So, not much going on here. Still not knitting.
My arms still hurt. I’m going to have to cut down even more on the guitar.
Liv’s birthday party is tomorrow, so I need to clean up, go shopping, and get ready for that.
Nate and I are thinking that we’re tired all the time and not sleeping well because our bed sucks. I think we’re going mattress shopping on Saturday if we can work the time out with the babysitter. Any suggestions? Nate wants to look at the Temperpedic memory foam mattress, and some mattress that is air adjustable. Sleep Number mattress, maybe? I’m not sure. He’s done the reading up, not me.
I talked a little bit to my friend Rachel about the Zone Diet on Monday afternoon. Quite frankly, I’m not in the mood to acquire and read yet another diet book, but I think I might try to incorporate some of the things she talked about into Calorie King. It’s time to renew Calorie King for the year, and after talking with Nate about it, I think I’m going to.
The Zone diet, according to Rachel, wants you to balance “blocks” of protein, carbs, and fat in each meal and snack so your body and blood consistently have the acids and such it needs to utilize your food and stored energy. Makes sense. She suggested I start with a 4 block diet, and if I’m not loosing weight, to move down to a 3 block for awhile. That’s what she did and she lost over 40 pounds. She was losing about 2 lbs per week, which is still in the realm of “healthy” weight loss more than freaky-fast-fad-diet weight loss that isn’t as healthy or sustainable.
The more muscle a person has on their body, the more blocks they need to sustain their muscle mass instead of breaking it down.
It’s basically similar to a lot of other things I’ve read and heard, when you look at the actual foods they want you to be eating. Good choices, healthy fats, good grains and veggies, etc. But perhaps a little more protein, and maintaining a balance of the three mentioned nutrients at each meal.
1 block of protein is 7 grams
1 block of carb is 9 grams
1 block of fat is 1 gram, which I think needs to be added on top of the fat that is already in the carb and protein of choice, provided they are already low fat choices.
A meal is 4 blocks of each. A snack is 1 block of each. Don’t go over 3 hours without eating (heard that before) until night time. (Hee hee. Nate asked if I have to set my alarm to wake up and eat when I first told him that, which is why I added “until night time” on there).
So, I figure that since Calorie King already breaks down everything I eat into their nutrient components, it should be easy to blend the two. I’m curious how these modifications will affect overall calorie consumption.
And I’m probably going to join a gym for some classes. If it EVER warms up and acts like spring here in the glorious Seattle area, I’d love to start walking the hills around my neighborhood again, but it’s freezing cold, and I’d be subjecting the boy to the elements as well as myself.
That’s what’s going on here. Nothing remarkable. But constantly busy, busy, busy. Seriously, I can’t believe how much stuff I have on my calendar. It’s really annoying.
I heard Janell say that when she started the 20/20 diet, they told her to treat it like a part time job, and to make that much time for it. I feel that I need to do the same. To change my habits. Mostly, to make time to plan meals and then shop for them. That’s my biggest hang up right now. I can manage to get exercise in if I really try, but the food part is killing me.
April 16th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Hmm, do you have to pay for Calorie King? I just found out about a free site called http://www.sparkpeople.com that also helps you count calories. I think they have a point system too. I’m thinking of signing up for that.
April 16th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I was just going to comment to recommend Spark People, but see someone already has. So, I guess this is a “second it”! I’ve never used Calorie King, but love love spark people.
April 16th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Hi, I’m delurking, I don’t think I’ve commented before but your request for bed suggestions brought me out. LOL
We have been looking at beds for a couple of months now. We love the Temperpedic, it is super comfy but completely out of our budget. We tried out the Sleep number and my husband loved it but I couldn’t get comfy on it no matter what number I tried. I think we have decided to go back to a Simmons Beautyrest, that’s what we have been sleeping on for the last 13 years. We tried out one with a plush top and it was great for me, squooshy on top with the firmness undernieth that I seem to need. Every since son #1 I’ve had issues with my back. So, I hope this helps a little. Good luck.
April 16th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
I’m totally not ready to talk about dieting…so I won’t go there. I will however talk beds!!! We bought a tempur-pedic type bed a year ago and I swear it has changed my life. It was the best investment EVER! It’s like sleeping on a cloud. I searched and searched online and finally decided to take the plunge and order a bed online (I know! That’s crazy talk!) We got ours from http://www.bragada.com We got the “Waldorf” style. I think the same bed from Tempur-pedic would have cost $2500. It cost us around $800 (we didn’t get the box spring because I bought a platform bed so the mattress sits directly on it). I love it so much and love sinking in at night. I haven’t ever tried a sleep # bed but my friend has one and absolutely swears by it. So I think you should try ’em both out and see what you think. But I’m here to say….crazy as it sounds….buying a bed online worked for us 🙂
April 16th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I own a Sleep Number – do not buy the foundation. I’ve had mine about 5 years and it now has serious problems. The plastic breaks down and sags. Buy a platform bed and place the mattress on that, but beware there is a noticeable “hump” between the chambers.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:34 am
I’ve heard good things about the sleep number bed. I’m planning on buying one before too long and my parents own one already and love it.
April 18th, 2008 at 4:18 am
We have an adjustable air mattress bed similar to the sleep number bed, and I hate it hate it hate it!!!!!! We bought one because my in-laws got one and raved about it. But the fact is, I like my side firm, and my husband likes his side saggy, and that creates a “hill” that I roll down if I don’t stay exactly on my little side. If my husband gets up during the night and I am over too far, I roll down the slope, and can’t get back up easily (remember I am sleepy!). Also, I have become increasingly allergic to any rubber substance, and to my horror, I opened up the mattress recently out of curiosity, and it is full of the rubbery smell. We are looking to replace ours now. And we are leaning to the Tempurpedic, as long as I determine that I won’t be allergic to it. Adjustable air beds SOUND good, but you have to stay on your half all the time if there is a big difference in firmness on either side, and that makes even turning over in the middle of the night difficult. I really miss sleeping on our old waterbed. Hmmm, maybe we should get a waveless one…..
April 18th, 2008 at 9:03 am
I have an Idea about the dieting… You should come down here to S. Texas where it’s warm and we’ll go hiking and take kickboxing classes every day. We’ll eat brown rice, veggies, and chicken and lose weight together! :0) Sound good? For snacks we’ll have a laughting cow cheeze wedge with carrots – although the Tex-mex down here is soooo good. Hmm we can probably make a few compromises….. Hope your elbows feel better. That is so LAME!
April 19th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I have to tell you that I’ve had serious back problems all my life, and have recently had 3 major surgeries. We bought a sleep number bed two years ago – it was THE BEST thing we have ever spent mone on. My husband and I both love it.
I hope you find something you like and that you are feeling better soon.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:40 pm
My sr in law bought a tempurpedic thru her chiropracter who is a dealer and gives them to his patients at cost. It took her quite some time to get used to it but now she loves it.
I hope you’re feeling better soon!