OT - It's the carbs stupid!

[roster]

.......
There's got to be an easier "work day" breakfast solution. 6 hardboiled egg whites in a tupperware to go?

....Cheers,
Babs

This will help: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PN2gYHJNT3Y

[gasp]

See if any of these foods are worth eating. They don't sound like fun.

This food's good for you, easy to find
No excuses: A doctor lists common, healthful foods that we should be buying more often.
By Tara Parker-Pope
New York Times
BOYZELL HOSEY – McCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO

Nutritionist and author Jonny Bowden has created several lists of healthful foods people should be eating but aren't. But some of his favorites, like purslane, guava and goji berries, aren't always available at regular grocery stores.

I asked Dr. Bowden, author of “The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth,” to update his list with some favorite foods that are easy to find but don't always find their way into our shopping carts. Here's his advice.

BEETS: Think of beets as red spinach, Bowden said, because they are a rich source of folate as well as natural red pigments that may be cancer fighters. How to eat: fresh, raw and grated to make a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power.

Cabbage: Loaded with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes. How to eat: Asian-style slaw or as a crunchy topping on burgers and sandwiches.

Swiss chard: A leafy green vegetable packed with carotenoids that protect aging eyes. How to eat it: Chop and saute in olive oil.

Cinnamon: May help control blood sugar and cholesterol. How to eat it: Sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal.

Pomegranate juice: Appears to lower blood pressure and is loaded with antioxidants. How to eat: Just drink it.

Dried plums: OK, so they are really prunes, but they are packed with antioxidants. How to eat: Wrapped in prosciutto and baked.

Pumpkin seeds: The most nutritious part of the pumpkin and packed with magnesium; high levels of the mineral are associated with lower risk for early death. How to eat: Roasted as a snack, or sprinkled on salad.

Sardines: Dr. Bowden calls them “health food in a can.'' They are high in omega-3's, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins. How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil. Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with dijon mustard and onions as a spread.

Turmeric: The “superstar of spices,'' it may have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. How to eat: Mix with scrambled eggs or in any vegetable dish.

Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available year-round and don't spoil; associated with better memory in animal studies. How to eat: Blended with yogurt or chocolate soy milk and sprinkled with crushed almonds.

Canned pumpkin: A low-calorie vegetable that is high in fiber and immune-stimulating vitamin A; fills you up on very few calories. How to eat: Mix with a little butter, cinnamon and nutmeg.

You can find more details and recipes on the Men's Health Web site, http://www.menshealth.com, which published the original version of the list last year.

Source: http://www.charlotte.com/162/story/719413.html

[gasp]

The Zone books came last night!!!! I read part way into "A Week on the Zone" and I'm sold on the concept, I just am daunted by the idea that I have to get up on a WEEKDAY and fix a 6 egg white omelette with asparagus and a side of strawberries.

There's got to be an easier "work day" breakfast solution. 6 hardboiled egg whites in a tupperware to go?

So, I'm really jazzed about this and maybe we should start a "Zone" thread for those that don't care about this? Captain Midnight, you want to start us off?

Cheers,
Babs

Nope, can't put those eggwhites in toxic Tupperware - use glass instead : )

[Guest]

DOH! (as Home Simpson would say)

Hey, just printed out the sample 7 day menu from http://www.zonediet.com. Very workable breakfasts.

Hey, are you teasing me about plastic containers? Aren't there ANY that are non-toxic? I bought the pthalate-free water bottles from REI. Maybe they sell phtahalate free "tupperware"? Using that in the generic sense, much like "kleenex" means "facial tissue" and not the brand.

Cheers,
B.

[Captain_Midnight]

Babette writes… The Zone books came last night!!!! I read part way into "A Week on the Zone" and I'm sold on the concept, I just am daunted by the idea that I have to get up on a WEEKDAY and fix a 6 egg white omelette with asparagus and a side of strawberries.

There's got to be an easier "work day" breakfast solution. 6 hardboiled egg whites in a tupperware to go?

So, I'm really jazzed about this and maybe we should start a "Zone" thread for those that don't care about this? Captain Midnight, you want to start us off?

***

Babs, I’ll be glad to mention a few things here. I’m always a little excited when someone starts a new diet or exercise program. I sincerely enjoy seeing folks succeed in healthful living.

I can’t recall if we can do website URLs here, but if you google Dr Sears Zone or Zone Diet, you get a passel of sites. Some are supportive, some are skeptical and some…

Looking through those, WebMD has an interesting overview, it’s a little standoffish, but interesting and balanced. (Mods, feel free to edit these out if it’s a “no-no”)

http://www.webmd.com/diet/zone-what-it-is


***
Then, from a third-party, sort of a Cliff Notes for the Zone

http://www.zonedietinfo.com/zone-celebrities.htm
***
And, here’s the site for Dr. Sears.

http://www.drsears.com/ZoneResources/Gl ... fault.aspx

There are many, many other sites.

Actually, the scientist in me prevents me from actively promoting the diet plan. What I’ll do is say that as I look at the Zone Diet, it seems to be the most highly supported in science; and, it’s also a moderate approach (in between the extremes of Atkins and Ornish). It involves a well-balanced diet (scrupulously so), and won’t make you sick. I also mention that it’s worked for me and several others who asked “how did you lose the weight and keep it off?” types of questions. In fact, xPAP, daily exercise and the Zone have combined to give me some cardio blood test values that are simply outstanding.

I also like the notion that it has an anti-inflammatory objective. As most of us here know, OSA is a highly inflammatory disorder; and, anything we can do to slow down the pro-inflammatory cytokines that we are so good at generating is a positive step.

I’ve used this diet since long before dx w OSA, and it helped me quite a bit. (When OSA was really doing me dirty, I had difficulty following the program, and my weight was accordingly higher.) Following my introduction to xPAP, it seems to be an even more effective approach.

I’ll conclude with my familiar refrain that diets can be sacrosanct to many fine folks. I absolutely respect that. If you subscribe to a different approach, good on you, I’ll never try to persuade otherwise.

Regards all and good luck finding the best diet plan for you.

[Guest]

Thanks Capt. Midnight! I found this site:

http://www.zonediet.com

And joined their forum. It's free, just like this one.

I also downloaded their sample 7 day menu plan for women. It's much more workable than the sample I was looking at last night. I think the recipes are simple and non-exotic enough for me to handle. And I can see how some of them can be prepped in advance for quick meals.

I suspect alot of recipes in diet books are geared torward TASTE and TEMPTING the dieter, at the expense of convenience. If I can wade around that to figure out how to do this simply and easily, it will work far better for me. I'm used to eating hot dogs every night until the package of 20 runs out. I am with little well content.

So, being in the mood to go whole hog, so I invested in a 30 day run of their Omega-3, SeaHealth, and Weight Loss supplements. I would never expect anyone else to do that - I felt like doing that, and I can afford to do it right now. It's a bit pricey - we'll see how I feel after trying them for 30 days if I want to keep up with them.

I think this diet seems reasonable, and I'm cheered by what you said about it. So far in my reading, it seems to jive with alot of other sensible diet advice I've picked up over the years.

Of course, my mom, THE BIOCHEMIST will probably argue that Sears' stance against Brown Basmati Rice is way off base, but we'll see. I might try switching to barley for awhile and see if I can add rice back in later. My Mom, BTW, is a huge fan of basmati rice. In particular, the Texmati brand of rice. She used to give it away the way I do the Nasal Aire II. Obsession runs in our family.

LOL,
Babs

[echo]

OK for what it's worth I have now had 4 people encouraging me to join Weight Watchers because it worked for them. Even my MOM is doing it. No thanks, but maybe for others?

I heard about this nifty site / tool from the people at diabetes.org : http://www.sparkpeople.com

You can track what you eat (and it calculates your calories, fat, carbs, etc), as well as fitness and other things. It also gives suggestions for meals & fitness based on your target goals (how many pounds you want to lose for example) and your eating preferences.

I'm only using the "Nutrition tracker" at this point but it's been very interesting for day: Turns out today I got 50% of my calories from fat!!!!! Who woulda guessed???? And I had way more carbs than I thought but less than the "recommended" amount. But be careful with the "recommended" amounts if you're diabetic or have any other conditions.

[Guest]

I think WW is a sensible diet. I went to ONE meeting and LOATHED the experience, and told my little pal she could go alone in the future.

I know people who've done well with it. My Mom wants me to try it, because her friend BARBARA did the online version and lost weight. I really get the impression that is her only reason - that we have the same name.

But my Mom has been nagging me to get healthy and lose weight for years. She's a gym rat, and Miss Healthy Eater USA, so you can see why my particular rebellion is against healthy eating and exercise. Why couldn't she be a serial killer or something?

LOL,
Babs

[BabsAW]

Capt. Midnight!!! Help! I need a list of "blocks" so I can build my own Zone meals. Can't find them in the books I bought, nor on the http://www.zonediet.com, and when I post a plea to their forum, I don't get any reply.

Any Zoners here willing to help out a Newbie? Where can I find a listing of blocks? I know how many to eat, I just need to know what constitutes a block!!!

Thanks so much!!!
Babette

[BabsAW]

Thank god for Google!

http://www.drsears.com/ArticlePreview/t ... fault.aspx

Anyone who wants this in a tidy little Exel file that prints out nicely to put on your fridge, PM me.

Cheers,
Babs