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alexy 
Posts:170
Zoner
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| 02/09/2009 5:00 PM |
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Hi Suzy,
It's not hunger. And, that period when I was sleeping well for quite a while, and enjoying it--I wasn't zoning really, either. And taking in a fair amount of caffeine and still sleeping well.
And now I have practically no caffeine and I can't sleep!
Thanks ever so much for letting me know what AIZ and OrxZ, it's been a while since I last participated in the forums ... !!
Alexy |
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Cranberrycat
Posts:6019
Zone Expert
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| 02/09/2009 10:11 PM |
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Hey, Alexy, maybe it is all that Zone-favorable energy that is keeping you up at night? LOL!
Karen got the book titles right! I should have just written them out, but it is so easy to abbreviate.
I think you just need to try a little longer with the food diary, put in your foods, activities, how you felt after each meal, etc. Basically anything that you feel is worthwhile to track.
If you are experiencing hunger on a daily basis, then I would assume that you are really not quite in the Zone yet. So, it is possible that this could all turn around and get better after you get the hunger issue resolved. You have other issues, sounds like, with the cortisol levels. Look at chapter 10 in AIZ (Anti-Inflammation Zone).
As far as adjusting your carbs, can you remind me of what you are currently doing/following? Are you carb sensitive? |
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alexy
Posts:170
Zoner
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| 02/10/2009 9:05 AM |
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LOL ... I doubt it.
I have those books around here, I'll hunt them up and read them.
Yeah, I'm hungry quite a lot, and yes, I'm quite carb-sensitive, too. I crash when I eat a lot of oatmeal or oat groats--it's not just constipation.
I'm going with the 3P, 5F, 2C approach, that Sue suggested I do after I tried the traditional zone diet.
I took a new herbal remedy for insomnia last night, and it seemed to improve my sleep, so I'll take that for the next few days and hope my sleep continues to deepen. I'm trying other things too. I'm feeling less sleep-deprived at the moment. I do notice that I tend to become very sleepy at 10 or 11 pm, but get up at 7:30 to 8 a.m., which means I sometimes "sleep" or stay in bed more than eight hours. I wonder if I'm trying to sleep too much, which ends up with my needing less sleep the next night, although I still end up feeling quite sleep-deprived anyway.
The odd thing is when I was sleeping soundly, several months ago, I was actually (bad me! LOL) having quite a bit of caffeinne--coffee, diet coke, dark chocolate, etc., and I'd feel their effects...and still be able to sleep quite well at nighttime. It got tot he point where it felt like, hey, it doesn't matter--I'll sleep anyway. Now I have almost no caffeine, and only in the morning, and I can't sleep!
Yeah, I'm going back to tracking the foods now ... but it's hard to know whether it's my natural response or the elevated cortisol levels from lack of sleep.
Alexy |
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Cranberrycat
Posts:6019
Zone Expert
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| 02/10/2009 1:32 PM |
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Well, you know the routine, you have done it before. It does complicate things when you have other known conditions that contribute to the symptoms.
I think it is really interesting that you have the opposite effect that caffeine has on your sleep! Might be worth resaarching out, maybe there is a reason for that. |
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alexy
Posts:170
Zoner
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| 02/10/2009 5:52 PM |
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Yeah, I know the routine by now, and thanks, for validating the reality that it does complicate things when I have other conditions!
I don't think that caffeine actually makes me sleep ... just that something was going on in my life, something I was or wasn't eating, doing or not doing, etc., that enabled me to sleep so well.
Alexy |
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Cranberrycat
Posts:6019
Zone Expert
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| 02/10/2009 10:18 PM |
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| Oh, another thought...well, how do I put this without offending? But we are all getting older, and many women have sleep disturbances as they are going through the change. I don't know if you are there yet, but really getting solidly into the Zone should help ease the effects. Also, should help cortisol levels. Do you do anything for relaxation? Meditation? Even a nice daily walk would help. Exercise, but not over-exercising. |
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alexy
Posts:170
Zoner
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| 02/11/2009 10:02 AM |
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I'm 42. I don't know. I suspect I'm perimenopausal given my age?
I'm not offended!
Er, I haven't meditated, I did use to. I don't exercise much.
Yeah, I know, I gotta get moving ... lol ... I had a can of diet coke this morning becaue I was trying to wake up.
The new sleep aid I bought didn't help last night, but it seemed to the first time I Tried it. Do you have any recommendations for a good sleep aid??
Alexy |
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Cranberrycat
Posts:6019
Zone Expert
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| 02/11/2009 11:28 AM |
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It is possible that you could be perimenopausal, but it can take years to actually get there. So, it is still possible to reproduce, but may be more difficult.
My suggestion for a sleep aid is NOT something that you would take in the form of a pill or supplement. I would completely cut out the caffeine, don't even use it in the morning. Ingesting caffeine in an effort to stimulate your body is just continuing the vicious circle. I think it is contributing more to the problem that you are having with keeping your hormones under control.
I think I would recommend that you start the next day off without stimulation. Get in a good zoned breakfast, and then work in some exercise if you are able. I don't know what your schedule is like, but if you can take a nice brisk walk in the morning, that may be what you need to stimulate your body and wake up. Then, keep with the Zone eating throughout the day, practice meditation to help decrease stress and cortisol levels.
If you can start out the day like this, you can increase your energy "naturally" and then by the time bedtime rolls around, perhaps you will sleep better. |
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alexy
Posts:170
Zoner
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| 02/11/2009 1:57 PM |
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Ok ... how can a woman know if she's perimenopausal?? I have no idea! My periods *is* changing slowly ...
Ok, I'll try and exercise in the morning and see how that goes ...
Alexy who's still sleep deprived ... |
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