DON'T GET A BIG HEAD

Nearly one year ago on December 24th, 2014, I weighed 309 lbs.  These days, when I step on the scale I am under 220 lbs.  I have lost 90+ lbs.  It is true, that the good looking me (better looking me?) that was so successfully hidden for many years has re-emerged.  I do feel good about myself.  I do enjoy wearing nice clothes.  I do enjoy seeing myself in photographs.  I do enjoy my reflection in the mirror.  I do enjoy being able to shop for clothes in any store anywhere.  (Last year I was relegated to shopping at the KING SIZE website) I do enjoy seeing my thinner shadow trailing me when I am outdoors.  I have received many nice compliments from friends, family and customers over the past few months.  I need to remind myself, though, not to get A BIG HEAD.

The expression, 'a big head' refers to cockiness, or big ego. Often 'a big head' occurs when accomplishments achieved and compliments associated with those accomplishments lead a person believe that they are either infallible on a topic and/or can tackle greater challenges for which they are not capable. Often people may be told: "Don't get full of yourself".  Colossal Olmec Heads are something completely different!

Replica of colossal Olmec Head #8.  Head of Veracruz leader, Ignacio Perez Solano
description: STONE: height 7 ft. 3 in., 1700 pounds.
location: Field Museum Lawn, 1400 S Lake Shore Drive, Museum Campus

The ancient Olmec, one of the first complex societies in the Americas, are remembered for their colossal head sculptures, 17 of which have been recovered to date.  Each original head is distinctive and believed to embody the likeness of an individual leader.  Though all of the heads were carved in a sylized manner, Olmec Head #8 is considered the most naturalistic. The State of Veracruz, Mexico donated Ignacia Perez Solano's 1700-pound stone replica to the city of Chicago. (Oct 2003)

A plaque near the replica reads:

This sculpture is a replica of Olmec Head #8 from the site of San Lorenzo. It is one of 17 known colossal heads created by the ancient Olmec people in the states of Veracruz and Tobasco, Mexico. The Olmec flourished in the Gulf Coast region of Mexico from 1300 to 300 BC.  Most scholars believe that Olmec carved these stone heads to commemorate their rulers.

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During this Thanksgiving Holiday shortened week, it has been nearly impossible to secure an appointment to sell buttons or fabrics to anyone.  Most people are getting ready to either host guests or getting ready to travel to be a guest somewhere else.  I do have an appointment today, but yesterday I took full advantage of my 'downtime.'   I had planned on taking my regular 10 mile walk, but since the weather was comfortable (30° F when I started at 8:35AM) I decided to KEEP GOING.  I did not stop until I had walked 20 miles.

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Your Food Diary For:

Monday, November 23, 2015

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
General Mills - Cheerios-peanut Butter Multigrain, 3/4 cup	110	23	2	2	130	9
John McCann Steel Cut - Oat Meal, 1 cup	600	108	0	16	0	0
	710	131	2	18	130	9
L U N C H
WHOLE FOODS - WHOLE CASHEWS (RAW), 52.5 g (approx 1/4 cup)	270	12	21	8	0	3
WHOLE FOODS - JUMBO TURKISH FIGS, 4 figs	130	42	0	1	0	28
WHOLE FOODS 9392 - YOGURT RAISINS, 64.0 g (approx 34 pieces)	272	45	11	2	24	40
WHOLE FOODS 8497 - CHERRY VANILLA GRANOLA, 82.5 g (3/4 cup)	360	60	11	8	90	23
Whole Foods 365 Organic - Organic Turkey Jerky, 3 oz	180	18	0	33	810	15
	1,212	177	43	51	924	109
D I N N E R
Roundy's - No Salt Added Sweet Peas - Canned, 1 3/4 cup	210	35	2	14	53	18
Campbells Home Style Soup - Italian Wedding Soup, 2 cup	200	26	5	12	820	8
Hilshire Farms - Beef Polska Kielbasa, 6 oz	540	9	48	21	1,680	3
	950	70	55	47	2,553	29
S N A C K S
Cheerios - Peanut Butter Multigrain Cheerios, 3 cup	330	69	5	6	390	27
	330	69	5	6	390	27
Totals	3,202	447	103	122	3,997	173
Your Daily Goal	5,566	696	185	279	2,300	208
Remaining	2,364	249	81	157	-1,696	34
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 3,636 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Monday, November 23, 2015

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking, 4.5 mph, very, very brisk pace	269	3,818
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-182
Daily Total / Goal	270 / 30	3,636 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	270 / 210	3,636 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 3202 calories
total calories burned (20 mile walk) 3818 calories
total net calories 616 calorie deficit
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fitbit day 82

56219 steps

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ten mile walking streak reached 15 days

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During a 20 mile walk...there is always some time to pause for a few moments and have some fun with the iPhone camera and  the 10 second timer.

No, it's not Michael Jordan....It's me... Marc Jacobs. Although me and 'MJ' share initials...We apparently do not share equivalent 'levitating' abilities.

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Perhaps if I had taken my photo with a basketball in my right hand I could have pulled of the Michael Jordan 'look' a little better..... 

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If I was unconsciously trying to emulate the logo of My Fitness Pal app with my flying leap into the air - I think I didn't exactly get that done either.

STONEHENGE

STONEHENGE.  When people think of Stonehenge, I assume that most people think about an ancient group of rocks arranged in a circle in Wiltshire, England.

Still others, when they think of Stonehenge, might recall the song by Spinal Tap in the movie This is Spinal Tap and the undersized prop that appeared on stage as the band was playing the song during a concert.  Apparently, the plans for the prop were mislabeled as 18" instead of 18'.

scene from This is Spinal Tap.  The Stonehenge Prop was not quite as impressive as the band had hoped.

The first time the band, Spinal Tap, saw the undersized prop was during a show.

I suppose one must be familiar with Missouri University of Science and Technology to think of this Stonehenge replica that I 'discovered' during my 90 minute walk in Rolla, Missouri early Friday morning.

The Missouri S&T Stonehenge is a partial reconstruction of Stonehenge, the ancient megalith located on Salisbury Plain 75 miles Southwest of London. It stands for many things; a lasting monument to man's drive for knowledge and engineering, the largest monument to ever be cut with a waterjet, and a link from the past into the modern. It was dedicated on June 20, 1984 or the summer solstice, at the site of the northwest edge of campus. Approximately 160 tons of granite were used in the monument. The rock was cut to the proper dimensions by Missouri S&T's Waterjet equipment.

After three consecutive days of managing not to have a proper workout or walk, I was able to break that streak in Rolla, Missouri early Friday morning.  'Discovering' Stonehenge on the campus of Missouri S&T was the high point of my morning walk.

 NINETY MINUTE 6.56 mile walk in Rolla, Missouri 

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220.1 lbs

I weigh 220.1 lbs.

I lost 0.9 lbs this week

I have lost 88.9 lbs in 297 days. Today begins Day 298.

I will always be at the beginning of a journey that never ends.

I weigh 220.1 lbs (297 days ago I weighed 309 lbs)

I have lost 28.8% of my weight since Dec 24.

I have a BMI, body mass index of 29.44 

I had a 42.0 BMI on Dec 24 just 297 days ago (Class III obesity)

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 Friday MENU

breakfast    Quaker Instant Oatmeal Apples & Cinnamon               1120 calories

lunch          Hy-Ve spinach salad w/roast beef, ham, chicken                750 calories

dinner         Granola, pineapple wedges, rice cakes                         1098 calories

SNACK     KIND BAR, yogurt almonds                                           420 calories

TOTAL CALORIES CONSUMED 3388 CALORIES

calories burned
90 min, 6.56 mile hike Rolla, very brisk pace 1220 calories

CALORIES BURNED 3388 CALORIES

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Friday net calories 2168 calories

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fitbit day 44
20037 steps
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LEANING TOWER OF PISA

Yesterday, I did something that I have never done in my life.  I rode my bicycle nearly 30 miles.   I took my bike to an interesting YMCA in Niles, Illinois. (Chicago Suburb)  I used the most direct route to get there which made it a 13 mile trip.  After my two-hour workout I used a more indirect route to get home and that trip was 15.6 miles.  My total bike ride was 28.6 miles.  Considering how far I travelled and how long I was on my bike - it definitely serves to remind me just how amazing marathon runners are.

The reason that I went to Niles, Illinois to go to a YMCA so far from home was to record some photos of me in front of the replica of the LEANING TOWER OF PISA.

I have passed by this roadside attraction many time over the years that I have been living in Chicago.

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 Monday MENU

breakfast    one apple                                                                       72 calories
lunch          baby spinach w/baby corn on the cob, asparagus       186 calories
dinner        Chabad Bar Mitzvah Meal 
                  brisket, string beans, rice, Challah, zucchini,
                  Whiskey L'Chaims, Fruit Plate, cookies                    1500 calories
SNACK    GINGER CRYSTALLIZED DARK CHOCOLATE   480 calories

total calories consumed 2398 calories

calories burned

LEANING TOWER YMCA elliptical, PRECOR, level 20, 125 minutes        2013 calories

CALORIES BURNED 2013 CALORIES

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Tuesday net calories 385 calories

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from wikipedia....

The Leaning Tower of Niles is a half-size replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Located in Niles, Illinois, it was completed in 1934 by industrialist Robert Ilg as part of a recreation park for employees of the Ilg Hot Air Electric Ventilating Company of Chicago. It is situated at 6300 W. Touhy Avenue. 

Some speculate that part of the motivation to construct the tower was to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. A more likely explanation is its original functional purpose, to store water for outdoor recreational swimming pools. In 1960, the descendants of Robert Ilg donated part of the park for the construction of the Leaning Tower YMCA.

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from RoadsideAmerica.com

Leaning Tower of Niles

Niles, Illinois

The Leaning Tower is a perennial stop for travelers in the Chicago area, only 15 minutes northeast of O'Hare International Airport and 10 minutes from the World's First Franchised McDonald's in Des Plaines. The Leaning Tower of Niles is, naturally, a replica of Italy's Leaning Tower of Pisa. It is roughly half-sized, 94 feet vs. the authentic's 177 feet, and leans about 7'4" off plum (vs. Pisa's 13 foot tilt). But that hardly matters when you're standing across the street taking a picture. And the savings in overseas airfare and reduced risk of injury is worth considering.

America's Leaning Tower was built in 1934 (600 years after the original) by businessman Bob Ilg, who anchored it in concrete so that its lean would stay consistent. Originally it was a utility tower, made from steel, concrete, and precast stone, designed to hide water filtration tanks. A plaque at its base says it was built to honor the outstanding scientist Galileo Galilei, who dropped various objects from the top of the Pisa tower to prove his theory of gravity.

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FITBIT 
DAY 4
30,179 STEPS
A two hour workout sandwiched in between a 28.6 mile bike ride set the steps at around 25,000.   The entire rest of the day was a mere 5000 steps more. And the last 1000 of those were simply 'stepping in place' to get me over 30,000 for the day.