SHELBYVILLE

Shelbyville is the fictional town next to fictional Springfield where The Simpsons live. Shelbyville and Springfield are twin cities that have an intense rivalry. The city motto of Shelbyville is: Springfield Sucks. Yesterday I was in Shelbyville. I was in the real Shelbyville, Illinois which is about thirty miles from the real Springfield in Illinois. I hiked at Lake Shelbyville.

My hike at Lake Shelbyville included The General Dacey Trail, the Boulder Loop Trail and Split Rock Trail. When my hike concluded, I had hiked 12 miles

This was the part of the hike that included the 1.8 mile Split Rock Trail (top) and the 2.7 mile Boulder Loop Trail (bottom)

For the second day in a row I managed to maintain an (alleged) calorie deficit. My MapMyWalk application credited me with 1798 calories burned during my 12 mile hike. I am well aware that this is likely vastly overstated, still one surely burns a few calories hiking in the woods which included changes in elevation that my fitbit recorded as climbing 71 flight of stairs will all the up and down hiking.

Your Food Diary For:

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Kellogg's - Raisin Bran Crunch	500	118	3	11	526	50
	500	118	3	11	526	50
L U N C H
Subway - Chicken Salad With Cheese	280	13	8	39	890	5
	280	13	8	39	890	5
D I N N E R
Turkey and Bacon Club Wrap	600	57	21	20	1,535	0
	600	57	21	20	1,535	0
S N A C K S
Fit Crunch Protein Bar - Cookies and Cream	380	27	16	30	490	6
	380	27	16	30	490	6
Totals	1,760	215	48	100	3,441	61
Your Daily Goal	3,360	420	112	169	2,300	126
Remaining	1,600	205	64	69	-1,141	65
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

Your Exercise Diary for:

         Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
12 Mile Hike Lake Shelbyville	219	1,798
Daily Total / Goal	219 / 30	1,798 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	415 / 210	4,093 / 4,130

FACTS ARE MEANINGLESS

No one appears to know what the facts are. I am relatively certain that the Russians were not promoting the Presidency of Donald Trump. Loudmouths on TV are crying just the opposite is true. I don't believe that even they believe it, but it serves the purpose of creating a sticky controversy (fake news)

I can believe that there are those within our own government that were wiretapping phones in Trump Tower. There are others who think that this is completely ridiculous.

The wisdom of Homer Simpson seems appropriate:
"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!'
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Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Bobak's - Polish Sausage	230	1	21	10	0	0
Egg, whole, cooked, poached	286	1	19	25	594	1
	516	2	40	35	594	1
L U N C H
Quaker Flats Peanut Butter Sesame	800	110	40	20	625	35
	800	110	40	20	625	35
D I N N E R
Subway - Turkey Sub Sandwich, 12 inch	560	92	7	36	1,620	14
Subway - Sun Chips- Harvest Cheddar	210	27	9	4	320	3
Campbell's - Chunky Sirloin Burger Soup	260	36	8	12	1,580	8
	1,030	155	24	52	3,520	25
S N A C K S
Fiber One Chewy Bars - Oats and Chocolate	140	29	4	2	95	7
	140	29	4	2	95	7
Totals	2,486	296	108	109	4,834	68
Your Daily Goal	2,123	265	70	107	2,300	79
Remaining	-363	-31	-38	-2	-2,534	11
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

COMPLETE DAY OFF

Yesterday I was busy at a local wholesale fabric tradeshow. After the show, the seven sales reps who sell their fabrics traditionally get together and have pizza afterwards. I had planned to use the elliptical machine after dinner, but I fell asleep in my room before I had the chance to use the equipment. Yesterday was a complete day off from exercise. Unfortunately it was not a day off from over-eating. it was also my first full day without the benefit of a cellphone which was rendered useless during a mishap at Matthiessen State Park on Saturday.  One forgets how important one's cellphone is until one does not have it available.  Aside from making or receiving phone calls, texts and emails. I realized in my hotel that I was not without a reliable alarm clock. Without a camera I could not email my orders to my vendors. And there are quite a few other countless inconveniences that one is simply not used to dealing with. I hope to have this situation rectified by later today, Monday

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Everyone enjoys their day off in a way that suits them.

Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, September 11, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Biscuits and Gravy, 1 biscuit	415	22	30	12	0	0
Sausage, 3 links	170	2	14	10	490	1
Scrambled Egg - Scrambled Eggs	158	2	12	14	160	0
Kellogg's - Raisin Bran Crunch, 2 cups	380	90	2	8	400	38
	1,123	116	58	44	1,050	39
L U N C H
Rice Krispies Treats Chocolately Drizzle	800	136	24	8	760	64
Fiber one cheesecake - Danish	450	72	18	6	390	30
	1,250	208	42	14	1,150	94
D I N N E R
Medium Sausage & Bacon Pizza	1,000	108	46	40	2,420	0
	1,000	108	46	40	2,420	0
S N A C K S
Totals	3,373	432	146	98	4,620	133
Your Daily Goal	1,930	241	64	97	2,300	72
Remaining	-1,443	-191	-82	-1	-2,320	-61
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

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EPIC FAIL

Today's blog is called EPIC FAIL. This is not because of any recent horrific failures on my part. In fact, I have had numerous setbacks over the past 18 months since I made the decision to change my lifestyle. My change began while I was visiting my doctor for my annual checkup, which I made sure to have at least every ten years or so. I can almost pinpoint the time that I clicked the switch in my head and I said to myself: I start today, in fact, I start now. For the most part, I have been successful. On December 24, 2014, I weighed 309 lbs. Last Saturday when I weighed myself, as I do every week, I checked in at 233 lbs.  A seventy six pound weight loss, eighteen months after changing one's life is surely some kind of accomplishment.  Why then is today's blog titled: EPIC FAIL? I was thinking about my 'normal' daily 'diet' before I made that decision to reverse the direction of my life on December 24th at approximately 10AM in the morning.  I discovered MyFitnessPal, an application for entering one's daily food intake on December 26th two days after my decision point. Since that day, I have (more or less) entered all (OK, let's say most) of what I have eaten every day. I thought it would be amusing (even if only to me) to enter a 'typical' daily food diary for a typical day prior to the decision that I made to discontinue my daily, EPIC FAILS.  So, I did.  I entered this typical 'menu' of food (poison) that I ate just about every day for nearly 10 years as I saw my weight balloon up from about 220 lbs when my daughter started kindergarten to the 309 lbs I was when my daughter was on winter break in 7th grade.  In the past eighteen months, I have never, not once consumed 5000 calories in one day. Even on the day that I climbed and made the summit on HALF DOME in Yosemite Park and packed my bag with a dozen different snacks - I was still under 5000 calories - and that was a day that I accumulated more than 50,000 steps, ascending nearly 5000 feet and back on a hike that lasted more than 12 hours. So, without further adieu, I present my typical EPIC FAIL food diary, which I have retroactively entered with the date of December 23, 2014, exactly one day, 24 hours prior to making on of the biggest decisions of my life. The decision was to live. Live healthy. 

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Your EPIC FAIL Food Diary For:

Tuesday, December 23, 2014 and just about every day before that for about ten years....

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Mcdonalds - Bacon, Egg, Cheese Bagel (2)	1,240	134	54	50	2,080	12
Hostess - Ho-Ho's, 3 cakes (1 package)	360	54	16	2	190	43
Nestle Nesquik - Low Fat Vanilla Milk, 8 oz	170	30	3	8	130	29
Oreo Cookies - 10 Cookies (1 package)	600	85	25	5	475	45
	2,370	303	98	65	2,875	129
L U N C H
Mcdonald's - -McChicken, 3 SANDWICH	1,110	120	51	42	1,950	15
M&M's - Chocolate Mint, 1.5 oz.	210	30	10	2	30	26
	1,320	150	61	44	1,980	41
D I N N E R
Burger King - Cheeseburger (four burgers)	1,080	108	48	44	2,520	28
Klondike - Klondike Bar	250	29	14	3	70	23
	1,330	137	62	47	2,590	51
Totals	5,020	590	221	156	7,445	221
Your Daily Goal	1,880	235	63	94	2,300	70
Remaining	-3,140	-355	-157	-62	-5,145	-151
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar

I have probably understated the amount of garbage that I stuffed into my mouth each day... but I don't want to make it appear to be even more unbelievable than it was.  This 'typical' diet that I 'enjoyed' for nearly ten years was truly pathetic. Back in those days when I was consuming a minimum of 5000 calories per day, I was also engaged in zero exercise. This is not an exaggeration. Even as I write these words, I am disgusted at the way that I used to 'live'.  I have made many changes in the past eighteen months. I am sure that nutritionists might observe what I eat these days and still not be very impressed. All I know is that I am eating better than I used to eat. There is always room for improvement. In my case, there is lots of room. The goal is to continue to make better decisions each day. The goal is often not met. Obviously in the 'old days' there was no goal.

That's enough ancient history... Here's what I did yesterday...


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Yesterday, began a long holiday weekend.  I did what any Dad would do, walk my daughter one mile to her junior lifeguard camp. That walk is precisely one mile. I dropped her off at noon, and I picked her up again at 4:00PM.  During those four hours I walked an additional 17 miles. I am expecting that my weigh in on Saturday should show some results from my increased activity lately. At least, that's the plan.

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The weather was favorable for a extra long hike on Thursday.

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Northerly Island

Northerly Island, with the Chicago skyline in the background.

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Most presidents have monuments built after they have served and passed away. Our next president, will take office next January with monuments to himself already in place. How's that for efficiency?

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After dinner our family drove to Mariano's to pick up some groceries. After completing the shopping, my daughter suggested that me and her walk home. I wasn't sure I even had it in me to walk the three miles after my 18 mile hike earlier. However, there was no way that I was going to reject this proposal from my daughter. So, we walked home. Three miles.
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Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, June 30, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Grits - Grits, 4 packet	400	88	6	8	1,240	4
Maltomeal - Honey Nut Scooters, 2 cup	240	48	3	6	420	18
	640	136	9	14	1,660	22
L U N C H
Omelette - 3-egg Omelette With Cheese	425	0	21	28	650	2
Red Delicious Apple, 2 medium apple (170g)	190	50	1	1	4	38
	615	50	22	29	654	39
D I N N E R
Manhattan Clam Chowder, 2 cup	240	36	6	10	1,600	6
Roundy's - Artisan Bread Sourdough, 4 oz	260	54	1	8	600	0
Cheese, provolone, 3.01 oz	300	2	23	22	748	0
Pineapples - Pineapples, 2 Cup	172	33	0	2	2	33
	972	125	30	42	2,950	39
S N A C K S
Louis kemp - Salmon Delights, 2 stick	120	10	6	8	560	2
	120	10	6	8	560	2
Totals	2,347	321	66	93	5,823	103
Your Daily Goal	5,839	730	194	292	2,300	219
Remaining	3,492	409	127	198	-3,523	116
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 3,909 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking	242	3,424
Walking	50	462
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	23
Daily Total / Goal	293 / 30	3,909 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	883 / 210	11,022 / 4,130

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random 'FAILS' that might amuse you....

probably not the worst error ever....This should have been Starship Enterprise.

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While there is no 'I' in team, there is a 'U' in failure.

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THE DUMB STAR.  Incompetent Staff, rubbish pilots and the worst marksmen in the galaxy.

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There must be some amusing story behind this photo - but I don't know what it is.

SELF EXPLANATORY

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LISA SIMPSON WEARS MARC JACOBS

I was searching for something 'Simpsons' to post a picture for a recent blog entry when I stumbled on this image. For no particular reason, other than the fact, that I share my name with well known designer, MARC JACOBS, did I feel like posting this 2013 illustration today.

Swagger New York collaborated with Italian designer Michele Moricci to celebrate New York Fashion Week by imagining some of the most popular '90s cartoon characters in designer wear. 

The publication released a set of images featuring some of the most loved cartoon characters of the Nineties, wearing designers that -- Swagger New York and Moricci thought -- would suit their personalities.  

Here's how they wrote up Lisa Simpson headed to the Marc Show: "Lisa Simpson hits her bff Marc Jacobs' show 20 minutes late. It's okay because Marc wouldn't dare start without her, a Simpsonized image of the designer is tattooed on his arm after all.".

* * * * * * * *

After my 55000+ steps on Saturday,  I wasn't sure that I had the energy or will to spend time on the elliptical machine on Sunday. Obviously I did.

And then I found the energy and the will to complete a second session after lunch.

And then I found even more energy and will to complete a third session after dinner.

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Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, June 12, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
3 Egg Omelette - Ham Cheese	400	1	30	40	1,225	0
Kirkland - Pre-Cooked Bacon, 4 slices	160	0	12	12	700	0
Grits - Grits, 2 packet	200	44	3	4	620	2
	760	45	45	56	2,545	2
L U N C H
Butternut - Whole Grain White	280	54	3	10	540	8
Nice! - Creamy Peanut Butter, 2 Tbsp	180	8	15	7	130	3
Smucker's - Concord Grape - Jelly	150	39	0	0	15	36
	610	101	18	17	685	47
D I N N E R
Homemade Soft Tacos	870	0	14	12	2,700	6
	870	0	14	12	2,700	6
S N A C K S
Malt-o-meal - Honey Nut Scooters	240	48	3	6	420	18
Stoneground Flake Cereal	440	92	4	16	260	16
Yogurtland - Frozen Yogurt	480	100	0	16	260	72
	1,160	240	7	38	940	106
Totals	3,400	386	84	123	6,870	161
Your Daily Goal	5,874	734	195	294	2,300	220
Remaining	2,474	348	111	171	-4,570	59
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 3,944 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	99	1,373
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	97	1,188
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	97	1,207
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	176
Daily Total / Goal	294 / 30	3,944 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1756 / 210	22,921 / 4,130

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My daughter took an afternoon 5 mile walk with me for the second consecutive day.  On Saturday the temperatures in Chicago were in the mid 90's.  Yesterday, the temperatures had dropped considerably into the mid 60's.  I had never seen this sculpture up close until yesterday.  It is called: BEING BORN

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Being Born ...
Sculptor: Virginio Ferrari ..
Installed: 1983 ...
Description: Stainless steel, granite, and water..
624.9 x 701 x 548.6 cm..
City of Chicago Public Art Collection..
Donated to the people of Chicago by the Tooling and Manufacturing Association (previously known as the Tool and Die Institute).
Initially located at the corner of State and Washington streets, Chicago, Illinois, 1983. Relocated in 1996, with the collaboration of Chicago Gateway Green, to the Donald J. DePorter Gateway, intersection of Ontario, Ohio, and Orleans streets, Chicago, Illinois. Location: Intersection of Ontario, Ohio, and Orleans Sts ..Located at the Ohio Street exit of the Kennedy Expressway.