THIS IS IT

Well, this may not be IT.
But it is me, standing in front of a wall mural advertising the new Stephen King flick, IT.
I just downloaded iOS 11 last night, and Apple has upgraded the efficiency of the iphone camera.
Perhaps it is my imagination, but I do think that colors captured by this photograph are more vivid.
Whatever. It is what it is. Obviously.

As I set out for my urban hike right around 3:00PM, it can be said that yesterday's twelve mile jaunt was the first  of the new fall season. Ironically, it felt more like one of the hottest days of the summer.

Since the universe tends to run like 'clockwork' it is easy to make certain predictions. It is easy to predict when the seasons change, and it is easy to predict phases of the moon, and for that matter, it is easy to predict solar eclipses...years, decades or even centuries into the future. As predicted, Summer gave way to Autumn yesterday afternoon in Chicago at 3:02PM. Apparently someone forgot to tell the weather forecasters, because they correctly predicted that the temperatures would approach 90°F in the late afternoon. Still seemed like summer to me.

Your Food Diary For:

Friday, September 22, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Scrambled Eggs	325	3	22	28	317	2
Nova Lox Haven - Smoked Salmon	100	0	6	12	650	0
Kraft  Ham and American Cheese	340	37	16	11	620	17
	765	40	44	51	1,587	19
L U N C H
Jimmy John's - Bootlegger Unwich	320	3	22	28	1,120	0
	320	3	22	28	1,120	0
D I N N E R
Bagel With Cream Cheese	400	58	12	13	780	4
	400	58	12	13	780	4
S N A C K S
Chewy Oat & Honey Cranola Bar	400	76	8	8	220	28
	400	76	8	8	220	28
Totals	1,885	177	86	100	3,707	51
Your Daily Goal	3,649	456	121	183	2,300	136
Remaining	1,764	279	35	83	-1,407	85
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,719 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 222.8 lbs in 5 weeks     

SATURDAY...TIME TO WEIGH IN

This morning I weighed 250.2 lbs. 
I lost an additional 3.1 lbs this past week.

On August 26, just one month ago my weight has crested at 263.3 lbs.
I WAS depressed.
I was NOT walking.
I was NOT eating well.
I was NOT blogging.

Fast forward one month.
I am NOT depressed.
I AM walking.
I AM eating well (OK, technically not well, but certainly better)
I AM blogging.

THIS IS IT.
It appears to me that I have recaptured the will to succeed that had evaded me for way too long.

SPRING

Today, March 20, 2017 is the first day of spring. (for us earthlings in the northern hemisphere)  Although it is true that every day is a good day to make changes in one's life, some days are seemingly just perfect. The first day of spring appears to be one such day.  I have a bunch of changes to make in my culinary habits. Today, like everyday, is a good day to start. 

Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, March 19, 2017

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
	500	105	5	10	1,700	5
L U N C H
Omelette - 3-egg Omelette With Cheese	425	0	21	28	650	2
Johnsonville 170 - Polish Kielbasa Sausage	170	2	15	7	570	1
Trader Joes - Hash Brown Patty, 1 patty	130	14	8	1	250	0
	725	16	44	36	1,470	3
D I N N E R
Kirkland Signature Pizza	760	83	31	35	1,956	6
	760	83	31	35	1,956	6
Totals	1,985	204	80	81	5,126	14
Your Daily Goal	2,796	349	93	140	2,300	104
Remaining	811	145	13	59	-2,826	90
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking	71	798
Daily Total / Goal	71 / 30	798 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	313 / 210	4,052 / 4,130

CHANGING SEASONS

One thing interesting about living in North America is experiencing the changing seasons. Definitionally there are four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. One of the most amusing articles of clothing that I once saw for sale in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was a shirt that said: The 4 Seasons of the UP: Early Winter, Winter, Late Winter, and Next Winter.  Here in Chicago where I live, we are said to have only two seasons: Winter and Construction. Personally, I have concluded that my life revolves around these four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Netflix. As the colder weather sweeps in, I have noticed that I have and will continue to spend much more time indoors with my workouts on an elliptical machine rather than walking or hiking inside.

Yesterday, I did actually squeeze in a four mile urban hike before my late morning appointment. However, I have come to recognize that I will be indoors more and more as the mercury drops. The 10-Days Forecast in Chicago shows no day forecasted to have high temperatures that will rise above freezing, 32°F. I think that there is going to be a lot of Netflix in my immediate future. If you know of something that I should be watching, please let me know.

The 10-Day forecast for Chicago shows that we will never actually get above freezing for the foreseeable (forecastable) future.

Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Creamy Wheat - Enriched Farina	600	125	0	20	425	5
Kellogg's - Raisin Bran Crunch	400	95	2	8	421	40
	1,000	220	2	28	846	45
L U N C H
Ponzu Chicken	400	1	16	60	832	1
Mashed Yams	200	37	4	3	229	2
Sweet Butternut Squash	200	32	7	0	12	10
	800	70	27	63	1,073	13
D I N N E R
Hard Shell Taco	850	60	50	40	1,550	5
	850	60	50	40	1,550	5
S N A C K S
DARK CHOCOLATE GINGER	600	124	15	0	150	109
	600	124	15	0	150	109
Totals	3,250	474	94	131	3,619	172
Your Daily Goal	4,042	505	134	203	2,300	151
Remaining	792	31	40	72	-1,319	-21
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 2,112 extra calories from exercise today

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
4 mile urban hike	51	775
Elliptical Trainer	99	1,010
Elliptical Trainer	99	825
Daily Total / Goal	249 / 30	2,610 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	348 / 210	3,519 / 4,130

.

.

.

.

.

WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS NEED TO BE LIFTED - SOON

Today I visited a customer in Wisconsin. This customer reviewed my entire button line, my entire trim line and my entire Japanese fabric line. Normally, my lines would have been three heavy suitcases. I am currently under doctors orders to refrain from lifting more than 15 pounds. Some of my suitcases when full weigh 75 pounds or more. I have removed all the suitcases from my car and put my lines in multiple canvas tote bags. I made nearly 10 trips in and out of the store to bring in my lines and made the same number of trips to get my lines back out to the car again. Although the staff at the store offered to assist me - I just figured I would be accumulating steps on my fitbit. Later today, Friday, I visit my surgeon again. The last time I saw him, two weeks ago, I was lying in an operating room staring at bright lights overhead. I am hopeful that he will determine that I have healed according to schedule. I really need to be allowed to lift more than 15 pounds - soon.

I desperately need my spring weight restrictions lifted!

Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, May 12, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Quaker - Grits - Instant - Original, 2 packet	200	44	0	4	620	0
Sage - Red Delicious Apple, 2 medium apple	190	50	1	1	4	38
Mozzerella Cheese and Proschiutto	80	0	6	7	340	0
Hormel-Kirkland Signature - Bacon	160	0	12	12	700	0
	630	94	19	24	1,664	38
L U N C H
roast beef and provolone cheese, 1 sandwich	390	41	15	26	1,430	4
Apple, Red Delicious, Medium, 2 medium apple	190	50	0	0	4	38
	580	91	15	26	1,434	42
D I N N E R
Manhattan Clam Chowder, 2 cup	240	36	6	10	1,600	6
Butternut - Enriched Hot Dog Bun, 2 bun	220	42	3	6	440	4
Nathan's - Beef Hot Dog, 2 Hot Dog	300	2	26	12	820	0
	760	80	35	28	2,860	10
Totals	1,970	265	69	78	5,958	90
Your Daily Goal	2,002	250	66	101	2,300	75
Remaining	32	-15	-2	23	-3,657	-14
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 72 extra calories from exercise today

.