I have briefly mentioned the study I'm involved in regarding weight loss and chocolate. While I didn't sign a confidentiality form, I'm not sure how much I can say about it. So let's just leave it with the fact that it has to do with weight loss and chocolate. I'm in the experiment (the chocolate) group (as opposed to the control -- the non-chocolate -- group.)
The real point of this post is the weight loss portion of the study. They've put us on a calorie restricted diet. It's not a huge calorie restriction, and not something terribly difficult to follow. Based on my BMI, age, body type and activity level, I am to eat 1500 calories per day. I am assuming this is to get me down to my "healthy" BMI by the end of the study (December 3; 18 weeks from now.) My "healthy" BMI is a mere 1 point lower than what it is currently. (As an aside, I think BMI is a crock of shit, but this is a topic for another post.)
To ensure that it isn't a "fad" diet (i.e. low carb, high protein, etc.) they're using the diabetes exchange system. This is how the MayoClinic explains the exchange system. It's actually much easier than counting calories. There is a bit of measuring involved, at least until you get the hang of eyeballing serving sizes. I'm still measuring things a bit. I'm trying to overestimate just to stay on the safe side, but I suspect in a lot of cases where I think I'm overestimating, I'm actually getting the serving size about right.
So far, it's not too bad. The biggest problem I'm having, though, is hunger. Not the typical "I've used all my points and I'm still hungry" kind of hunger. I still have "points" (calories, exchanges, whatever) left at the end of the day. I'm just not sure how to use them and I'm so overwhelmed with choices, that it's just easier not to eat anything.
The past two nights I've gone to bed hungry.
I might have solved this problem, though. I looked on the list of exchanges at the MayoClinic's website and have discovered that THREE CUPS of popcorn (that's stove or microwaved popped with no butter - how I usually make it) counts as one carb/starch exchange. Popcorn is a good after dinner snack for me. The Boy™ and I make popcorn a lot. Three cups is a lot, and I've been having at least 2 or 3 starch exchanges left at the end of the night. So that would be about 6 cups of popcorn. I don't think I could eat 6 cups of without getting an upset stomach (I don't digest corn very well.) This is good news.
If you're interested in more about this exchange system, or the diet itself, let me know. I'm more than willing to share the tips and "rules" with people (though there really aren't any rules except the amount of exchanges I'm allowed to eat.) I'll probably be writing more about the diet. I have 18 weeks to go.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Things I Have Learned Today
* Gina's bum is The Boy™'s muse.
* Taking down shelves is art.
* It takes Gina just as long to iron a shirt as it takes The Boy™ to take a shelf off the wall. (I don't know if this means I iron shirts slowly or The Boy™ takes down shelves fast.)
* Taking down shelves is art.
* It takes Gina just as long to iron a shirt as it takes The Boy™ to take a shelf off the wall. (I don't know if this means I iron shirts slowly or The Boy™ takes down shelves fast.)
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Sporadic Blogging
Hi. It's me. Your sporadic blogger friend.
Things have been busy around here lately.
I just got back from an enjoyable week's vacation at Mom's. We had fun. A little relaxing, a little gym time, a lot of Baby Nephew time.
This coming week is going to be crazy. Back to work and back to life. The Boy™ and I are busy back and preparing to move. We're just moving across the street, but I have come to realize, there is no such thing as an easy move. Be it across the street or across the country, a move is a move. You still have to pack up your entire house and move it to a new place.
The good thing is, we have a whole week to do it. We can be in the new place on the 1st and we don't have to be out of the current place until the 6th. That takes some of the pressure off, I think.
I've sent off some e-mails and some facebook messages with our new address. If you haven't gotten a message and think you need the new address, let me know.
Pictures from vacation to come. And perhaps pictures of the new place, once we're in as well.
Things have been busy around here lately.
I just got back from an enjoyable week's vacation at Mom's. We had fun. A little relaxing, a little gym time, a lot of Baby Nephew time.
This coming week is going to be crazy. Back to work and back to life. The Boy™ and I are busy back and preparing to move. We're just moving across the street, but I have come to realize, there is no such thing as an easy move. Be it across the street or across the country, a move is a move. You still have to pack up your entire house and move it to a new place.
The good thing is, we have a whole week to do it. We can be in the new place on the 1st and we don't have to be out of the current place until the 6th. That takes some of the pressure off, I think.
I've sent off some e-mails and some facebook messages with our new address. If you haven't gotten a message and think you need the new address, let me know.
Pictures from vacation to come. And perhaps pictures of the new place, once we're in as well.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Long Day
I had a really long day at work today.
They had shut the water off to our building to find and fix a leak.
It was supposed to be off for about an hour (which, I think, is why they didn't evacuate the building and tell us all to go home.)
It was off at 1pm at the earliest (that was when we first noticed it, I got a phone call from the management office around 1:30.)
At 5:30, I got a call saying the plumber has to order the part to fix it and they're going to have to keep the water until noon tomorrow at the latest.
I spent a seven hour and fifteen minute shift without being able to use the bathroom.
I had to pee. so. bad.
On a lighter note, I have next week off, and I'm going to spend the week visiting Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother-in-Law and Nephew. Maybe some other people as well.
They had shut the water off to our building to find and fix a leak.
It was supposed to be off for about an hour (which, I think, is why they didn't evacuate the building and tell us all to go home.)
It was off at 1pm at the earliest (that was when we first noticed it, I got a phone call from the management office around 1:30.)
At 5:30, I got a call saying the plumber has to order the part to fix it and they're going to have to keep the water until noon tomorrow at the latest.
I spent a seven hour and fifteen minute shift without being able to use the bathroom.
I had to pee. so. bad.
On a lighter note, I have next week off, and I'm going to spend the week visiting Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother-in-Law and Nephew. Maybe some other people as well.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Catching Up
I still don't have the pictures from Philly yet. I have to finish the roll of film. Just like when I was a teenager. Quick! Take pictures! Any pictures! I want the photos off the beginning of that roll!
Anyway, here's a quick wrap up of what's going on in my life right now:
1. Arts Fest. It's that time of year again. Downtown is crowded with vendors and people. Nighttime is full of kids, cars and kegs. Nothin' says summer like fair food.
2. ENT. I finally got in to see him. Nothing so far. They're going to do a CT of my sinuses. He can't really get an idea of what the problem is until he sees what's going on inside. So it's more waiting.
3. Work. Same only less hours.
4. Moving. Um. Yeah. We're moving. In three weeks. Not far. Just across the street. But Move In Day is looming and starting to stress me out. If you feel like you need my new address, let me know.
5. The Study. I'm involved in a study at the college. In involves weight loss and chocolate. Right now, I haven't gotten to the chocolate part, but do have to keep track of everything I eat and all my activities. It's complicated.
6. The back and hip. Actually, those are feeling a little better. I was a bit skeptical at first, but I think the doctor prescribed swimming has been helping. As long as I don't spend a lot of time with the vacuum cleaner at work (no, I'm not being a baby about it, it really does hurt that sacral illiac joint,) I'm pretty much ok.
7. Sister and Nephew. They're doing quite well. I saw them on the 3rd. I'm hoping to see them again soon, depending on my work schedule. He's getting bigger, she's getting smaller. They're all (Brother-in-Law included) getting use to each other and starting to figure things out. Nephew is still cute as a button.
That pretty much sums things up. It's late now and I'm going to bed. I have a long day of Arts Festing to do tomorrow. Fried Dough and lemonade are calling my name. What? Weight loss? Whatever.
Anyway, here's a quick wrap up of what's going on in my life right now:
1. Arts Fest. It's that time of year again. Downtown is crowded with vendors and people. Nighttime is full of kids, cars and kegs. Nothin' says summer like fair food.
2. ENT. I finally got in to see him. Nothing so far. They're going to do a CT of my sinuses. He can't really get an idea of what the problem is until he sees what's going on inside. So it's more waiting.
3. Work. Same only less hours.
4. Moving. Um. Yeah. We're moving. In three weeks. Not far. Just across the street. But Move In Day is looming and starting to stress me out. If you feel like you need my new address, let me know.
5. The Study. I'm involved in a study at the college. In involves weight loss and chocolate. Right now, I haven't gotten to the chocolate part, but do have to keep track of everything I eat and all my activities. It's complicated.
6. The back and hip. Actually, those are feeling a little better. I was a bit skeptical at first, but I think the doctor prescribed swimming has been helping. As long as I don't spend a lot of time with the vacuum cleaner at work (no, I'm not being a baby about it, it really does hurt that sacral illiac joint,) I'm pretty much ok.
7. Sister and Nephew. They're doing quite well. I saw them on the 3rd. I'm hoping to see them again soon, depending on my work schedule. He's getting bigger, she's getting smaller. They're all (Brother-in-Law included) getting use to each other and starting to figure things out. Nephew is still cute as a button.
That pretty much sums things up. It's late now and I'm going to bed. I have a long day of Arts Festing to do tomorrow. Fried Dough and lemonade are calling my name. What? Weight loss? Whatever.
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