Hi, Zonecoach,
Finally got a chance after a very hectic day yesterday to get back to answer your post.
Giving up the fruit will be hard----I don't mind the sacrifice if it means losing the weight, but I'll just have to build some new plans without it, especially since I've been eating cottage cheese w/fruit for lunch every day forever (it seems). I'll begin working toward it, 'cause I am dead stuck at this weight and getting mad. I do drink all my water, religiously.
I know the walnuts aren't on the favorable list but thought I could have unfavorable choices as long as I don't let them dominate. Will switch to almonds while trying to lose and use my walnuts again when I'm at maintenance. I just keep reading that they have such good fats in them; and they are something I crave----who knows why.
I'm pretty sure 11 blocks is where I belong. I figure (using two different methods----the book and the Tanita scale) I have about 105-107 1b. of LBM. I figure my activity level at .7: I walk 30 minutes at 4. mph or better most days of the week. And other than that, I am either sitting at work (I'm on what is supposedly summer vacation, as a teacher, but which actually has ended up being schoolwork both in school at meetings and workshops or schoolwork at home on the computer), or gardening, painting, house projects at home. I'm not a couch potato type; tend to still be busy with something into the evening etc., but not real athletic either.
You mentioned posting some menus of your own; I'll keep looking for them as I continue reading through the back postings. That might give me some new inspirations on how to emphasize the veggies and reduce the fruit. In the meantime, I'm going to drop one carb and add a fat for a few days. If that doesn't get things going --- 'cause I've already tried adding a second 30 minute walk here and there when I could get it into the schedule----I may try a fat fast for a few days. What's your opinion on that, or do you have other suggestions that might work. Because, essentially, I weigh today exactly what I did after the first 5 days of getting back on the Zone program several weeks ago. Ughh!
Thanks!

Hi, Zonecoach, it's me again. I just figured out something else I may be doing wrong that's throwing my balance off: I have been weighing cooked weight rather than raw. Can you tell me how you deal with this raw weight thing? I am often dealing with already cooked meat: you mentioned cooking up a quantity to help with management. Is there a formula for figuring out how much to reduce when meat is cooked? Maybe I'm getting way too much protein as a result of figuring cooked instead of raw. thanks

Hello Shalizbet,
I know cutting back on the fruit will be hard, but it's only temporary. Down the road, you may even realize you don't need/want that much. It can be a challenge to figure out what to replace it with. You'll manage. This is not "standard" advice, nor would I give it to just anyone. Fruit has alot of sugar, albiet good sugar, it's sugar nontheless. Try to stick with the lower gycemic ones and keep them earlier in the day. If you really want to get tough, no fruit after noon.
That is true, esp. when applied towards carbs. Overall, higher monounsaturated fats are the best choice. I'll see if I can find a chart I have with numbers, and post. I am absolutely addicted to toasted slivered almonds! They go great on a salad. Based on what you've said, I think you're right. Is there any way you could begin to incorporate resistance/weight training? The more muscle you have, the more you burn. It would not be a temporary endevour though. That is not a bad idea. Remember, drop one carb per meal (9grams = 39.6 calories). Replace with 4.5grams fat = 40.5 calories) Do not adjust your snacks. That's good, and should help. Perhaps get your heart rate up there during one of your walks (220-age X .75), which means you're really going to have to pick up the pace. I've seen some ladies walking in my neighborhood with hand weights, doing bicep curls as they go. Can't hurt, and would get the heart rate going more. We'll get you past this stall yet!

As far as meat goes.... Well the rule is pre-cooked weight and I think that equates to approx 1/2 ounce. Personally, I'm not that precise, and I've not had a problem, but I do a lot of weight training, so I can get away with extra protein. Maybe, just for now, weigh out the precooked weight, see what it comes out to, cook it, and then weigh it. Then you'll know for sure.

Thanks, Zonecoach, for your advice. Have switched to almonds, dropped one carb and added one fat, given up fruit after noon, and limited it elsewhere. Will try to increase walking speed, though it's hard to get my heartrate up high enough without stressing the injured foot on which I'm having the surgery in a few weeks (I'm lucky to be able to do any fitness walking on it at all). Will see if I can get heartrate up on exercise bike though I'll have to build some new leg muscles to do it. Because I am relatively fit, my heart rate doesn't rise without my having to do quite a bit. And I will try to get to the weight training, but I anticipate a lot of difficulty fitting it into the schedule. I'm going to do my best because it was one of my goals for the summer. I just got derailed by the foot injury and a back injury.

I feel that HulaHula's thread has been taken over by my concerns. Hula, I'm sorry----if you're still with us. How are you doing? Really didn't mean to drive you away!