NETFLIX BINGE WATCHING

Anyone can binge watch TV on netflix. Binge watchers often curl up on the couch and get dug in for a few hours of episodic TV. I do things a bit differently. Naturally. I started watching a very creepy and equally engaging show this past weekend: The Followers. This show is about a charismatic serial killer who heads a vicious cult of like-minded misfits. Kevin Bacon is the actor charged with ending this reign of terror. On Saturday night I woke up around 2:00AM and started watching netflix. I watched for a few hours before daybreak. And during every minutes of this binge watching I was walking in place getting in steps and more steps. During the day, I did take an actual urban hike of seven miles with my daughter. During the afternoon and up until midnight, my binge-watching continued. When the clock struck 12:00 midnight my fitbit showed that I had exceeded 70,000 steps for the day. I am well aware that stepping in place does not generate the same benefit as actual walking, but I am sure that its benefit is better than just being slouched in a couch for the equivalent amount of time. 

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Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, November 5, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Cheerios - Pumpkin Spice	700	140	13	13	763	51
Campbell's  Chunky Soup Hearty Beef Barley	280	48	3	16	1,580	12
	980	188	16	29	2,343	63
L U N C H
Wasabi Rice Crackers	420	88	5	7	298	0
Sushi Salmon Roll	300	44	8	13	709	6
	720	132	13	20	1,007	6
D I N N E R
Read - 3 Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
Campbell's - Chunky Soup - Hearty Beef Barley	280	48	3	16	1,580	12
	580	113	3	21	3,080	52
S N A C K S
Yogurt Almonds	300	30	19	5	27	26
	300	30	19	5	27	26
Totals	2,580	463	51	75	6,457	147
Your Daily Goal	2,980	372	99	150	2,300	111
Remaining	400	-91	48	75	-4,157	-36
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,050 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 219.9 lbs in 5 weeks.

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SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG STICK

"Speak softly and carry a big stick." This quotation has been attributed to President Theodore Roosevelt.  Although I did carry my big (walking) stick during my 10 mile hike at Indiana Dunes yesterday, today I want to speak loudly.

Our President, Donald Trump has been saying lots about the ungrateful, unpatriotic, unthinking NFL Football Players who have been disrespecting our flag and our country. Does anyone really know what this protest is about? There is no one, including me, who denies that these players have the 'right' to 'take a knee' or sit or even fail to appear on the field during the National Anthem. Good, so we all agree to this. The thing is, the NFL is a private organization and they have lots of rules that impinge on the players 'rights.'  For example, let's say that a player scores a touchdown and wants to do a little jig, waltz or cha cha in the End Zone... Now, I don't know too much about football, but I do know that this is not allowed.  Apparently his right to free speech is curtailed. Say for example, a player wanted to wear pink socks to honor someone in his family that was fighting breast cancer... Again, I repeat, I don't know too much about football, but I do know that this is not allowed. Apparently his right to free speech is curtailed. So this is what I want to see to the football players, the owners, the sportswriters and every other dope who thinks this 'taking a knee' is a good idea. Shut up. Respect our flag, Respect our country, and respect yourselves. Because if you do not,  the 11% decline  in television viewership will only accelerate, while more and more Americans will simply find another diversion. Dennis Prager, astute radio host, and author, has been suggesting lately that badminton is an exciting game. Now, if I can only find my shuttlecock...

* * * * * * * * * *

My day yesterday started at 4:00AM when my alarm went off. I needed to be in Warsaw, Indiana for a 9:00AM appointment about 2.5 hours from Chicago. Unfortunately, Indiana is in the Eastern Time Zone, so I needed to be well on my way by 5:00AM to insure that I would be on time.  On my return trip home, I stopped at Indiana Dunes and took an actual hike of 10 miles. I do enjoy my urban hikes. But I much prefer a hike at the Dunes which is evenly divided between walking through a forested area and walking right on the beach where Lake Michigan meets the beach. Plus, I like breaking out my recently acquired walking stick, which comes in real handy when one is trying to climb a mountain of sand. 

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Your Food Diary For:

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker Oats instant grits - Instant Grits, 4	400	88	6	8	1,240	0
	400	88	6	8	1,240	0
L U N C H
Jimmy John's - Bootlegger, 1 sandwich	684	67	24	42	1,660	0
Fresh Thyme Coconut Water w/pulp	140	32	0	0	0	0
	824	99	24	42	1,660	0
D I N N E R
Trader Joe's - Mahi Mahi Burgers, 1 patty	110	1	5	15	320	0
Read - 3 Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
Campbell's Manhattan Clam Chowder	240	36	6	10	1,600	6
	650	102	11	30	3,420	46
S N A C K S
Fruitfull - Coconut Ice Cream, 3 cup	135	14	8	2	35	13
	135	14	8	2	35	13
Totals	2,009	303	49	82	6,355	59
Your Daily Goal	3,330	416	111	167	2,300	125
Remaining	1,321	113	62	85	-4,055	66
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,400 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 224.4 lbs in 5 weeks     

BETTER CALL SAUL

The other day I was talking about binge-watching Longmire on Netflix. I was saying that I was not a good candidate to watch episodic TV week after week. A perfect example of this inability to watch a TV show at a designated time was a show that premiered on AMC last winter, Better Call Saul. Better Call Saul is a spinoff prequel which focuses on the life of the popular character, Saul Goodman prior to the events that took place in Breaking Bad. As the premier date approached last year, I was looking forward to this show.  I did manage to watch the premiere and I managed to watch one more show and then I either forgot about it, or my schedule prevented me from keeping up with it and I did not continue with it. This week I have been focused on my training on the AMT elliptical at my local YMCA which has excellent wifi.  I was very pleased to discover on February 1, that all 10 episodes of Season 1 of this show 'dropped' on Netflix. Finally, I have the chance to watch this show, and my two hour workouts zip by faster than ever. Season 2 of this show begins on television towards the middle of this month. I am going to try (and probably fail) to watch the show on a weekly basis. And if I fail, I can look forward to the next 10 episodes appearing on Netflix next year.

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Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Quaker - Instant Oatmeal - Original, 3 packet (28 g)	300	57	6	12	225	0
3 Egg Omelette - Ham and Cheese, 1 Omelette	400	1	30	40	1,225	0
WHOLE FOODS 8497 - CHERRY VANILLA GRANOLA, 110 g (3/4 cup)	480	80	14	10	120	30
	1,180	138	50	62	1,570	30
L U N C H
Chicken-noodle Casserole, 3 Cup	765	90	30	63	2,685	0
WHOLE FOODS 9269 - DRIED PAPAYA, 6 slices	100	25	0	1	10	15
WHOLE FOODS 5536 - YOGURT ALMONDS	220	22	14	4	20	19
WHOLE FOODS 9269 - DRIED PAPAYA, 6 slices	100	25	0	1	10	15
	1,185	162	44	69	2,725	49
D I N N E R
Fiorucci - Prosciutto Panino, 2 pieces	125	1	10	9	170	0
EARTHBOUND FARM - ORGANIC BABY SPINACH, 85 g (approx 3 oz, two cups)	20	0	0	2	65	0
365 - Hearts of Palm: Salad Cut, 1 cup	50	10	0	4	580	0
Louis Kemp - Crab Delights Leg Style, 3 legs (85g)	70	11	0	6	430	1
Roundy's - Asparagus Spears, 1.75 Cup	70	11	0	7	1,225	11
Eggs - Hard Boiled - Large, 1 egg	78	1	5	6	62	1
Ham slices - Ham pieces, 3 oz	160	4	10	14	1,000	2
	573	37	25	48	3,532	14
S N A C K S
Cheerios - Honey Nut Cheerios Medley, 3 cup	480	96	6	12	480	36
	480	96	6	12	480	36
Totals	3,418	433	125	191	8,307	129
Your Daily Goal	4,265	533	142	214	2,300	160
Remaining	847	99	17	22	-6,007	30
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 2,335 extra calories from exercise today

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	Your Exercise Diary for:
	Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
PRECOR AMT (ADAPTIVE MOTION TRAINER)	125	2,384
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-49
Daily Total / Goal	126 / 30	2,335 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	252 / 210	4,932 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 3418 calories

total calories burned (125 min elliptical) 2384 calories

total net 1034 calories

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fitbit day 150

16658 steps
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HAVE BACKPACK, WILL TRAVEL

These days, it just makes me so happy to strap on my backpack.  I usually load my backpack with some apples and/or granola bars with some water bottles and off I go. The very first method of exercise that I chose when my weight loss journey began back on December 2014 was walking - on the treadmill.  That did get boring quickly - and I 'graduated' to the elliptical machine. After my hike up and down Half Dome I greatly enjoy walking (hiking) anywhere with my backpack. I make sure to challenge myself and I walk as fast as I can. I am walking nearly (but not quite) 5 mph when I first start. A few weeks ago, I 'discovered' that bike riding was a good method of transportation (travel) and more recently I have 'discovered' that walking is also a great method of travel. Besides, once you arrive wherever it is that you are going, there is no equipment to lock up. My new hobby of walking reminds me of the old TV western: HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL.  My slogan, these days, could easily be: HAVE BACKPACK, WILL TRAVEL.

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After my workday concluded on Monday, I returned home eager to take a long walk.  This time, I turned north once outside my front door.  I specifically tried to walk so that I never recrossed my steps on any part of the map.  When this 'walk' was completed, I had managed to once again, walk 13.1 miles. I have now completed two back-to-back half marathons on consecutive days. Normally, this would have proven to me that I was capable of walking a full marathon.  I don't need any proof.  I walked a complete marathon a little over one week ago. I am a calorie consuming, fat burning, weight losing machine. Since I have rediscovered 'walking' - my weight loss has resumed. My weight had been bouncing around 225, 226, 227, 228 lbs for nearly 6 months.  Recently, I have resumed the downward trend on my scale.  I am on the verge of checking in under 220 lbs for the first time in many weeks. I have renewed my original goal of approaching a weight loss of 100 lbs.  At this point, my weight loss is 90 lbs from my initial weight of 309 lbs on December 24, 2014.  In the past year, it has been my physical abilities that has been increasing with each passing month - even as my weight loss had stalled.  Now, once again, my weight loss is active again. YEP, that's me... HAVE BACKPACK, WILL TRAVEL!

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It is said that the color BLACK makes one look thinner.  Yesterday during my walk I was wearing black workout pants and a black long sleeve t-shirt.  When I look at these photographs, I admit I do look thinner.  I am not sure if it the color BLACK that is responsible or the fact that I weigh about 90 lbs less than I did last Deember.  Upon further reflection, it is likely the latter.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Apparently weight loss not only can make someone look thinner, it can often make someone look younger too.  This photograph of me was taken when my daughter, Sara, was just a few week old in 2002, nearly 14 years ago.  I know I look thinner now.  I suppose it is debateable whether or not I actually look younger today. It is not debatable that I currently look better!

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Your Food Diary For:

Monday, October 19, 2015 

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
John McCann Steel Cut - Oat Meal, 1 cup	600	108	0	16	0	0
FARM FRESH EGG-LAND'S. BEST - GRADE A EGG LARGE, 2 egg	120	0	8	12	130	0
Roundy's - Center Cut Bacon, 3 Slices	70	0	4	7	220	0
Quaker - Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bar, 2 bar (24G)	200	34	7	2	150	14
Quick Tools	990	142	19	37	500	14
L U N C H
Forrelli - Rice Cakes, 18 slice	360	72	0	0	0	0
WHOLE FOODS 5536 - YOGURT ALMONDS, 74.0 g (approx 12 pcs)	407	41	26	7	37	35
WHOLE FOODS - MILK CHOCOLATE CHERRIES, 46.0 g (approx 9 pieces)	207	29	11	2	11	24
Generic - Kashi Cherry Dark Chocolate, 2 bar	240	48	4	10	130	16
Quick Tools	1,214	189	41	20	179	75
D I N N E R
Campbell's Chunky - Manhattan Clam Chowder, 2 cup	240	36	6	10	1,600	6
Pampa - Seafood Cocktail In Brine: Clams, Scallops & Mussels, 112 g	90	2	2	14	210	0
Snap Kitchen - Crunchy Coconut Shrimp (SM), 226.8 g	240	26	8	18	470	4
Quick Tools	570	64	16	42	2,280	10
Totals	2,774	395	76	99	2,959	99
Your Daily Goal	4,424	553	147	222	2,300	166
Remaining	1,650	157	70	123	-658	66
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 2,494 extra calories from exercise today

	1,650	157	70	123	-658	66
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Your Exercise Diary for:  Monday, October 19, 2015  Cardiovascular Minutes Calories Burned Walking, 4.5 mph, very, very brisk pace 167 2,672 MFP iOS calorie adjustment  N/A -178 Add Exercise Quick Tools Daily Total / Goal 168 / 30 2,494 / 590 Weekly Total / Goal 168 / 210 2,494 / 4,130 TOTAL CALORIES CONSUMED 2724 CALORIES TOTAL CALORIES BURNED 2672 NET CALORIES MONDAY 52 CALORIES ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  fitbit day 47 27621 steps ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~	*You've earned 2,494 extra calories from exercise today