littlemiche

all sounds great to, will keep checking back

Blonde Logic

Hi all

I am a bit late to the party, and have little to no scientific information to offer!!

I just thought I would throw out a name here and see if anyone on this side of the pond has heard of it?

Dr. Barry Sears - and his nutrition plan is called "The Zone".

It is gaining in popularity in the states, and my brother follows it and swears by it. What he has told me about it sounds like a sound plan for a lifestyle - not diet. But there might be some good info about how to cope with the types of things Mikey is worried about.....and may be of interest to others. I believe its a low GI or GL plan? Sorry - I don't retain these things very well But I think thats it.

I think what Mikey is doing seems quite natural. Whether or not he needs to implement this type of "recovery plan" will remain to be seen. But I am still in abstinanace, and I often lay down some potentila plans, and "what ifs" for the future. Again, whether I would even use them at the time remains to be seen - I do believe the CBT will be effective enough to get through times without needing a plan to fall back on - but thats me. And we all need to devise a plan that works.

As long as it is safe, and the information put up here (at least fairly) accurate, so as not to mislead anyone (and of course if anyone has health issues they should always check with their docs ) then I think its good he is looking ahead. I don't see it as a sign his CBT has not worked. I just think he is being very aware, as we all are at this stage, that the frightening real possibility of re-gaining weight is out there.

Once back in to the new world of normal healthy eating, it may all turn out to be moot. BUt if it helps him now, then hurrah.

I think both sides of this argument have brought forth EXCELLANT views. I found this very interesting, and acquired a few good links for future references!

My goal is to just eat as healthy and as responsibly as I can, most of the time, allowing for a few (planned) wobbles - such as meals out, or hols - but those occassions are in no way meant to be free-for-alls! I will exercise restraint and good judgment best I can. If those times send my up the scale a pound or two - then agreed, simply cutting back - upping te exercise - whatever, to get those pounds off.

As I intend to weigh regularly, I would hope I would catch any kind of gain be it small or a few pounds right at the onset and could nip them in the bud.

THis thread really was an excellant read. THanks everyone for your insite, experiences, and links to references.

And Mikey - I know you well enough to know you are not panicking. If this helps you, keep at it.

I

__________________

Began LL on 8-1-08:

281 pounds (20 stone)
Size 26/28 BMI: 44.7
Class: Morbidly Obese

Completed Foundation on 29-09-08

154 pounds (11 stone)
Size 10/12/14 BMI: 24.5
Class: NORMAL




My Weight Chart:



BL's Diary: http://www.minimins.com/lighter-life-forum/27465-blonde-logics-stream-consciousness-diary.html
>

dizzy bell

Hope i am talking about the right thing im trying to do something like the atkins only need to loose a stone but instead of pinning after carbs at dinner time(mash potatoe) i have mashed carrots with my meat and its delicious. Does this sound something similar to what you are doing? I was going to try sw but cant get my head round it this seems easier .

RubySlippers

Mikey, have you read the montignac method? It didn't work for me as I wasn't in the right frame of mind, its quite (I think wrongly) critical of low calorie diets and if you're looking for one, that can be a great excuse to overeat. But in terms of glycemia its got a lot of science and glycemic index and stuff is explained very clearly, so I'm tempted to think that carbs are explained very scientifically too (though I can't remember).

Anyway I thought I'd contribute a couple of balanced recipes in case they'd help.
The first I adapted from an observer food monthly recipe. I substituted the Lamb for a small grilled chicken breast, and used just a tblsp of oil which seemed to be fine. Obviously its the seeds and bulghar make it so great, but the sauce is just AMAZING. Gorgeous!

Supper for 2
1 lamb chump, just under half a kilo
a few stray fresh chillies, if you have them around, for grilling
3 tbs extra virgin olive oil
50g bulgar
2 carrots, peeled, grated on the big holes
a couple of big handfuls of flat leaf parsley, mint or coriander in any combination, roughly chopped
small handful of pumpkin seeds, toasted
small handful of flaked almonds, toasted
small handful of sultanas, plumped in a little boiling water
juice of an orange
salt and pepper
For the sauce:
1 tbs harissa
juice of ½ lemon
1/2 clove of garlic, finely mashed
1 tsp honey
salt and pepper
Heat your griddle to get properly hot. Meanwhile, in a pan, gently heat half the olive oil, then stir in the bulgar and roll and coat. Pour on 100ml or so of hot water, season, cover and simmer for five minutes with a lid, then turn the heat off and leave to sit for 10 minutes for the grain to absorb all the liquid.
Meanwhile, season the lamb well, then lay fat-side down on the heat. Ideally you'll have a metal bowl or failing that some foil to closely cover it with. After five minutes turn it over onto a new side, and keep turning it every five minutes so that all sides get a good grilling for about 20-25 minutes in total. If you have any spare chillies then chuck a couple of these on to grill, too, for any fire-eaters that happen to be passing.
In a bowl mix together the carrot, herbs, seeds, nuts, sultanas and bulgar. Douse with orange juice and a splash of olive oil, then add some salt and stir well.
Leave the salad to sit for a minute, and as the lamb finishes cooking/resting (it'll need a good few minutes once it's had its time) knock up the kicker sauce to finish it off. Just whisk all the ingredients in that section together lightly with the last of the olive oil.
There's enough meat there for two, backed up by a salad that's very easy munching and finished off with a good bit of Berber fire.

*

Chickpea curry is also an old favourite and gives good protein for veggies. Lots of peppers (green and red give lots of colour) and some onions fried in spray (though I often add a spoon of oil if I've had no fat the rest of the day), tinned tomatoes, chickpeas, ground cumin coriander chilli powder and turmeric, bubble away cook out the spices warm through the chickpeas. Fresh coriander through at the end is nice too. Because of the chickpeas I can eat it with no rice, steaming hot in a bowl, but with a bit of brown rice thats not much worse.

Good luck! I really hope its works out, the proof is in the pudding but I think it's good that you're putting efforts to making plans just in case you make mistakes in the future and I think its great that you're looking at making those plans healthy and balanced.

__________________








First Week - 8lb!
Second Week - 5lb

mikey

Thanks RubyS, I do in fact have the book laready - bought it a couple of years back and it is in a similar vein to the other low carb diets.

That recipe sounds good!

Cheers
Mike

__________________
Mike

LL started Jan 10th 2008

Please contribute to my "create a VLCD menu" thread






My Weight Chart:
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Blonde Logic

Those recipes sound great! Yum yum!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Off to have a shake. <sigh>

__________________

Began LL on 8-1-08:

281 pounds (20 stone)
Size 26/28 BMI: 44.7
Class: Morbidly Obese

Completed Foundation on 29-09-08

154 pounds (11 stone)
Size 10/12/14 BMI: 24.5
Class: NORMAL




My Weight Chart:



BL's Diary: http://www.minimins.com/lighter-life-forum/27465-blonde-logics-stream-consciousness-diary.html
>