cranberrycat
Senior Member
Posts:9137
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| 22 Nov 2010 10:32 AM |
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Laurie usually starts out our weekly thread, but she must be busy this week, as we all are! The holidays are approaching, and we are all gearing up for the big feast on Thursday! I hope we can all share our personal challenges and solutions, especially in light of the upcoming feast. What do you like to eat on Thanksgiving? What do you see as a challenge for you? Do you want to post a recipe to see if it can be tweaked to fit in the Zone? Post it, lets deal with it! |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Laurie
Advanced Member
Posts:771
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| 22 Nov 2010 01:27 PM |
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Thanks Cran! Yep, packing for a flight tonight, up to NY to visit family for the week -- thanks for covering the new thread! Have a great week all  ! Laurie |
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130 pounds lost/maintaining since July 2009
body fat % (start/goal/current) 49.8/22/23 |
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cranberrycat
Senior Member
Posts:9137
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| 22 Nov 2010 01:30 PM |
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Sounds great! Have a nice flight and a great time with your family! |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Margaret
Basic Member
Posts:141
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| 22 Nov 2010 06:22 PM |
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Well, I thought I would write for the number of people who are struggling with food. It really seems endless the amount of incorrect food one can consume. I am buying the entire meal cooked. I am hoping to eat only turkey and the vegetables. The dessert is an apple cobbler which I am sure I will not resist. At least I purposely cancelled a Thanksgiving buffet reservation in which the food would have been impossible to resist especially the desserts. I know I will go out of the zone but I am hoping it will not be really bad and I can exercise off my extra calories. |
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cranberrycat
Senior Member
Posts:9137
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| 22 Nov 2010 10:04 PM |
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I am in control of my "destiny". I am cooking the turkey, and I am also bringing along several veggie dishes. I plan to stick with that, and perhaps add a few of the unfavorables to my plate in "condiment" portions. Hang in there, Margaret! |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Tech Support
Advanced Member
Posts:735
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| 23 Nov 2010 08:23 AM |
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I just want to say remember timing and balance. So, if you are having cobbler (yeah it's not the best choice but it is Thanksgiving after all), wait 4-5 hours after the meal and balance it with protein even if it's more turkey.
You dampen down the insulin spike and still get to enjoy, after all it's not something you do every day but that way you are making the best of it!
Balance and timing. |
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xee
Basic Member
Posts:191
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| 23 Nov 2010 08:52 AM |
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I'm confused... I thought you should have protein with the unfavourable carb to balance it. Why why 4-5 hrs later? Shouldn't you have a complete (P-C-F) block 4-5 hrs later?
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cranberrycat
Senior Member
Posts:9137
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| 23 Nov 2010 09:09 AM |
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We usually don't have our dessert right away, but I don't think any of them will wait 4-5 hours. Maybe a few hours later... enough time to get the dishes done and put away, start off a game of cards, take a break for some coffee. Also, it would be nice to balance it out with protein, if possible, but would have to keep the dessert portions small. |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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xee
Basic Member
Posts:191
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| 23 Nov 2010 08:22 PM |
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Oh, now I understand... have dessert 4-5 hrs after the meal and with protein. I read that wrong.
And yeah... what Cran said. Who waits 4-5 hrs after dinner to have dessert?
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Margaret
Basic Member
Posts:141
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| 23 Nov 2010 08:25 PM |
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Thanks. Actually knowing Cranberrycat wants to eat balanced gives me a little more determination and will power. Sue's idea of reading Toxic Fat is a good one. I will start the book tomorrow. I put Sue's Bread pudding in my eating journal for another time. Also, next week I am getting the 2 week zone diet again to get myself motivated. I really want to try to lose this fat. Happy Thanksgiving. |
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Christie
Basic Member
Posts:103
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| 24 Nov 2010 04:45 AM |
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I'm using Thanksgiving as my free day. In my 3 months Zoning I have only had two meals that were not completely by the book nutritious. Both of those were planned meals and I counted each meal as a total free day (one for each month). In one, I cooked for my son's birthday (they always get to pick the menu) and even though the preparation wasn't the most nutritious I did use the plate method to balance my carbs and proteins. The other meal was a McRib - I know, I know - but I swear they put drugs in the sauce. I went to the McDonald's website and got the C/P/F information. I balanced it out on carbs and protein by adding a mozzarella cheese stick. So while the fat was out of control at least I balanced the other two - I think it ended up making it a 5 block meal which isn't great but I was proud that I took the time to make conscious choices. So for Thanksgiving I am using it as a free day, but will be using the plate method to at least keep things somewhat balanced just with a higher caloric, less nutritious version.
Safe and happy travels to Laurie and anyone else who is travelling. I hope that you each have a blessed day filled with family and love. |
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John
Veteran Member
Posts:2199
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| 24 Nov 2010 08:40 AM |
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I don't usually post my challenges, since I have basically been in maintenance mode for quite a while.
But in light of Thanksgiving and help for newbies, I'd thought I'd add my thoughts on tomorrow, ThanksGiving.
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Nearly 8 years ago, April 2003, I started Zone with Sears Omega-3 Fish oil.
Long story short, dropped Cholesterol from 284 to 204 in three months.
Weight went from 225 to high 180's in about 6+ months.
I stalled at low 180's for a while and just maintained.
A few years ago, I redoubled my effort and went more strict Zone, again.
I went down to 175 and continued to 173 to 174 pounds weight.
I have been able to maintain that weight.
(My "Chart Ideal" weight is 169 pounds.)
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Then, finally, about late summer this year, I finally started exercising.
And though gaining muscle, I maintained and remained steady at 172-173 pounds.
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The last few weeks I was determined to make progress. Lately, I noticed that I might have been eating more fat than I need, even on weight maintenance (as opposed to weight loss). So, I started tracking my food, again, on SparkPeople. And sure enough, my fat intake was a little high - even for weight maintenance.
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With a second effort, concentrating on my fat intake, I have been able to cut down. For the last few days, my weight has been around 170-171 pounds. And this morning, unbelievably, I was at 169.8 pounds.
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So, though I have always indulged and treated ThansGiving as a big cheat day, I am reconsidering, as I'd hate to go above 170 pounds now, though I probably will on Friday morning - it is incentive enough to at least moderate my cheat day - tomorrow.
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~john --> Happily married 26 years --> 07 Feb 1986
<>< <>< <>< <>< PTL Col 3:23-24 ><> ><> ><> ><>
Live the healthiest life you can enjoy, not the healthiest life you can tolerate. |
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cranberrycat
Senior Member
Posts:9137
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| 24 Nov 2010 03:15 PM |
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Margaret, I am happy I was able to inspire you! Now I have to put my money where my mouth is! LOL!
Honestly, in the end, this will probably end up being a cheat day for me, as well. Even if my plan is to eat balanced, I am sure I will have a sliver of my favorite pie, and I am not likely to eat any protein with it (really, if I go OOZ it will happen despite my adding protein to it, so may as well enjoy it). But, I know I can control the dinner choices, since I am going to be preparing several veggie sides to compliment the meal.
Christie, that is funny about the McRib! I have to admit that they also add that same drug to their fries!
John, I am glad you posted about your efforts, and I think I like the way you said it best... "moderate my cheat day"! I think that the important thing is to do the best that we can, and not feel guilty if we don't adhere strictly. Don't worry about what the scale says on Friday. It is a new day in the Zone!
If I don't get a chance to log in later, I just wanted to wish everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Veera
New Member
Posts:33
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| 25 Nov 2010 04:31 PM |
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If I were in the U.S for Thanksgiving I would probably eat as much as last time. And after the holiday I will go back to my healthy eating habbits. I probably would feel so bad in stomach anyway  . But...ahhh..Christmas is cominggggg. We have choklate almost everyday at work. Some customers send greetings. Can't eat the whole box because I have to leave to others too :S. Why do you have to make thanksgiving and christmas food healthy way? I don't get it. It doesn't matter what we eat during few days a year,but how do we eat rest 300 days. Right? Err..if I had lost for example 200 pounds I probably would feel different in my body and maybe wouldn't even want to eat all that food...sometimes when I have been losing weight a lot,I really didn't have any gravings,and felt just sick by looking at some cakes. So I kind of understand how people are feeling about it here |
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xee
Basic Member
Posts:191
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| 26 Nov 2010 09:01 AM |
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Veera, I think for some of us, we have a long history and pattern of "one cheat day" becoming a week of cheating... then a month of cheating... and before we know it, we've gained a bunch of weight. Those delicious sweet, fatty foods are like a drug to us, and once triggered it can be hard to stop. So we get nervous when faced with the challenge of a gluttonous holiday.
It's kinda like someone coming out of the rehab clinic who is expected to live among the rest of society who don't think twice about having a glass of wine with dinner. Most of society can have that glass of wine without the psychological and emotional struggle of it. Recovering alcoholics can not avoid the rest of the society and alcohol forever, and have to figure out how to live with the temptation of alcohol constantly around them. However, they can plan around it... by either deciding to bring their own delicious non-alcoholic drinks that won't leave them feeling deprived, or deciding to limit themselves to one glass of wine.
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Laurie
Advanced Member
Posts:771
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| 26 Nov 2010 11:12 AM |
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Hi all! xee -- you said it so well! It's not the indulgent meal that's the issue for me -- it's the binge that it leads to, and then the days of struggling to get back into the Zone (because once I'm out of the Zone, the cravings make it a struggle to get back in). But Veera, I love your philosophy, and my goals include being able to keep an indulgence in perspective, and not let it lead to negative feelings, guilt, and further overeating . Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving! Laurie |
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130 pounds lost/maintaining since July 2009
body fat % (start/goal/current) 49.8/22/23 |
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cranberrycat
Senior Member
Posts:9137
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| 26 Nov 2010 03:07 PM |
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My opinion... because this is a lifestyle that I have chosen (and not a diet that I choose to go on and off), I am inclined to make some permanent changes to the menu that go along with my lifestyle. Now, it doesn't mean that everyone around me has to "suffer", they can still put their starchy carbs on the table.
Funny, though... at our Thanksgiving, we divied up the menu so that we were each bringing some items to the table. I brought the turkey and some veggie dishes (and I baked pie). Well, when it was all said and done, guess what we forgot to do? We forgot to have someone make up potatoes and the dressing! LOL! My sister had a box of instant potatoes, so she whipped some up, but I don't think we really needed it at all!
My day went well, I had my usual zone shake in the morning. I fell OOZ waiting for the meal, as we were delayed in serving the meal (mom was late). So, ended up snacking on some cheese and triscuits. I did end up feeling sleepy prior to eating, but really not sure if truly a glycemic reaction or if I was truly tired... either way, after we ate I did fine. Stuck with the plan for the meal, but did eat some pie later (unaccompanied by protein). Interestingly, that DID NOT put me into sleepyland.
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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John
Veteran Member
Posts:2199
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| 27 Nov 2010 07:20 AM |
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I only gained a pound from my slight indulgence. Not bad.
And to make up for it (and because I had the time and I wanted to)
I did make an extra (short) trip to the gym on Friday while my lovely wife was doing a little shopping.
(NO!, she did not get up early, unless you call 8:00 AM early.)
And, since we have a Winter Holiday Stroll in our downtown tonight, for which i am a volunteer, we can't participate in a planned (nearly) weekly Saturday mountain winter hike, today. I will probably also go to the gym, today for another short session. |
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~john --> Happily married 26 years --> 07 Feb 1986
<>< <>< <>< <>< PTL Col 3:23-24 ><> ><> ><> ><>
Live the healthiest life you can enjoy, not the healthiest life you can tolerate. |
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cranberrycat
Senior Member
Posts:9137
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| 27 Nov 2010 08:11 AM |
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For black friday, 8am is pretty late! I was not one of the crazy ones who started out at midnight, but I did get up at 5 (my usual waking time for work) to hit the stores. It was busy, but I didn't run into the crazy long lines. I had a short list of bargains, and I was able to get everything except one item (which I am second-guessing anyway). After a few hours of shopping, I had to go to work for a bit. As for Zoning, I made it through the day in the Zone, good appetite control and good energy. |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Laurie
Advanced Member
Posts:771
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| 29 Nov 2010 12:41 AM |
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Hi all -- just a reminder to jump over to this week's "Daily Challenges and Solutions - Week of 11/29/10" ... |
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130 pounds lost/maintaining since July 2009
body fat % (start/goal/current) 49.8/22/23 |
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