delicious healthy meal)

TUESDAY MEN

breakfast  oatmeal w/prune, wheat germ, two poached eggs, two slices turkey bacon      705 calories

lunch        spinach salad w/hearts of palm, artichokes, onion, mushrooms, beets, cactus

                 tomato, salmon burger                                                                                        234 calories

dinner       spinach salad w/hearts of palm, artichokes, onion, mushrooms, beets, cactus

                 tomato, Trader Joe's Meatballs (4), Campbell's Italian Wedding Soup (bowl)

                 canned asparagus (1/2 can), potato pancake                                                      654 calories

total calories consumed 1593 calories

calories burned

elliptical machine 32 minutes 528 calories

TUESDAY NET CALORIES 1065 CALORIES