BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (DAY 107)

The morning temperature in Danville, Illinois when I woke up was 15° - a perfect day to return to the elliptical machine for the second day in a row, after not working an elliptical machine for more than a year.

Oh boy, did I fall off the wagon yesterday.
Ate far too much.
All I have to do is stop it.

Did I really 'need' the popcorn that I bought when I went to see 'Bohemian Rhapsody?'
I did walk over to the theatre from my Baymont Hotel in Litchfield, Illinois.
I don't think the theatre was more than 300 steps away.

The movie was very good. The actors that played the band members of Queen - looked like their counterparts. What a great reminder about how great Queen music is.  Turns out, I don't need to be reminded... I have liked Queen for a very long time.

SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES

Day 13: mindful eating, calorie count 850
First time since February, I walked 10 miles.
First time since February, I logged 25000 steps.
First time since I can't remember when...
...when I had the nerve to post a selfie
Things are happening....
...Right now... 
SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES

It's been quite a while since I had the guts to take a selfie... this is what a nearly 61 year old man at 271lbs looks like after walking 10 miles on a hot summer day in August after a six month hiatus. The ten mile urban hike was no small achievement. Two weeks ago, right about when I was finally freaking out my ballooning weight, I found it painful to walk half a block. I was seriously nervous that maybe that my urban hiking days were in my rear-view mirror. All it took was losing about ten pounds to regain the confidence to walk again. It probably didn't help that two weeks ago I did not own anything comfortable enough to get out and walk. Things are happening.  Seems like old times.

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I didn't break any speed records on this ten mile hike... It took nearly 3 hours

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I WEIGHED MYSELF SUNDAY MORNING.   271.0 LBS
DOWN NEARLY 13 LBS IN 13 DAYS.
I do know one thing, how to kick-start a weight loss regiment into high gear once I decide to begin.

PROGNOSIS NEGATIVE

Prognosis Negative is a fictional movie referenced in the popular Seinfeld television series. In several episodes it was mentioned in the dialogue and in at least one episode a movie poster for it was visible. Such fictional works were a recurring gag in the series, but Prognosis Negative had its roots in an actual screenplay written by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David in the 1980s. It was never produced.

 from seinfeld.wikia.com

The reason I am thinking about this fictional never produced movie today is simply the title, Prognosis Negative. This morning when I awoke, the prognosis for the temperature was negative. I set out for a quick five mile walk when the temperature was -6°F.  Oh sure, my walk was interrupted by some shopping and interrupted again for lunch.  But when you add it all up, I did manage to squeeze in a five mile hike on this very first day of 2018. Tomorrow, when I wake up to see a customer in Chicago, the prognosis will again be negative! Where is the global warming? 

Your Food Diary For:

Monday, January 1, 2018

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Essential Everyday Butter Flavored Grits	500	105	5	10	1,700	5
Bacon	200	0	15	15	875	0
Special K Chewy Nut Bar	150	20	6	3	60	12
	850	125	26	28	2,635	17
L U N C H
Italian Sausage Hero	750	66	39	32	1,404	9
	750	66	39	32	1,404	9
D I N N E R
Mariano's - Ribeye	400	2	27	32	325	0
Mariano's - Orecchiette Pasta	210	44	1	7	0	2
Mariano's -Twice Baked Potato	190	30	7	4	360	1
	800	76	35	43	685	3
S N A C K S
Coconut Ice Bar	300	0	0	0	107	39
	300	0	0	0	107	39
Totals	2,700	267	100	103	4,831	68
Your Daily Goal	3,046	381	101	153	2,300	114
Remaining	346	114	1	50	-2,531	46
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,116 extra calories from exercise today

I think that this was quite a good value for a meal at the grocery store: RibEye, Twice Baked Potato and Orecchiette Pasta. $10.00

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TOMORROW NEVER DIES

Thursday my 1:00PM appointment was about two hours northwest of Chicago (in traffic), which gave me the opportunity to take an urban hike of six miles right after an early breakfast. I still cannot figure myself out. How did I fail to exercise at all for so many weeks this past summer? And yet, since the beginning of September, I have not missed even one day? How did I manage to go so far backwards in my weight management before I finally reversed course?  Have you ever heard of someone losing 80 pounds and then putting them all back on, and sometimes more? It's a very stupid thing to do. I did  it around 10 years ago. I had vowed to myself that I would never let that happen again. Nevertheless, I was recently heading for the same stupidity, but this time, I did manage to stop myself. This serves as one more reminder, that the best day to make a life change is today. And if you let today, slip by, then tomorrow. Just don't let too many tomorrows pile up. Tomorrow never dies. There is always a tomorrow.

Tomorrow never dies, there is always another tomorrow

Just fooling around with the 'black & white' filtering with my photo application.

Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, September 28, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Eggs - Poached, 4	300	2	20	26	599	2
Quaker - Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal	480	96	8	12	540	30
	780	98	28	38	1,139	32
L U N C H
Bagel With Cream Cheese	400	58	12	13	780	4
	400	58	12	13	780	4
D I N N E R
Johnsonville Polish Kielbasa Sausage	340	4	30	14	1,140	2
Campbell's Manhattan Clam Chowder	240	36	6	10	1,600	6
	580	40	36	24	2,740	8
S N A C K S
Fresh Thyme - Praline Pecans	151	16	9	1	64	14
	151	16	9	1	64	14
Totals	1,911	212	85	76	4,723	58
Your Daily Goal	2,946	368	98	148	2,300	110
Remaining	1,035	156	13	72	-2,423	52
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,016 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 227.2 lbs in 5 weeks     

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

After weeks and weeks of lethargy, I have recaptured that desire and drive to be active.  Late yesterday afternoon, my daughter and I took an urban hike which was five miles. I noticed that our path through the neighborhood was shaped like a diamond. Diamonds are Forever.

Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Egg - Poached Eggs	300	2	20	25	629	1
Quaker Oats instant grits - Instant Grits	200	44	3	4	620	0
	500	46	23	29	1,249	1
L U N C H
Turkey Sub on Wheat	700	90	16	50	2,597	7
	700	90	16	50	2,597	7
D I N N E R
Campbell's Chunky Hearty Italian-style Wedding	240	32	5	16	1,580	4
Trader Joes  Classic Water Crackers	120	24	2	4	80	0
	360	56	7	20	1,660	4
S N A C K S
Trader Joe's - Mango & Cream Bars	180	30	6	3	15	27
	180	30	6	3	15	27
Totals	1,740	222	52	102	5,521	39
Your Daily Goal	2,686	336	89	135	2,300	100
Remaining	946	114	37	33	-3,221	61
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 756 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 233.3 lbs in 5 weeks

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

This morning, I am 'borrowing' the title of an old 'Monty Python' skit (and movie) just to make the point that yesterday, I DID NOT WALK, I returned to the elliptical machine for my daily workout. On Thanksgiving Day, I walked (a lot) and when that day was over, I had logged 26 miles. I was still not 'recovered' from this on Saturday as my legs felt a bit like jelly. Of course, that is an exaggeration, but it is true that I could not fathom an outdoor walk of any meaningful distance. Instead, I trekked upstairs to my local friendly elliptical machine and completed a vigorous 99 minute workout. One thing I know about exercise, and do not act upon, is that it is important to do different things all the time. It is not beneficial to work on the same muscles, day after day, without mixing it up a bit. Although, I apparently did not have the energy or desire to take an urban hike, I must say that 99 minutes on an elliptical machine is 'no walk in the park either.' That workout was so good, and so refreshing, that I will repeat it today.

John Cleese of Monty Python announcing: 'And now for something completely different...''

elliptical machine, 99 minutes, 1531 calories burned

Your Food Diary For:

Saturday, November 26, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker Maple & Brown Sugar	960	192	12	24	1,560	72
	960	192	12	24	1,560	72
L U N C H
Costco - Cheese Pizza Slice, 1.5 Slice	1,050	105	42	66	2,055	11
	1,050	105	42	66	2,055	11
D I N N E R
Cơm Chiên Dương Châu	500	63	22	24	0	0
Vietnamese - Shrimp Spring Roll	100	11	4	6	350	1
	600	74	26	30	350	1
S N A C K S
all natural - rice rolls, 7 roll	266	56	0	7	35	28
Dark Cocoa Chocolate Wafers	400	44	24	5	82	38
UNSWEETENED BANANA CHIPS	200	19	12	2	6	1
	866	119	36	14	123	67
Totals	3,476	490	116	134	4,088	151
Your Daily Goal	3,291	411	109	165	2,300	123
Remaining	-185	-79	-7	31	-1,788	-28
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,361 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Elliptical Trainer	99	1,531
Daily Total / Goal	99 / 30	1,531 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1294 / 210	16,634 / 4,130

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  

And Now for Something Completely Different
Original theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ian MacNaughton
Produced by	Patricia Casey
Written by	Monty Python
Based on	Monty Python's Flying Circus by Monty Python
Starring	Graham Chapman John Cleese Terry Gilliam Eric Idle Terry Jones Michael Palin
Music by	Douglas Gamley Terry Jones Michael Palin Fred Tomlinson
Cinematography	David Muir
Edited by	Thom Noble
Production companies	Playboy Productions Python (Monty) Pictures Kettledrum/Lownes Productions
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release dates	22 August 1971
Running time	95 minutes[1]
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£80,000

And Now for Something Completely Different is a 1971 British sketch comedy film based on the television comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus featuring sketches from the first two series. The title was used as a catchphrase in the television show.

The film, released in 1971, consists of 90 minutes of sketches seen in the first two series of the television show. The sketches were remade on film without an audience, and were intended for an American audience which had not yet seen the series. The announcer (John Cleese) appears briefly between some sketches to deliver the line "and now for something completely different", in situations such as being roasted on a spit and lying on top of a desk in a small, pink bikini..

A WALK IN THE WOODS

I was really knocked out on Sunday. I could barely move. I could barely speak. And breathing wasn't working too well either. I did wake up yesterday, Monday, feeling infinitely better, although nowhere near 100%. Nevertheless, in the afternoon, I was able to take an urban hike. After my complete system-wide malfunction on the previous day, it felt really good to stretch my legs. I plan on being completely cured by Wednesday. I know that things don't really work that way, but it is important to have the mindset of health in order to be healthy. And even if that is completely ridiculous, I can't see what harm can come of it.

I have started reading my next Bill Bryson book. As anyone can attest, it is very easy to get hooked on a Netflix TV show. It certainly takes a bit more effort to get hooked on a series of books by the same author. Naturally, the payout of reading a good book far exceeds the payout from watching hours and hours of a TV show or movie.  The next Bryson book that I have just started is A WALK IN THE WOODS.   This book details the travels of Bill and a 'friend' of his as they hiked the entire 2000+ miles of the Appalachian Trail. Although I only started the book today, I can tell that I am going to enjoy this journey. Although thus far, my hiking expeditions do not include overnight camping, still there is much about this experience which I am going to vicariously enjoy.  Bill Bryson is a great storyteller. Each page of each of his books is enjoyable. The reader eagerly reads each page with the anticipation of the best of any Stephen King thriller. The Bryson books appear to keep the horror in much smaller doses. Still there are some minor horrors and many more bits of humor.  This book was actually made into a major Hollywood Movie - which until about 5 minutes ago - I had never heard of. The movie stars Nick Nolte and Robert Redford.

A quick check of Netflix has confirmed that A WALK IN THE WOODS is not available for streaming. But Cape Fear starring Nick Nolte is... and that sure is a great movie and in this specific case, a non-sequitur. The thing with blogging and bloggers - we don't have editors. Of course, that is obviously obvious. (An editor would surely have ripped apart that last sentence!)

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Your Food Diary For:

Monday, September 19, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal	600	108	10	16	0	4
Quaker - Chewy Granola 90 Calories	270	57	6	3	240	21
	870	165	16	19	240	25
L U N C H
Read - 3 Bean Salad, 1.67 Cup (85g)	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
Cabbage Soup	200	20	0	5	157	11
Fried Chicken Tenders	300	17	20	14	766	2
Home Made - Garden Salad, 1 bowl	100	6	0	4	400	4
	900	108	20	28	2,823	57
D I N N E R
Fried Chicken Tenders	300	17	20	14	766	2
Home Made - Garden Salad, 1 bowl	100	6	0	4	400	4
	400	23	20	18	1,166	6
S N A C K S
Hersheys Dark Chocolate Bar	500	28	38	9	100	11
Oreos	200	31	9	1	175	18
Hostess - Banana Twinkie, 3 cakes	405	69	14	3	540	50
	1,105	128	61	13	815	79
Totals	3,275	424	117	78	5,044	167
Your Daily Goal	4,179	522	139	209	2,300	156
Remaining	904	98	22	131	-2,744	-11
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 2,249 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Monday, September 19, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
11 Mile Urban Hike	134	2,377
Daily Total / Goal	134 / 30	2,377 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	134 / 210	2,377 / 4,130

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I guess this step count for Monday makes it easy for me to quantify how much better I felt yesterday compared to Sunday.  On Sunday I managed to 'accumulate' a grand total of 2031 steps for the entire day. On Monday my step count was 20103. This is nearly a 1000% improvement (989.8% for all the 'rainman types' out there)  Yep, I definitely felt better on Monday. 

and one more thing of some note...
a few weeks ago, a wished myself a Happy Anniversary which commemorated the important day that purchased my fitbit. It will probably be a good idea today, to wish myself and my wife a Happy Anniversary which commemorates the day we were married 19 years ago. So I will.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, JENNIFER
I considered adding something sardonic and/or sarcastic and/or humorous here... but I think I will just stick with the basic good wishes.  Why risk the delicious fondue dinner that we have planned for this evening?