Monday, January 12, 2009

The Boob Tube...

I played "Suzie Homemaker" yesterday morning. While washing all the dishes in the sink (and there were a butt load) I made a big pot of Taco Soup to freeze and supper at the same time. For supper I made the chicken/noodle/lima concoction (that I will put on my recipe page later today) and cooked some cabbage to go with it. Got it all done and to my dismay there are MORE dishes. Well, I put them off and will have to get them done today, but not right now :o), I'm too busy doing the important things, like blogging.

While I was cooking and cleaning the kitchen I had the news on to listen to in the background. What I heard was so interesting that I had to turn the fires down and jump into the living room to listen more closely. They have a doctor on there on Sundays and he was talking about eating before you go to bed. He said that he tells all his patients not to eat within 3 hours before bed time because it will encourage your body to put on weight. Then the revelation! He said that there are studies out there that say that it won't! It's what you eat the whole day that puts weight on or takes it off. It doesn't matter when you eat it. He said that he has had to rethink this and now he tells his patients that it won't encourage weight gain but how much and what you munch on in the evenings will. He said that most people tend to munch in the evenings on things that aren't healthy or just down right fattening and that's counter-productive to weight loss. So for me that has been a wonderful revelation. I just can't get to sleep with a grumbling tummy, so I've always had something right before I go to bed. Only lately I've been having a healthy snack and so far it has proven to be fine. I've worked those wonderful 100 calorie packs out of my daily routine with the exception of Quaker Granola bars. And that has been a wonderful snack just before bedtime for me.

Then there was this annoying commercial that was so loud that I didn't have to come into the living room to listen to. It was Marie Osmond for Nutra-Systems. This was a new one that I hadn't heard before and I started laughing out loud and saying a few off color words as well. She starts talking about how it took her 9 looooonnnnngggggg years to put on her 30 or 40 pounds and only 4 months to take it off. Good grief! How many of you out there, did it take 9 years to get fat? Not me, that's for sure! Geesh, I put on 30-40 pounds in less than a year! I really think they should remove that ad. It is so unrealistic it's pathetic. Now I'm not knocking Nutra-Systems, so those of you out there that have used it with great success, that's wonderful. We all have to develop a system that works for us. But we also have to be realistic about our gains and losses. Ok, I'm stepping off that "band wagon."

Yesterday was a fine day calorie wise. I enjoyed my day of rest from exercising. Although I did have a kinda withdrawal feeling, not exercising. WHAT? Again in the back of my mind I was thinkin', if I had a treadmill, I'd have jumped on it and walked for a half hour or so. I guess I'd better start shopping for a treadmill.

Hope your week is a productive and happy one.

9 comments:

MaryFran said...

Thank you for the information about night time eating. Just the other day I was having a conversation with a friend about 'after hours' eating. So your post was very timely!

Way to go for getting the soup made and in the freezer. Taco soup is somethign that is on my list to try to make this week (OR NEXT). I've heard so much about it that I've figured it was time to try it!

grammy said...

I hope you do get to get a treadmill. Seems like it would be a good thing for you. It snowed here last night. After all the crazy weather, normal snow is nice. Thanks for your comment. I consider you a friend, and I thought it was neat that you knew the questions about my kids. I even worry about you, like the time you didn't write for a week or so. I thought maybe something had happened. Thanks for being a friend. (o:

Dutch said...

I have also heard that about night time snacking. I need to have something before I go to bed. I was addicted to peanut butter and crackers and now I am having either a yogurt or a piece of fruit. They should take that Marie Osmond commercial off. I can't stand hearing about the 30-40 lbs. I used to have a treadmill but used it to hang clothes on it. LOL Have a great week.

FluffyDonna said...

I really really want a treadmill just so I can walk and watch TV or even better - catch up on blogs. I read an article about a guy to made an at-home treadmill workstations with a board mounted over the treadmill arms and a wireless keyboard. The computer screen was like a TV in front of his treadmill. Everyday he walked 1.0 mile an hour while typing out his emails and writing articles. In 3 hours, he would burn 600 calories!!!!

JC said...

It is so cold in Alabama, I hope your staying warm on top of that mountain. Good information about calorie consumption timing. I've heard so many diet commericals lately. What a hoot. Good look with treadmill shopping. Maybe you could map out a virtual walk across the USA. Someone is doing a virtual bike trip but I can't remember who. Sounds like fun.

Mother Hubbard said...

And see you're right! We never eat until around 9 or 10pm and by that time I'm tard!! Thank you for bringing that to attention because from personal experience I know it's true. Lately we've been having dinner by at least no later than 7pm and if I get hungry before I sleep I drink some juice and that seems to help..sometimes. *grins* I'm going to try some of your recipes they look yummy. As I don't cook much my daughter will be cooking them and she agrees...yummy. As for a treadmill we just got one a few months back. We got it from HSN actually just so we could make payments and free shipping and handling. I'll check and see what it is as I forgot and my daughter isn't home right now. She loves it and she can keep track of how many calories she has burned plus it has a heart rate monitor on it. Have a blessed evening and stay warm up on that mountain. Did I ever mention how brave you are...I'm so afraid of heights lol. *hugs*

Cammy@TippyToeDiet said...

Wanna know what's the most unrealistic about that nutrisysytem commercial? Marie's hair color. {me-ow! Cammy scratches nails.) I'm sorry, I just had to get that out of my system.

Nighttime eating hasn't seemed to hurt me. In fact, I think it helps. I usually have fruit and/or cheese. Sometimes a couple of crackers with peanut butter and a small banana. You (and the TV doctor are right: quantity and quality throughout the day are most important.)

There are some studies that suggest that eating a calcium-rich snack before bedtime will actually help lose weight. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has done quite a bit of research on the matter. Nothing conclusive though.

Hope you have a great day and get in some exercise. God forbid you should start to tighten up after all this effort. :)

Anonymous said...

turkey slices or string cheese is my favorite bedtime snack. Anything to distract me from the mountain of dishes I left in the sink:)

Deborah said...

Mother Hubbard: I was so excited to be able to comment on your blog and then the word verification won't work for me. Wonder what I'm doing wrong? Hope you come back and read this so you won't think I'm ignoring you. I'm really trying.