| Subject: Re: 5-HTP |
Author:
Dreemdanser
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Date Posted: 13:34:02 05/12/03 Mon
In reply to:
SapphireMist
's message, "I am very proud of you!" on 17:25:31 05/09/03 Fri
I read about the 5-HTP supplement in a recent issue of woman's world magazine. I buy that magazine every week in the grocery store and read it cover-to-cover. It is an amazing resource for up-to-the-minute research releases and new info on every subject. I have learned more medical info there than any other single source...and some info that my doctors haven't even known or heard of yet. I read about supplements that the health food stores haven't even gotten in yet. There is one called "sugarease" that is supposed to help convert sugar to energy (even natural sugars like in fruit) so that they are not converted to fat. GNC is supposed to carry it but the GNC stores here havn't gotten it yet.
The 5-HTP seems to help me especially with the evening cravings/appetite thing. You can get it at any health food store. I have to say that my biggest battle seems to be the evenings...I think the battle with the scale is won or lost at that time of day. Most times I can be pretty "good" all day even on days I am home all day by myself, but come the evenings it all goes to pieces. I have tried experimenting with what things leave me feeling satisfied and not "munchy" and which meals/snacks have the opposite effect. Sugar and white flour are the worst culprits in getting me started on a binge. But some things i find help me satisfy and urge and it can stop there. I can be a crunch-a-holic. Small mini pretzels help satisfy that a lot. I count out the serving size (17 pretzels for Rolled Gold brand make 110 cal.)adn put them in a dish. If I have the bag in my lap I am doomed. But that isn't something I allow myself after supper. In the evenings i will only allow myself certain things...and yet I will allow myslef any and all of these things at night; sugar free jello, sliced cucumbers (even with a Tbs low cal dressing), 1/2 a grapefruit, broth, tea, or any raw cut up crunchy veggies like celery, red peppers, etc. I buy butterball reduced sodium 99% fat free chicken broth...and I drink it anytime I want to squelch hunger in between meals. I munch on like 4 or 5 raw nuts if I want during the day, or the pretzels, or any type of whole grain cereal flakes from the health food store. I like health valley Arramanth flakes or 7-grain flakes. Again, I put them in a dish...just 1 serving, and eat them dry for the crunch factor.
I really am not eating the thingts I used to that I would feel would help me not feel deprived, the diet ice creams, puddings, etc. don't really call to me so much now. The stuff I have a hard time with are the crunchies these days. But I did discover Russel Stovers sugar free chocolate candies. They make both chocolate mint and chocolate toffee crunch which I found in walmart in the regular candy isle. 3 pieces is 180 cal. I let myself have 1 piece if I am dying for something sinful and just amazingly good....but I find I don't eat it but more than a couple of times a week. Just knowing I have it if I want it seems to psychologically help me resist. The other thing that falls into that category are the Nabisco "famous chocolate wafers". Our supermarket has them in the ice cream toppings section. 5 wafers are 140 calories. I let myself have 2 if I have to have an indulgence. Again I find it isn't all the time if I know I have them and have the option.
Definitely the white sugar and white flour can set me up to want more. Right now my typical day's intake is something like this:
*huge bowl of kashi unsweetened puffed cereal(probably 2 cups) with a cup of berries (i like raspberries or blueberries, sometimes peaches) with 1% milk. I don't measure the milk but I don't drink what is left in the bowl.
*4 or 5 raw nuts
*Huge spiruteen shake made with water (maybe 3 1/2 cups) 3 egg whites, 1 + 1/2 scoops of spiruteen powder, 1/2 packet sweet'n'low...blended...then add 1 + 1/2 cups ice and blended again.
*either 1 cup of whole grain flakes(dry) or 1 serving mini pretzels
*chicken broth
*4 to 5 oz. lean protein (meat, poultry or fish)and either steamed veggies or a big salad. If I have a salad I use a low-cal dressing but it has real oil in it but only about 60 to 70 cal for 2 Tbls. If I have steamed veggies they are low-cal ones like broccolli, asparagus, cauliflower, green beans, and I might use a small amount of olive oil on them or in cooking. (if I have a starchy food at supper I feel more cravings at night so I avoid anything like potatoes, corn, carrots, rice, or pasta at supper).
I have described the things I allow myself at night. If I am going to have an indulgence, like the sugar free chocolate, I have it during the day sometime.
Oh yes....I am drinking a lot of green tea. This time of year i am making it iced. I carry it with me everywhere I go. That and water (of course). I am peeing all the time!
OK well, I hope this isn't too much info. I know i get wordy. If I really want a lunch that day then I which and have the spiruteen shake for breakfast but have a smaller one...like only 1 scoop of the powder and less water. My favorite flavor is cherries jubillee. All the HF stores here carry this brand but I noticed that GNC and some others in the mall also do now. If you want to have pasta or something that feels like "normal" food then have a shake for breakfast and a diet entree for lunch and then a dinner like I discribed above.
I implement all those other stategies as well such as painting my nails or brushing and flossing before I sit by the TV at night. I take melatonin and sleepy time extra tea in the evenings so I will get sleepy and go to bed instead of eating.
I wish you all the luck in trying any of these stategies!
huge hug!
Dreemy
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