BEACH DAY

For most people, temperatures just a few degrees above freezing does not signal that it is time to go to the beach. I am not most people. After an extremely productive sales call in Ann Arbor, I headed back to Chicago. Before the night replaced day, I stopped at Indiana Dunes and hiked to the beach. My hikes at Indiana Dunes usually include a significant time in the woods, but I was unwilling to chance getting lost in the woods in the cold as I knew darkness would descend fairly soon. It's one thing to be mildly lost on a warm day during the summer, but I did not relish the idea of getting disoriented during this time of year. My hike took me to the Porter Beach and I returned to my car on very quiet roads as this community which is hopping during the summer, looks largely abandoned in the winter. As you can see, the beach was devoid of human activity.

.

Your Food Diary For:

      Thursday, November 16, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Dannon Toasted Coconut Vanilla Greek Yogurt	480	54	0	72	270	42
	480	54	0	72	270	42
L U N C H
Market Sandwich Smoked Ham and Cheese	260	28	7	21	1,350	6
Arby's  Roast Beef Classic	360	35	14	23	970	6
	620	63	21	44	2,320	12
D I N N E R
Cranberry Bread Stuffing	400	91	3	6	346	37
	400	91	3	6	346	37
S N A C K S
Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich	220	39	5	3	190	23
Frozen Fudge Bars	300	63	3	9	165	60
	520	102	8	12	355	83
Totals	2,020	310	32	134	3,291	174
Your Daily Goal	3,042	380	101	153	2,300	114
Remaining	1,022	70	69	19	-991	-60
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,112 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 213.7 lbs in 5 weeks     

WATERFALL GLENN TRAIL

On Thursday I headed home from southern Illinois in order to visit a new custom in the Chicago area on Friday. On the way home, I stopped at the Waterfall Glenn Forest Preserve to hike along its ten mile trail. I had been here once before.  The high point of the hike is stopping to enjoy the small waterfall towards the end of the trail, before it loops back to the parking area. It was approaching sundown by the time I got to the waterfall, but I was successful in squeezing in a ten mile hike. 

Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, October 5, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Oatmeal	300	48	6	9	0	0
Granola	250	39	9	5	135	9
	550	87	15	14	135	9
L U N C H
Pineapple	100	26	0	1	2	20
Hy-Vee Salad Bar: Roast Beef, crab, ham, etc	401	0	0	0	0	0
Hy-vee Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup	250	33	10	12	1,574	4
	751	59	10	13	1,576	24
D I N N E R
Popeyes - Chicken Strips	500	26	24	45	2,001	0
Macaroni Salad	300	29	18	4	566	9
	800	55	42	49	2,567	9
S N A C K S
Nature Valley - Oats 'n Honey	190	29	7	3	180	11
	190	29	7	3	180	11
Totals	2,291	230	74	79	4,458	53
Your Daily Goal	3,352	419	111	168	2,300	125
Remaining	1,061	189	37	89	-2,158	72
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,422 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 226.5 lbs in 5 weeks     

APPALACHIAN TRAIL

On Sunday, due to a family emergency which involved bone fractures but not life-or-death, my trip to Connecticut was curtailed. Even so, I managed to squeeze in a five mile hike prior to leaving Connecticut.  My hike on the previous day was memorable as it was a quick jaunt from the parking lot at the trailhead to the beautiful vista on a mountain ridge. The trail was exceptionally interesting to me as it was a part of the Appalachian Trail. With this one mile section of the Appalachian Trail now completed, I need hike another 2,200 miles or so to be considered a 'thru hiker.'  At this point in my life, that seems rather unlikely, still it was great fun to hike on part of the trail.  My guide on this quick hike was my sister-in-law and we did meet two bonafide thru hikers that had started the trail in

Georgia, approximately 1500 miles to the south. They were apparently both young, healthy, and fit. How could one not be after hiking 1500 miles?

.

.

.

.

Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, October 2, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Rock Hill Bakehouse - 8-Grain 3-Seed Bread	90	18	2	3	230	3
Banana	110	30	0	1	0	19
Apple - Gala Small (4oz), 3	195	51	0	2	0	38
	395	99	2	6	230	60
L U N C H
Generic - Sliced Deli Turkey	200	4	4	39	941	0
Clover Valley - 100% Whole Wheat Bread	240	44	2	16	440	4
	440	48	6	55	1,381	4
D I N N E R
Sliced Country Multigrain Bread	210	36	3	6	510	3
Chicken Cacciatore	350	7	11	58	571	0
Homemade - Ratatouiile	100	0	8	8	121	0
	660	43	22	72	1,202	3
S N A C K S
Nestle - Milk Chocolate Bar	400	51	23	4	38	48
Brownie	300	24	21	6	188	21
	700	75	44	10	226	69
Totals	2,195	265	74	143	3,039	136
Your Daily Goal	2,748	343	91	138	2,300	103
Remaining	553	78	17	-5	-739	-33
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 818 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 203.3 lbs in 5 weeks.

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
5 MILE HIKE	72	902
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-84
Add Exercise Quick Tools
Daily Total / Goal	73 / 30	818 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1129 / 210	15,071 / 4,130

.

from wikipedia...

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the A.T., is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. The trail is about 2,200 miles (3,500 km) long, though the precise length changes over time as parts are modified or rerouted. The trail passes through 14 states: Georgia, North Carolina,Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York,Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

The Appalachian Trail was completed in 1937 after more than a decade of work, although improvements and changes continue. It is maintained by 31 trail clubs and multiple partnerships,^[2] and managed by the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, and the nonprofit Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The majority of the trail is in forest or wild lands, although some portions traverse towns, roads and farms. The trail conservancy claims that the Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking-only trail in the world.

At least 2 million people are said to do at least one day-hike on the trail each year. Thru-hikers attempt to hike it in its entirety in a single season — more than 2,700 people thru-hiked the trail in 2014 — and some hike from one end to the other, then turn around and thru-hike the trail the other way, known as a "yo-yo". Many books, memoirs, web sites, and fan organizations are dedicated to these pursuits.

WATERFALL GLEN TRAIL

My appointment today brought me to LaGrange, Illinois. After I was finished with my customer, I headed to nearby Darien, Illinois to Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve for a loop hike which included a little side trip to a small yet beautiful waterfall.  Once again, I was dazzled by the ancient glacial hills that I never knew existed in this part of my state. The trail had a total elevation of 393 feet. I am aware that that is not very much, but for Illinois it qualifies at mountainous.

.

.

Considering how flat Illinois is - This small waterfall was exciting to see for the first time.

.

.

I hiked a total of 12 miles (189 minutes) allegedly burning 1959 calories.

.

Right before the hike ended, and just sixteen days prior to 'fitbit anniversary.' I was received notification that I had earned the 'Russian Railway' badge for the accomplishment of achieving a distance of 5772 lifetime miles (since September 3, 2015)

* * * * * * * * * *

After a relatively high calorie yet delicious dinner of homemade enchilladas, I took a long evening walk with my daughter. While we were out I decided to check out Lou Mitchell's Restaurant which I had 'discovered' just two days ago. Apparently I forgot to discover that their hours of operation are from 5:30AM until 4:00PM.  Lou Mitchell's will have to wait until another day. Sara and I walked all over town and by the time we returned home, we had logged 10 miles.

.

Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, August 18, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Grits	300	66	0	6	930	0
Fiber One - Fiber One, Oats & Chocolate	140	29	4	2	95	7
	440	95	4	8	1,025	7
L U N C H
Chick Fill A - Chicken Sandwich	440	42	16	30	1,400	6
	440	42	16	30	1,400	6
D I N N E R
Homemade - Beef and Cheese Enchilladas	900	56	45	61	1,547	0
	900	56	45	61	1,547	0
S N A C K S
Luna Bar - White Chocolate Macadamia	200	25	7	9	190	8
C2o - Coconut Water, 16 fl oz	100	26	0	0	150	24
GIN GINS ORIGINAL CHEWY GINGER	80	20	0	0	0	20
CHOCOLATE COCONUT CHEWS	134	13	9	1	17	9
MILK CHOCOLATE CHERRIES	180	25	10	2	10	21
	694	109	26	12	367	82
Totals	2,474	302	91	111	4,339	95
Your Daily Goal	5,273	659	175	264	2,300	197
Remaining	2,799	357	84	153	-2,039	102
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 3,343 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 182.4 lbs in 5 weeks

.

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking	189	1,959
Walking	146	1,771
Daily Total / Goal	335 / 30	3,730 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1402 / 210	15,465 / 4,130

* * * * * * * * * *

a brief description of Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve from wikipedia

The 2,492-acre Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien is one of the most ecologically impressive parcels of open space within the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, if not northern Illinois.

The ridges and scattered potholes that make up the topography of Waterfall Glen — and most of the county — are the result of one geological event, the Wisconsin Glacier. In fact, the entire Des Plaines River Valley was formed by glacial meltwaters and drainage from a postglacial lake that covered most of the Chicagoland area.

Today, Waterfall Glen’s prairies, savannas, and oak-maple woodlands contain 740 native plant species, 75 percent of all the plants known to grow naturally in DuPage County. As a result of this rich variety, over 300 species of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles and another 300 of invertebrates use the forest preserve either year-round or during their migrations.

.

YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT

It is a commonly held belief that one cannot have their cake and eat it. Although not recommended, it can be done.

One can eat cake and lose weight although it is not the most effective pathway to a thinner waist. 

SATURDAY IS WEIGH DAY.
I stepped on the scale with some anticipation that I would like the result...
...I did.

224.8 lbs

This past week I dropped 2.4 lbs.

This means that I am back down 84.2 lbs from the 309 lbs where I started on Dec 24, 2014. Perhaps much more meaningful, and certainly more recent... I am down 17.1 lbs since I 'mini-ballooned' back up to 241.9 lbs on May 7, 2016 during my recovery period from the hernia surgery. My progress in the past 3 months, has been slow and very steady. I am very pleased with my current weight loss trajectory downward. My recent weight loss in the past three months looks like a chart of the Obama economic recovery. Bad for recoveries. Good for weight loss..

.

This chart for the past three months only shows a weight loss of 15.2 lbs.  That is because the first week of this recent history in my personal weight trajectory was a 'up' week when I topped out at 241.9 lbs on May 7th. From that point on, it's been nearly all downhill. 

I don't know whether to be shocked that I did so well this week, losing 2.4 lbs or be shocked that I only lost 2.4 lbs this week.  I just checked my blog, and I 'discovered' that I walked 84 miles in the past seven days. If you checked my blog for the past seven days, you would see that I had some high calories days to match this physical output. Long gone are the beginning days of this lifestyle change when I was consuming less than 1000 calories per day for three consecutive months.  Back then, I was losing nearly one pound per day.  That lifestyle was completely unsustainable, and it was never my intention to sustain it. A lifestyle of walking ten miles per day may also be unsustainable as I get older, in fact, it might be unsustainable as the days get shorter and and the days get colder. Hopefully, once my physical activity drops I will be able to 'tweak' my calorie intake down without too much difficulty.  It is true, that I do feel that I have 'earned' the joy of eating probably a bit more chocolate and sweets than I should when I am so wildly active. But you know what?  I like being active. I like chocolate. I like losing weight. And I like looking at myself in the mirror these days. I guess one could say that at this time in my life: I can have my my cake and I can eat it. (too) 

.

from wikipedia...

You can't have your cake and eat it (too) is a popular English idiomatic proverb or figure of speech. The proverb literally means "you cannot simultaneously retain your cake and eat it". Once the cake is eaten, it is gone. It can be used to say that one cannot or should not have or want more than one deserves or can handle, or that one cannot or should not try to have two incompatible things. The proverb's meaning is similar to the phrases "you can't have it both ways" and "you can't have the best of both worlds."

Many people misunderstand the meanings of "have" and "eat" as used here but still understand the proverb in its entirety and intent and use it in this form. Some people feel this form of the proverb is incorrect and illogical and instead prefer "you can't eat your cake and have it (too)", which is in fact closer to the original form of the proverb (see further explanations below) but uncommon today. Other rare variants use "keep" instead of "have". Having to choose whether to have or eat your cake illustrates the concept of trade-offs or opportunity cost.

* * * * * * * * * * 

.

I have lived in Chicago for nearly a quarter century and I only 'discovered' the Indiana Dunes this summer. Last night was my third visit to this natural wonder. I was returning from Amish country in Ohio and I was determined to get in a hike before I returned home. The Indiana Dunes are only about 45 minutes away when traffic conditions are cooperating. There is much to explore that I have yet to see. I will be returning to the Indiana Dunes many times in the future.

.

.

From where I parked my car,  I had already walked seven miles to finally get to Lake Michigan. On a clearer day, the skyline of Chicago would have been visible just peeking over the horizon.

.

Your Food Diary For:

Friday, July 29, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Kroger - Grits	500	105	5	10	1,700	5
Generic - Sausage Links	360	4	32	14	880	0
Chocolate Frosted Chocolate Cake Doughnut	370	45	23	4	0	0
	1,230	154	60	28	2,580	5
L U N C H
Kroger - Yogurt Covered Almonds	300	37	19	5	27	27
Kroger - Yogurt Pretzels	300	42	12	4	90	26
SUSHI California roll	800	154	12	14	2,068	14
Krogers - Coconut Flakes	210	21	15	0	90	15
	1,610	254	58	23	2,275	82
D I N N E R
Smoked Ham & Cheese, 1 Sandwich	240	27	7	21	1,350	6
Kellog's Krave Treat Bar	200	31	8	2	115	17
Nature Valley - Crunchy Oats & Honey	190	29	6	4	160	12
	630	87	21	27	1,625	35
S N A C K S
Kellogg's - Special K	280	52	0	12	480	8
	280	52	0	12	480	8
Totals	3,750	547	139	90	6,960	130
Your Daily Goal	5,157	644	172	258	2,300	193
Remaining	1,407	97	33	168	-4,660	63
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 3,227 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 202 lbs in 5 weeks     

.

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Friday, July 29, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking	158	1,967
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	1,260
Daily Total / Goal	159 / 30	3,227 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1013 / 210	13,459 / 4,130

.