Health

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A couple of days were an exercise no-go.  Shoot one day was a "I-don't-want-to-move" day - a migraine yesterday had me moving between office and bed all day, with a couple of excursions downstairs for food.  (I have an electric water-heater-pot and a coffee press - the best way to make coffee - in my office and that's where my 1/2 bath is...so unless I want food I don't have to leave my bedroom/office area.)

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I lost 3-1/4 pounds - the first loss in many weeks.

The secret?  Lower carb, higher fat - but still following Weight Watchers points.  Because of thyroid and PCOS, the needs my body needs are a little different, but I still will not lose while not restricting calories.  I went to a naturopath who did NOT give me a formula, but gave me guidelines with which to make my own formula (for those who need formulas)

- 50% of my calories from fat (with the majority coming from "healthy" fat - monounsaturated) - and the fat in eggs (while saturated) is okay so even eggs are unlimited.
- 50% of the volume on my plate coming from fresh or lightly steamed fruits and vegetables

- Take my weight in pounds and eat half that many grams of protein

- The rest of my calories in complex carbs (but never wheat or dairy)

- no wheat or dairy (but I can "cheat" with kefir and yogurt)

- lots of water...half my weight in ounces

There is no limitation on calories...the lower carb, higher protein and healthy fat makes my body burn it differently - thermogenic.  The drain yesterday may have been from the shift in my body, but I am eating enough carbs for fuel.  The fat and protein guidelines make me put the emphasis on not wasting the complex carbs on "stuff".
What I know is that this works and (knowing from the past how I do even as low as Atkins) my body feels better.

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(sigh)...Here is the list of food restrictions (allergy and otherwise)

- dairy

- peanuts (due to a mold allergy giving me asthma attacks)

- potatoes, eggplants (off the table) and limited tomatoes and green peppers; these are nightshade plants and they cause - in me (YMMV) joint pain)

- wheat

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Another new blog for me!

I set up a little blog just for recipes - most of them have a combination of low-cal, moderate carb.

MzEllen Cooks (sometimes).  (I rarely cook in the summer...my son takes over with the grill.)

And here's a recipe:  Fast and Easy Chicken in Salsa with Zucchini.

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Did this thing call "sclerology"...took photos of my eyes and told me that everything that's going on in my body - my body knows and the eyes will tell.

He told me that my iron is low and my zinc is low (how many folks think about their zinc being low...only mine is - according to blood tests that were run because of my sense of smell, which is sometimes the result of a zinc issus)

He agreed (according to my symptoms) that there's some thyroid thing going on and sold me a thyroid support supplement (which I can get online...for more money, so he gave me the better deal).

He also said that most folks who live in Western Civilization have a few other things going on in the digestive tract and told me to try (at least for a few weeks) eliminating wheat and dairy.  (Yogurt, kefir and fermented dairy is ok once in a while.)

Yesterday was a big splurge in the wheat department (think Amish-made bread, noodles and apple dumplings).  Today is wheat free, but I'm drinking the rest of my skim milk.

After that's gone, I'll switch to almond milk.

Even since starting "thyadine" a week or so ago, I feel "brighter".  We'll see how it goes for the rest of it.

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Weight Watchers isn't doing it for me.  But...the beauty of FLEX to that I can use (the tracking tools, point system, etc.) and don't worry about the rest.  I paid to go until I had the tools I needed and now I have the material.

I have PCOS, diagnosed over 20 years ago.  I also strongly suspect I have thyroid issues (low body temp, thinning hair) that is not showing up in blood tests (looking for a doctor who will treat the patient, not the number).  My fasting blood sugar is perfect, as is my blood pressure.  My cholesterol is high (212).  I'd like to lose 60-70 pounds.

Weight Watchers (as written) doesn't work.

Atkins (as written) doesn't work (I did Atkins at less than 25 grams of carb a day for 3 months and lost 4 pounds).  I'm a little OCD when it comes to logging what I eat...I use a MasterCook recipe just to put my daily eating into.  So I have a good handle on what I eat.

So...combining the two.

...continue reading →

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Ok...I followed the plan beautifully!  Right number of points (I even had some left over)...and I gained .8 pound.  I'm not surprised, the heat and humidity is making me retain water so that my feet are "oozing" out of my sandals.

The plan for next week:

  • water.  Lots of water
  • focus more on the "types" of food.
  • More lean protein, more healthy fat
  • Fewer simple carbs, fewer "frankenfoods"
  • with the heat...5,000 steps if the weather is over 85, 7,000 if over 80, 10,000 if under 80.
  • Start Strength training 4 times next week

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    LINKS:

    Bad news: I lost my pedometer (or maybe that's good news).

    Good news!  Right after UPS brought the new one, I found the old one!  (That mean Manda has it).

    Product review coming up...
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    Recipe:  Asian Salmon

    **NOTE:  I used "grilling planks", which I am now hooked on for cooking fish on the grill
    * Exported from MasterCook *

    Asian Salmon - 5 points (core)
    Serving Size  : 6
    Categories    : 5 Point meals, Core, fish, grill, Oriental

    Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
    --------  ------------  --------------------------------
    2             pounds  salmon -- fresh side, boned but skin on (about 3 pounds)
    For the marinade:
    2        tablespoons  Dijon mustard
    3        tablespoons  soy sauce
    2          teaspoons  olive oil
    1/2      teaspoon  minced garlic

    Light charcoal briquettes in a grill and brush the grilling rack with oil to keep the salmon from sticking.

    While the grill is heating, lay the salmon skin side down on a cutting board and cut it crosswise into 4 equal pieces. Whisk together the mustard, soy sauce, olive oil, and garlic in a small bowl. Drizzle half of the marinade onto the salmon and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.

    Place the salmon skin side down on the hot grill; discard the marinade the fish was sitting in. Grill for 4 to 5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish. Turn carefully with a wide spatula and grill for another 4 to 5 minutes. The salmon will be slightly raw in the center, but don't worry; it will keep cooking as it sits.

    Transfer the fish to a flat plate, skin side down, and spoon the reserved marinade on top. Allow the fish to rest for 10 minutes. Remove the skin and serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

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    Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 198 Calories; 7g Fat (32.8% calories from fat); 31g Protein; 1g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 79mg Cholesterol; 678mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 4 Lean Meat; 0 Vegetable; 1/2 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates.

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    Fiber One Haystacks

    (1 Stack - 71 calories, 4g fat, 12 carbs, 5g fiber, 2g protein - 1 WW point)

    SERVES 6

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Fiber One cereal
    • 1 (1 1/2 ounce)  milk chocolate candy bars
    • 1 tablespoon reduced-fat peanut butter

    Directions

    1. Melt bar and peanut butter in microwave until smooth, at 30-second intervals.
    2. Be careful not to burn or overcook.
    3. Stir chocolate and peanut butter mixture.
    4. Add cereal and gently toss till coated.
    5. Drop onto wax paper, making 6 stacks.
    6. Refrigerate until chocolate hardens (about 30 minutes).

    Enjoy!

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    A while ago I did a research paper on "Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder" and did a Yahoo! search (yes, that long ago) for "adult ADD".  My search results were an entire page o:

    • ADD ADULT sounds to your web page!
    • ADULT images ADD to your hits!

    and so forth.

    I learned that even if one is NOT "the H" (hyperactive), it's a good thing to add it to the search string.

    I got my "official" diagnosis when my son was in third grade.  I took Ritalin for a while and the folks I worked with at the time could tell when I didn't "take my meds".

    When I went to talk to the psychologist, I took my elementary school report cards...if "ADHD" had been around then, I think I would have been a good example.  The problem is, many girls are "missed" because "ADHD" tends to manifest along gender lines.

    Girls tend to be "space cadets" and boys tend to be the "wild child".  So boys get drugged and girls get passed over.

    My personal belief is that ADHD is not a "disorder", it is a personality type.  Distractable?  YES!  a mental disorder?  No.

    Here is a link to a paper I wrote to explore the "disorder vs personality type" idea.

    How does this personality type manifest in me?

    • easily distractable.  I use a kitchen timer for almost everything!
    • "Leaps" in logic - how do I get from one place to another?  I just do...and although sometimes others fail to see the connection, most often I can explain it.
    • difficulty tracking conversations.  Especially on blogs - if there are more than 3 or 4 people on the "other side" (no matter what the topic is), I try to be very careful when replying, since I will most likely lose the train of the conversation.
    • Not seeing "personal".  Somebody will accuse me of "getting personal" and I will sit back and truly not know where or how.
    • Taking things personally - this I am getting better at.  Some people's issues are just their issues and have little or nothing to do with me personally.  Sometimes they do, most times they don't.

    ADHD can be a fascinating thing to look at.  As with many people with ADHD(ADD) my IQ is high.  As with many people with ADHD/ADD, the common sense factor is sometimes low.

    The more I work with people with special needs, the more this issue comes into play.   Shoot...the more I work with people, the more this issue comes into play.  Strategies, tricks to play on myself, ideas to stay focused.  All of these get attention.

    And the classroom view of little boys...a whole different topic.

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    * Exported from MasterCook *

    couscous banana pudding - 5 points, CORE

    Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
    --------  ------------  --------------------------------
    1                cup  skim milk
    1/2                jello fat-free, sugar-free banana cream instant pudding mix (3 1/2 ounces) (info is for 1/4 of a package)
    1             medium  banana
    1         tablespoon  couscous -- whole grain

    boil 2 Tbsp . water in a microwave safe container, add couscous and cover.  Meanwhile, mix the 1/2 package of pudding with the skim milk.  When the couscous has absorbed the water add to the pudding mix.

    Slice the banana and layer pudding mix and banana slices in bowl or pretty glass.

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    Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 285 Calories; 1g Fat (3.3% calories from fat); 11g Protein; 60g Carbohydrate; 3g Dietary Fiber; 4mg Cholesterol; 748mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 1/2 Grain(Starch); 2 Fruit; 1 Non-Fat Milk.

    NOTES : This WAS lunch.

    Nutr. Assoc. : 0 0 0 0