Maintenance Weekly 3rd July 2006 - Summer Holidays

[Mitra]

I know this is a holiday weekend for lots of you, and it seems the season of holidays and barbecues is underway. After a winter that was cold for longer than usual, our temperatures are now topping 30 (that's 90°F-ish).

What are your summer challenges (sorry, Ruth & Malcolm :o but your turn will come when the rest of us are cold and grey)? Too many sweet fruits? Relaxing a bit too much with the holiday atmosphere?

I have definitely been eating more fruit over the last couple of weeks since all the berries started appearing, but I've pretty well cut out grains, so although I haven't counted, I don't think my carb total has changed too much. I have to watch that I don't wash all my raspberries down with double cream :o .

Dealing with the summer itself is more a problem for me than the holidays that come with it. Today, and for the next couple of days we have forecast temperatures in the mid 30s. I know lots of you deal with that sort of temperature for a good part of the summer, but it's hotter than we're used to. I have real difficulties when I get too hot - and have been ill from it a couple of times in the past (nausea, shivering &c). It's usually not as bad as that, but puffy fingers and a muzzy-feeling head aren't uncommon, so staying cool and hydrated is my priority at the moment. I don't find that just drinking lots of water quite does the job. After a certain quantity it just seems to sploosh around, but doesn't help the heat symptoms, so I'm experimenting with lemon barley water, or mixing whey and water for some of my drinks. They do seem to help, though it's difficult to be certain. Most rehydration formulae seem to involve both sugar and salt (at rather higher concentrations than I've been using, but then I haven't just run a marathon or been suffering from dysentery :) . I don't want to consume masses of sugar, but I'd rather have a few extra carbs than heat exhaustion!

So far I'm surviving the heat and my hay fever's been better this year :cool: . I'm taking an antihistamine about once a week, rather than every day as I did last year.

Does your health focus shift with the seasons? What's going on at the moment?

[cmcole]

We've also been having some unusually warm days, in which it is difficult to regulate one's consumption of just about everything.

By the time I drink enough liquids to feel like I'm hydrated, I don't really want to eat, until it's late in the evening, and I realize that I'm indeed hungry, and I certainly don't want to eat the bulk of my day's menu in the evening, shortly before bed.

We did get some powdered Amino Acids from the nutrition store recently, and have been carrying them (mixed, of course) in a "fuel belt" my hubby bought for when we walk/run the dogs. I think it helps the rehydration. We also have two other products: Ultima Replenisher and Whey Cooler.

Breakdowns (copied from the containers):

Xtend (Scientifically Advanced Endurance & Recovery Enhancer). (Watermelon Flavour)
Ingredients: L-Leucine, L-Glutamine, L-Valine, L-Isoleucine, Citrulline Malate, Natural & Artificial Flavors, Sucralose, Potassium Citrate, Acesulfame Potassium, Pyridoxine HCI, Red # 40

Per serving: (11.29 grams dry mix) - B6 (Pyroxidine HCI) 10 mg; L-Leucine 3.5 g; L-Glutamine 2.5 g; L-Isoleucine 1.75 g; L-VAline 1.75 g; Citruline Malate 1 g Doesn't say calories

Whey Cooler Lemon Lime Chiller (made by the same people that make Whey Gourmet)
Ingredients: 100% pure undenatured bioavailable whey protein isolate (ultra cross flow microfiltered delivering the highest levels of beta lactoglobulin, alpha lactoglobulin, glycomacropeptides, immunoglobulin, bs-albumin, protease peptone, lactoferrin and lacto peroxidase), flavoursurge (tm) preblend (citric acid, sodium citrate, natural & artificial lfavour, sodium chloride), beta carotene, splenda brand sucralose (50 mg/28 g), acesulfame-potassium (70 mg/28 g), lecithin, colour

Per serving (28 g dry): Calories 80; Fat 0 g; Cholesterol 0 g; Sodium 80 mg; Potassium 20 mg; Carbohydrate 0.5 g; Fibre/Sugars/Starch 0/0/0.5 g; Protein 20 g; Vit A 25%; Calcium 10%

Ultima Replenisher
Boy, this label is going to be a challenge to see
Serving Size: 8.2 g (dry) Calories 25; Total Carbohydrate 6 g; Fibre/Sugars 0 g; Vit C (as Ester C Calcium Ascorbate) 60 mg; Thiamin (as thiamin HCI) 1.5 mg; Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Biotin, Panothenic Acid; Calcium; Phospherus; Magnesium; Zinc; Selenium: Copper; Manganese; Chronium; Molybdemun; Chloride; Sodium; Potassium (I gave up on the breakdowns)
Stevia Leaf Extract 100 mg
Other Ingredients: Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Natural Flavors, Beet color, Lo Han Guo extract, silica

All three are sugar-free
The Whey Cooler tastes the worst - it's sort of grainy when you mix it (I've only tried it once; and my hubby not at all).
We started with the Ultima, because we had purchased single-serving packets at the running store, and liked it. I think I'd rather have a different flavour, though. Passion Fruit is OK, but I prefer citrus (lemon-lime), which is why I bought the Whey Cooler, actually.

Anyway, I figure it's one way to keep electrolytes, etc., in the system, while still trying to drink enough to keep hydrated during the heat.

[Shadow]

Ah, summer... I used to just thrive in the heat, but the last couple of years I am just miserable and bloated in it :(. My biggest challenge is not holidays but just in wanting cold, sweet desserts when it's hot. Of course, I make low carb ones, but that doesn't necessarily justify the choice when I'm more inclined to go for cold, creamy desserts over fruits or veggies :lol:. And the bloated feeling - oh how rauchy :eek:! Nothing like hot weather to make me feel like a beached whale :rolleyes:..... and needless to say, when I feel that fat and frumpy, it's harder to convince myself to not just say the heck with it and eat what I want :o...

[Relief]

I can tell you EXACTLY what my temptation is--sweet corn on the cob!!!! I ate four ears yesterday! but, that was the only indescretion. ( well other than eating way too MUCH of everything) Since I was in charge of the BBQ everything was low carb that could be-- low carb baked beans-- sugar free 3-bean salad and a low carb raspberry trifle, so I stayed sugar and grain free, but the corn-on-the-cob....well...... once a year, right! I only gained a pound of water overnight which is actually a good sign that I didn't over carb very much. 2 weeks ago I had a little bread fest at an italian retaurant and gained THREE pounds overnight. Amazing how sensitive the ole' bod is getting.

There have been so many "occasions" in our family lately that I haven't been watching calories very well, but carbs and protein have been on target and I haven't gained anything, ( other than the water--which has been gone in one day) so that's good. The next two weeks are pretty clear so I should be able to be very aware . I still would like to get about 5 more pounds gone and I suspect that will take about a month of very clean living!!! worth it, though.

[Mitra]

I think I'd be tempted by really fresh juicy corn on the cob, too. But there isn't any around, so I'm safe ;).

I still would like to get about 5 more pounds gone and I suspect that will take about a month of very clean living!!! worth it, though.

Definitely :D. You certainly deserve to get there after all your determined detective work to track down everything that was causing you problems!

I'm listening to the rain pouring down outside and finding it hard to believe that only two days ago I was struggling with the heat. That's English summers for you :lol:.

[cmcole]

I'm not sure what tempts me. The family has had corn on the cob recently, but I didn't want any.
They have had spaghetti
I made lasagna and they had garlic bread

I just don't want it, although I would have eaten the sauce if my hubby hadn't grabbed it and had it on the leftover noodles while the lasagne was in the oven (I didn't bother telling him it was supposed to be for my meal, because he would have felt guilty, I'm sure).

I even resisted the "taters" last night (small effort on that one - even though I picked one up, I put it back and had something else)

So, I'm not entirely sure what my temptation is - it is just that I'd also like to have some extra weight/fat gone off my body, and am not entirely certain how to achieve that goal. Perhaps it's unrealistic

[bluefish]

i have had some same old lasagna last time and there is this dinner comign and they wnat to have some spaghetti and i dnt feel like having those.