Food for the Sleepless

I've created a few posts on insomnia in relation to nutrition and such already, so I wanted to add a more proper list (and condense it all a bit).

A review:

Sleep and Appetite

Electrolyte Imbalance and Sleep

Sleepy Foods

1. Milk: We've all heard that a warm glass of milk is a comfort at night, but it's more than psychological. Milk contains tryptophan, which provides a sedative effect, by turning into serotonin (this is used to treat depression) and melatonin. It also helps to regulate one's appetite, whilst the dairy alone boosts one's metabolism by warming our body temperatures a touch (there's more research on the subject that links dairy to weight loss, but it's a collection of studies which are rather dry to read and regurgitate).
2. Eggs: ...also rich in tryptophan. 
3. Almonds: Almonds carry magnesium, which insomniacs often use to ease their minds to rest. They're also high in fat, which cuts off a bit of oxygen heading towards one's brain. Many sleeping aids (pills) do the same. For those of us who are weary of fat, just have a few, perhaps alongside that glass of milk; or, even better, tea with milk!
4. Oatmeal: The nutrients that oatmeal provides, are all beneficial to sleep. It contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, and potassium. In other words: plenty of electrolytes (I recommend a bowl of oatmeal with my aforementioned almonds).
5. Green tea: Green tea carries theanine, which also helps to lull one to sleep. You can find caffeine-free green tea in most grocery stores!
6. Cherries: Cherries contain melatonin, which is the chemical that our bodies naturally produce at night, in reaction to the darkness.

Apple Pie Omlette

Calories: 103 (using one small apple)

To Fix:

1. Core and dice the apple
2. Sprinkle with sweetener and spices.
3. Microwave for approx 2 minutes
4. Lightly whip the egg whites and cook in skillet until done.
5. Slide onto a plate, put apple mixture on one half then flip the other half of the omelette over.  

 Weight: 114 113 112 111 110 109 108 107 106 105 104 103 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95

Height: 5'4"

Points: XXVIIII

My mania's coming to a close. Part of me is relieved, and the other part is afraid of the fall. Depression tends to follow mania... at least I'll sleep again, I suppose.

Calories Required to Meet Our Goals

Weight Gain/Loss Planning Calculator
This calculator will estimate your daily calorie requirements for losing, maintaining and gaining weight. Note: To get the most accurate TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) results from this calculator, get your body composition tested and enter your body fat percentage in the optional "Body fat percentage" field.
Gender:	FemaleMale
Your age:
Your height:	ft.in.
Your weight:	lbs.
Your body fat percentage (optional):	%
Your daily activity level:Sedentary (little or no exercise, desk job)Lightly active (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/wk) Mod. active (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/wk) Very active (hard exercise/sports 6-7 days/wk) Extr. active (hard daily exercise/sports & physical job)
Number of pounds you wish toLoseGain:	lbs.
Number ofDaysWeeksMonthsYearsto achieve goal:
Daily calories required to maintain current weight:
Daily calories required meet desired goal:

On the subject of goals: There is absolutely no possibility of me reaching ninety-five pounds by Christmas (which, I've suddenly noticed, takes place in three days). Even if I chopped off a breast, I'd be closer to a normal B.M.I. than that of a petite '16.4.'

...so, instead of moping, I'm setting a new goal. According to the calculator above, I can reach my goal weight in late February if I maintain a net of  644 calories. Easy! I can do that. Can't we all? I think so. I'll keep playing my 'Points Game' and favoring my potatoes (I'm fond of them) and protein drinks.

This weight loss high is honestly all that's keeping me cognizant today. I'm actually afraid of eating, because I know that the energy will go away, and I'll be catotonic again.

Weight: 114 113 112 111 110 109 108 107 106105 104 103 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95

Height: 5'4"

Fasting Myths

I couldn't have written any of this better myself, so here's the link:

Top Ten Fasting Myths Debunked

Highlights:

•  Eating small meals frequently will not increase your metabolism, nor will it keep you significantly full. That being said, it's okay to skip a meal.
• Blood sugar levels aren't enormously impacted by eating small meals.
• Fasting for short periods of time (up to sixty hours) does not put one into 'starvation mode.' On the contrary, one's metabolism is increased by 3.6%-10% after 36-48 hours of fasting. 
• Eating protein every 2-3 hours is silly (I'm not going to elaborate, because I doubt that any of us eat every 2-3 hours).
• Fasting does not cause muscle loss. Only prolonged fasting can wrought this sort of chaos.
• Skipping breakfast is perfectly fine. It will not lower your metabolism, nor will eating it give you a substantial metabolic 'boost.'
• Short-term fasting does not effect cortisol levels.
• Eating a large breakfast; a smaller lunch; and then a very small dinner, doesn't effect weight loss nor gain.

Note: My post on starvation mode is accurate. The 'starvation mode' that the above author touches on, is one that is falsely rumored to kick in after a short period of time without food (which is, of course, utter nonsense).

Weight: 114 113 112 111 110 109 108 107 106105 104 103 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95
Height: 5'4"

Wonderful News

I meant to compose this yesterday, but I was too sleep deprived to arrange my letters into words. The point, however, still remains: I have wonderful news to share.

My Sorbitol came in through the mail today!

 I must admit that it looks a bit suspect, packaged in its shiny ziplock bag (...illegal sugar?)... but I'm guessing that packaging isn't of high concern for customers who purchase their sugar substitutes from a chemist's website.

To anyone who's missed my obsessive babbling about Sorbitol:

Sorbitol

For the record: I'm not fond of the prospect of making frequent potty stops (which, on its own, does not cause one to lose proper weight)... but to me, "tremendous weight loss" outweighs the inconvenience.

So far, I haven't experimented any farther than incoorporating it into my hot chocolate... but I'm going to bounce about the kitchen today and make a myriad of lovely recipes to post!

Weight: 114 113 112 111 110 109 108 107 106105 104 103 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95
Height: 5'4"

The Experiment

My mind's having some difficulty coping with my fasting endeavor, so I'm going to take up the Russian Gymnast Diet for a while instead (I finally have money to buy fruit again!).

I've altered it somewhat, but it's still structured the same way:

The R.G.D (a).
The Russian Gymnast Diet (altered)

Breakfast: One glass of either orange or apple juice

Lunch: Fruit Salad (comprised of either four fruits, or two fruits and one banana), with one cup of fruit juice.

Dinner: One apple, eaten alongside a glass of water

I sincerely apologize for the less aesthetically appealing addition to my sidebar. I'm really struggling to support myself right now, so I've been inclined to into scrape change from every corner of my home that I can. I promise to make up for it by adding at least one new pocket of weight loss tips per day.

Stay well, loves. Rest will bring another chance to continue your path anew.

Weight: 114 113 112 111 110 109 108 107 106105 104 103 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95
Height: 5'4"

The Apple

My boycot of solid foods lasted for about eighteen hours, before I was enticed by the apple that beckoned me from inside of my fridge. I'm certain that I can last longer now, since there are no apples nor pomegranates nestled atop the shelves. I'm going to start over with it at midnight, with a bit more sincerity.


I find myself wanting a pen pal lately. I want a friend to plan diets with, exchange progress notes, pass along stories, and other odds and ends. If I found such a person in the real world, I feel like I'd have a friend who understands me to a greater extent than other people I've met. We could talk about our feelings together, and avoid food like the plague. We wouldn't have to hide our bones in sweatshirts and layers to avoid scrutiny, because neither of us would be appauled. Perhaps I should just move to a bigger city...

There are four hours until midnight in my corner of the world. I can't fathom eating much else right now, so I suppose that I should just throw what's left of the cupboards into the bin. Feeling as though I'm too large to leave the house has lingered on for longer than I can stomach.

 

 

 

(I love this picture)

Weight: 114 113 112 111 110 109 108 107 106105 104 103 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95
Height: 5'4"

Sorbitol

After digging through pages of odd (mostly odd) and droll facts about artificial sweeteners, I finally found a favorite: Sorbitol. Sorbitol is the only substitute that actually caused weight loss, unlike its less friendly peers... the lot of which often cause cancer.

I found a more readable article recently, warning about the "dangerously excessive weight loss." linked to Sorbitol. It warns that Sorbitol has a laxative effect in large quantities... which is probably why it's used  as a laxative. I've mentioned this a few times, but I feel like it would be remiss not to reiterate it: Laxatives do not cause weight loss. Poop indicates that the digestive process is finished, no mater how it's excreted. You cannot poop away calories. That being said, there must be another reason why Sorbitol that causes weight loss.

 

Read the Article Here

 

The people who took part in the study ate about fifteen sticks of sugar free gum per day, which seems to be the magical amount of Sorbitol to induce poopies and excessive weight loss. I'm not a healthy person, so I like the idea of excessive weight loss. It makes me giddy. I'll sit on the john twice a day if need be. Pardon me whilst I shove three sticks of sugar-free gum in my mouth and daydream about sagging, baggy pants.

Once I've procured my Sorbitol, I will post a myriad of recipes. It doesn't brown whilst it cooks, so I'lI plan to go nuts with food colouring (rainbow cake!).

 

A Place to Buy Sorbitol

($9.25 - 7E)

 

Weight: 114 113 112 111 110 109 108 107 106105 104 103 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95
Height: 5'4"
I think that's Charmander to the right, screaming "Don't puke on the bed."

Gracie

I've been lazing around my house and stuffing my face all day. Missing nearly an entire night's sleep never falls short of throwing my brain into a chaotic mess. When I'm influenced by insomnia, my thoughts channel themselves through crossed wires, and their fragments rattle around in my head like pins... none of which assist my ability to understand logic.

I can't conceive doing anything remotely mindful whilst I'm sleep deprived. I don't care to write as much, reading is a tedious strain, painting is nonsense, and leaving the house is just pretentious (Motivation? My, aren't we special.). With all other options for entertainment tossed from my sight, the television becomes my separate universe. I glue myself to the couch, find Supersize vs. Superskinny on Youtube, hook my monitor to the T.V. screen... and then commence snacking, because my choice in doing so (or not) is out of my hands by this point. If I didn't own a television, I'm confident that I'd be well under ninety pounds (in all honesty, eating elsewhere makes me uncomfortable).


I visited my parents' house whilst they were out, so that I could pick up dinner for myself and Gracie [pictured latter]. They've had a half-gallon of Cookies & Cream frozen yogurt in their freezer for about two weeks now. Although I haven't touched it (god forbid... one of us wouldn't last such an encounter), I know that they haven't taken more than a spoonful from it. Ice cream has always been my binge food, and this particular brand of Cookies & Cream is a favorite of mine; but tonight, instead of nabbing it out of the freezer, I brought back applesauce, edamame, and protein bread. I opened the freezer, I saw it, and I shunned it. I am victorious! I have beaten Cookies & Cream ice cream.

Weight: 114 113 112 111 110 109 108 107 106105 104 103 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95

Height: 5'4" 



Winter Groceries

I'm getting my first paycheck in the longest time this Friday, and I've crafted a winter shopping list in its honor. I usually eat very monotonously structured meals, so I'm going to branch out as much as I can.

Atop those ambitions, I will bring things into my house that have never graced my drawers before. I will bring condiments...! This is groundbreaking.

Winter Shopping List

• Diet Swiss Miss hot chocolate (25 calories)
• Smucker's sugar-free raspberry jam (10 calories)
• Orville Redenbacher's 'movie theater' butter popcorn (70 calories)
• 2 'McIntosh' apples (55 calories each)
• 3 Peaches (59 calories each)
• Butter-flavored spray (0 calories)
• Cinnamon (0 calories)
• Garlic powder (0 calories)
• Amy's organic 'pasta and 3-bean' soup (130 calories)
• Del Monte '100% juice' tropical fruit salad  (60 calories)
• ...and a carton of 'Pet' fat-free milk (90 calories)

Weight: 114  113  112  111  110  109  108  107  106  105  104  103  102  101  100  99  98  97  96  95
Height: 5'4"