Not a spectacular day, I've eaten better, definitely eaten worse

Wednesday was an all day tradeshow in Shipshewana, Indiana.  At the conclusion of that show, I packed my bags and headed to Rockford, Illinois, in order to be in place for an appointment in Pecatonica on Thursday morning.





.
It is actually surprising that I reached 10,000 steps yesterday without making an effort... I simply walked 10,000 steps living my life... walking back and forth during a tradeshow, and walking back and forth to the car to load and unload my samples.

.

.



.

STILL OFF THE RAILS (DAY 111)

I am slipping into some bad habits again.... What is my problem?
No seriously, I need to know.

ELLIPTICAL (DAY 106)

It has been a very, very long time since I have spent time on an elliptical machine... I am guessing that it's been way more than one year... And yet, that is precisely where I found myself for one hour on Tuesday night... 

one hour on an elliptical machine, allegedly burned 535 calories

MONON TRAIL (DAY 72)

Back in Indianapolis on Tuesday night, same hotel I lodged on Sunday night.
Found time to take off for a hike in the waning hours of sunlight, although I returned in darkness.
For this hike, I headed to 86th street and headed east 4.5 miles to the MONON Trail.
I only hiked about 1.5 miles on the trail before I headed back.
When this hike was over, I had logged 12 miles.
For the second consecutive day, my calories were a bit on the 'high side' compared to recent weeks.
I really hope that when this week is over, I have still managed to shed a pound or two.

PRE-DAWN URBAN HIKE (DAY 65)

On Tuesday, I needed to pick up a colleague at the airport, and immediately travel 100 miles west to visit a customer. After that visit we traveled another 100 miles to be in place for a Wednesday morning appointment in Forsyth, Illinois. I knew there would be very little time to get a walk accomplished as the day unfolded. So, for the first time, in a very long time, I popped out of bed and set out for a pre-dawn 5:30AM walk. That's not to shabby to have logged a seven mile urban hike prior to eating breakfast.

DAY 29

Monday was the 29th consecutive day that my caloric consumption was in the neighborhood of 1000. Weight is melting off me... I weighed myself on Monday morning... and I had dipped (ever so slightly) under 260. considering that I was 283.6 four Mondays ago.... That's good!

.

.

Day 17

On Wednesday I woke up, wide awake, at 2AM after settling in at 10PM the night before. For one hour I restlessly tried to get back asleep, but I was already 'woke.' (that word is an homage to extremely low-IQ US Congressperson Maxine Waters and her instruction to "Stay Woke")  I worked on my business facebook page for a couple of hours and at 5AM, I decided to put some steps on the 'scoreboard' with a 3 mile pre-sunrise walk. I was sore for a couple of days after my 10 mile jaunt on Sunday. Wednesday morning, I felt great. I extended my 3 mile =walk to a six mile walk. Great way to start a day, 10,000 steps already 'in the bank' before breakfast.

.

.

.

.

feeling good after a six mile 5:00AM Urban Hike

BAD PARKING SPOT

This picture is one type of bad parking.  My 'bad' parking spot yesterday morning was nothing like this.

Yesterday morning, before my appointment, I wanted to buy  coconut water at a Walmart in the suburbs. I parked my car and I walked three miles before I entered through the front door. One might think that I had found a particularly bad parking spot. That was not the case at all. I simply found a way to squeeze in a three mile walk before I crossed through the front door of the store.  As it turned out, this mini three mile suburban hike was my longest walk of the day, so I was glad to have squeezed it into my schedule.

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line - but  that's no way to accumulate steps on your fitbit.

Your Food Diary For:

Friday, October 20, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Grits	300	66	5	6	930	3
	300	66	5	6	930	3
L U N C H
Mostaccioli w/Meat Sauce	350	51	9	16	728	9
Shrimp - Cooked, breaded and fried	250	12	13	22	355	0
	600	63	22	38	1,083	9
D I N N E R
Shrimp Spring Rolls	250	26	13	6	647	1
Vita Coco - Pure Coconut Water	270	66	0	0	450	66
	520	92	13	6	1,097	67
S N A C K S
Colby & Monterey Jack cheese	160	0	14	10	260	0
Dark Chocolate Almonds	220	17	15	4	0	12
	380	17	29	14	260	12
Totals	1,800	238	69	64	3,370	91
Your Daily Goal	2,597	324	86	130	2,300	97
Remaining	797	86	17	66	-1,070	6
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 667 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 219.5 lbs in 5 weeks     

.

SATURDAY - WEIGH IN

238.0 lbs

underwhelming progress for the week, but progress nevertheless.

.

I am down 24 pounds in the last two months. This is a testament to how far backwards I had gone. The good thing is that I finally reversed course and I am now skiing downhill!

.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE...

IT'S BEEN A WHILE since I have walked as much as I did last week.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE since I have accumulated as many steps as I did.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE since I have lost 3 pounds in one week.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE since I have been so confident.

Last week, I walked....92 miles

...17 miles on Saturday
...12 miles on Friday
...16 miles on Thursday
...16 miles on Wednesday
... 7 miles on Tuesday
...11 miles on Monday
...13 miles on Sunday

Last week, my total steps as recorded by my fitbit 229,176
The last time, I stepped so much was the week that ended November 26, 2016 when I hit 231,085.

I do not aspire to walk this much all the time. There were weeks during the past summer where my urban hiking was zero. Somehow, I had lost my desire to traipse through Chicago neighborhoods seeking some level of fitness. I am glad that I have recaptured the desire in recent weeks. Walking is good exercise, it contributes very little when it comes to weight loss, but it sure doesn't hurt.

Compared to some of my more recent jaunts, my hike on Sunday was a low key affair. It was just 7.5 miles. This particular urban hike was with my 15 year old daughter, and I always enjoy when she joins me.

Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, September 24, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker Oats instant grits - Instant Grits, 4 package	400	88	6	8	1,240	0
	400	88	6	8	1,240	0
L U N C H
Little Salad Bar - Asian Chopped Salad	385	46	21	7	1,190	25
365 Organic - Water Crackers, 4 crackers	70	12	2	1	50	0
Here - Beetroot dip, 2 oz	70	12	2	4	230	0
Vita Coco - 100% Pure Coconut Water	240	60	0	0	148	60
	765	130	25	12	1,618	85
D I N N E R
Hot Dog with Bun, 2	600	45	37	21	1,640	6
	600	45	37	21	1,640	6
S N A C K S
Whole Foods Wasabi Rice Crackers	250	52	3	4	177	0
	250	52	3	4	177	0
Totals	2,015	315	71	45	4,675	91
Your Daily Goal	3,042	380	101	153	2,300	114
Remaining	1,027	65	30	108	-2,375	23
	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 227.3 lbs in 5 weeks 

.

CHAIN GANG

My daughter is a cheerleader at her high school. When there is a home football game, my wife and I attend to watch the cheerleaders (as well as the football game)   I do not know too much about football. I often watch as many as one game per year, The Super Bowl, and sometimes I don't even watch that game. My knowledge of football is slightly better than my knowledge of cricket. And yet, last evening I volunteered to be a member of the chain gang.

In gridiron football, the chain crew (commonly known as the "chain gang") is a crew that manages signal poles on one of the sidelines. The chain crew, under the direction of the head linesman, signals the officials' decisions; it does not make decisions. Players look to the chain crew to see the down number and the line to gain. Officials may rely on the chain crew after a play (incomplete pass or penalty) whose outcome depends on the original spot of the ball. (wikipedia)

After two days of logging 30000+ steps, I was convinced that I should take it easy on Friday. I had about 12000 steps when I casually walked over to the football stadium for the game. Right before kickoff, I had just under 20000 steps. During the entire game while I was on the chain crew I accumulated an additional 10000 steps as I was marching in place, when I wasn't marching up and down the field.

Your Food Diary For:

Friday, September 8, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Egg - Poached Eggs	300	2	20	25	629	1
Luna - Mint Chocolate Protein Bar, 1 bar	170	20	5	12	250	13
	470	22	25	37	879	14
L U N C H
Little Salad Bar - Asian Chopped Salad	385	46	21	7	1,190	25
Aldi Specially Selected - Prosciutto Panino	600	2	46	46	1,454	2
	985	48	67	53	2,644	27
D I N N E R
Taco Bell - Beefy Potatorito, 1 burrito	450	45	24	14	1,030	3
	450	45	24	14	1,030	3
S N A C K S
Jacobs - Crackers, 6 crackers	210	33	7	5	1	1
Peanut Butter, 2 tbsp	190	8	16	7	140	3
	400	41	23	12	141	4
Totals	2,305	156	139	116	4,694	48
Your Daily Goal	2,603	325	86	131	2,300	97
Remaining	298	169	-53	15	-2,394	49
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 673 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 240.6 lbs in 5 weeks     

.

Weight loss is funny. Let me amend that. Losing weight can be frustrating.  My weight this morning, Saturday, was 255.8 lbs. I lost only one pound this week? I had expected better results. One result which has been sharp, has been my increased energy level. I just need to keep at it. And I will.

BLUFF TRAIL BRANSON

My travels in Missouri had me overnight in Branson, Missouri.  I scooted into town around 6PM, and quickly set out for a short one mile hike from my hotel to the Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area and the Bluff Trail. The Bluff Trail involved climbing down (and then back up again) 315 stonework steps originally built in the late 1930's. My complete hike from hotel and back was six miles.

.

Your Food Diary For:

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Apples & Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal	780	162	9	18	1,020	72
	780	162	9	18	1,020	72
L U N C H
Caseys - Turkey Club Wrap, 1 Wrap	390	42	15	21	1,310	0
	390	42	15	21	1,310	0
D I N N E R
Big Daddy charbroil and cheese , 1 package	780	65	43	32	1,460	11
North Star - Fudge Bar - 100 Calorie, 1 Bar	100	22	0	2	90	17
	880	87	43	34	1,550	28
S N A C K S
Clif - Builder's Protein Bar	540	60	18	40	400	42
	540	60	18	40	400	42
Totals	2,590	351	85	113	4,280	142
Your Daily Goal	2,941	367	98	148	2,300	110
Remaining	351	16	13	35	-1,980	-32
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

.

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
BRANSON BLUFF TRAIL HIKE	117	903
Daily Total / Goal	117 / 30	903 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	218 / 210	1,383 / 4,130

form http://www.bransonparksandrecreation.com

Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area is in the heart of Branson and offers a nature escape with 140 acres of wooded and rugged hill country.  From its inception in 1998, the park was envisioned to be a showcase for nature and beauty in the Ozarks.  With its proximity to Highway 76, it is very accessible to residents and visitors alike.  After the acquisition of the Owen's Homestead in 2010, we have devoted time and energy to improving the park, including a new entrance feature.  A large wooden log archway over an ornamental iron gate with a decorative native stone veneer welcomes visitors to the park.  With sustainable concepts in mind, a plan was developed for a parking lot that will eliminate surface runoff by capturing the storm water in a state-of-the-art underground "water harvesting system".  This water is then pressurized and supplies the water for an adjoining irrigation system.  The 6,000 square foot parking lot made of donated permeable parking lot paver stones is complete, with a walkway made of trail pavers currently under construction, giving the park improved access to walkers from Highway 76.  In the last two years, 1.3 miles of trail have been added, which now totals 4.4 miles of trails.  More trails are planned in the future.

blu

The Bluff Trail starts through an upland forest where mature trees dominate and the fairly level 3/10 mile trail makes for an easy walk to the steps.  A set of 315 stonework steps lead down toward Lake Taneycomo. Fairly steep in design, this part of the trail takes some agility, along with a good pair of lungs and comfortable walking shoes. Many spots allow passage for only one person. The steps were built from 1937-1938. Inscribed in mortar on a step near the bottom are the building  dates and the names of the workers, along with this testament of their hard work, “Let those who tread here not forget, that these steps were not made of stone and mortar alone, but of sweat, blood, and agony.” While walking the steps, you will see the first of two caves located in the wilderness area.  At the bottom of the steps, the 1/5 mile Bluff Trail will take you by a grotto and waterfall and end at the Old Soldier's Cave.  The total mileage for Trail 1 is 7/10 mile (one way).