TO THE CHABAD HOUSE

I have made friends at my local Chabad House since moving into this neighborhood nearly 4 years ago.  A Chabad House is a center of traditional (Orthodox) Judaism.  A Chabad House is run by a Rabbi (Shaliach, Emissary) and his wife, a Shlucha (female word for emissary).   A Chabad House seemingly can be found almost anywhere there are Jews. Whether it is a place where Jews live or where Jews travel.  I always enjoy hearing radio talk-show host, author and public speaker, Dennis Prager recount a story about how he once went to a Chabad House in Cambodia! There are nearly 5000 Chabad Houses around the world and one can be found in 49 of the 50 states of The United States. I am blessed to live within 100 feet of a Chabad House. It is at my Chabad House where I have been exposed to authentic Judaism in ways that I had never been before.  The traditional Jewish lifestyle is not something that I am interested in as a full-time proposition.  It is something that I am greatly interested in on an 'a la carte' basis.  I have made terrific friends at my Chabad House.  One of my friends, is moving back to New York with his wife in a few short weeks.  We made arrangements to make sure that we both selected this Friday to be there so that we can enjoy the wonderful camaraderie of friends,  joy of Judaism,  the serenity of Shabbat, a delicious meal prepared by the Rabbi's wife and a L'Chaim (or two, or three).  So, tonight, Friday....It's to the Chabad House!

Chabad House, Dearborn Street, Chicago

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For lunch, I visited a Whole Foods Market which is less than 2 miles from my home.  I managed to stretch this two mile trip into an eight mile walk.  Afterwards, I naturally walked home.  Another day,  another day of walking ten miles.  The last couple of days, my exercise had been working out on the elliptical machine. It was good to get back outside.  

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Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, December 17, 2015

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Malt O Meal - Honey Nut Scooters, 60 g	240	48	3	6	420	18
steel cut oatmeal - steel cut oat meal, 1 cup	600	108	10	20	0	4
Red Delicious - Medium Apple, 2 apple	160	44	0	0	0	34
	1,000	200	13	26	420	56
L U N C H
WHOLE FOODS - SALAD BAR	375	0	0	0	0	0
WHOLE FOODS BANANA CHIPS	170	16	10	2	5	1
WHOLE FOODS  VANILLA GRANOLA	500	80	16	10	120	30
	1,045	96	26	12	125	31
D I N N E R
EARTHBOUND FARM - ORGANIC BABY SPINACH	60	0	0	6	195	0
365 - Hearts of Palm: Salad Cut, 1 cup	50	10	0	4	580	0
libby's - Sweet Corn, 0.88 cup	105	16	3	4	350	12
Honey Nut Scooters - Cereal, 3 cup (30g)	330	72	5	6	630	30
Apple - - Honey Crisp - Small, 1 apple	55	15	0	0	0	15
	600	112	7	20	1,755	57
Totals	2,645	408	46	58	2,300	144
Your Daily Goal	3,874	484	129	194	2,300	145
Remaining	1,229	75	82	136	0	0
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 1,944 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking, 4.5 mph, very, very brisk pace	102	1,627
Walking, 4.5 mph, very, very brisk pace	28	372
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-55
Daily Total / Goal	131 / 30	1,944 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	547 / 210	8,308 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 2645 calories

total calories burned (walking 10 miles) 1999 calories

total net calories 646 calories

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fitbit day 106
19002 steps

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Each year, Chabad of the Loop, Gold Coast and Lincoln Park, directed by my friend, Rabbi Meir Chai Benhiyoun erects a huge Chanukkah Menorah in Daley Plaza.  Daley Plaza is Chicago's premier civic center and permanent home of the famous Picasso statue.  The Menorah is 30 feet tall and 18 feet wide and it is designed in the traditional style of menorahs used by Chabad.  Although, I missed the lighting ceremony this year, as I was out-of-town, I was able to visit the menorah before Chanukkah with my Mom who was visiting from New York earlier this month.
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When Batman and Robin need to step it up a notch....They go...TO THE BATMOBILE!

When I need to a refresher in Judaism, or need to authentically celebrate a Jewish Holiday....I go...TO THE CHABAD HOUSE!

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This information comes from What's Not Wrong... a blog by Gary Anderson

Untitled (1967) by Pablo Picasso: What the heck is it? A horse? Seahorse? Dragon? That’s part of the fun and the puzzle involved in this huge sculpture so closely identified with Chicago. When the sculpture was dedicated in 1967, Mayor Richard J. Daley said, “We dedicate this celebrated work this morning with the belief that what is strange to us today will be familiar tomorrow.” Today the Picasso is familiar, but it’s no less strange. Chicago’s Picasso is interactive in a couple of ways. First of all, looking at the sculpture from the front (with your back to Washington Avenue) yields the most common view and the view that is most abstract. But if you walk toward the Daley Center and view the sculpture from roughly a 10:00 or 2:00 angle, you will more clearly see the silhouette of a woman. This is one of my favorite things to show students and visitors.   The Picasso is also highly interactive because you can sit on it, climb on it, and slide down it.

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                             

                 

                

885 CALORIES

It is hard to believe that the same guy who less than one week ago gave almost no thought to consuming a 2000 calorie meal has just completed another day of SATISFYING EATING that was actually under 900 calories for the day!  I promise you I found myself no hungrier today than on any other day of the previous many years.  Four days ago, during my 'wellness' checkup, my doctor said that we really don't have to eat so much at one sitting as the next meal is typically only 6 hours away.   We only need enough to survive until that next meal.   This is what I ate today:

BREAKFAST:   TWO (2) NAVEL ORANGES (85 calories each)         170 CALORIES
LUNCH:           3-EGG OMELETTE w/CHEESE                                    425 CALORIES
DINNER:           ONE (1) SMOKED POLISH SAUSAGE
                          w/TWO (2) CUPS OF BROCCOLI CUTS                   290 CALORIES

                                                          TOTAL             885 CALORIES

I did eat this same menu yesterday as well as I am a creature of habit.  Remember, I am the guy who previously divulged that I ate only about 8 different 'entrees' from only five different 'restaurants' over a period of multiple years.   THIS FOOD TASTES BETTER.   I FEEL BETTER.   I AM GETTING BETTER.    By the time I visit my doctor in eight weeks for the followup appointment from my 'wellness' exam - I expect to be a lot 'weller' than I was way, way back on December 24, 2014 when I woke up! (no typo there, that exam took place a scant four days ago!)

The highpoint of my day was the five (5) mile walk I took with my daughter.   The first 2.5 miles was a true cardio experience as we were racing to the brand-new Maggie Daley Park in Chicago before darkness set in.    I don't know what precise speed we were walking, but we were walking fast and stopping only to cross busy downtown streets.    On the way back, we took our time and there was no cardio component to the return trip.   Nevertheless, I am going to assume that it was far better than hopping onto a bus.