Month: November 2012

I Don’t Want Any, Sweetheart – I Want it ALL! – Scenes from a Low Carb Life #1

[Note: as I revise and edit my book, there are portions that don’t quite fit anywhere. Here you go.] 

It was a beautiful fall day and the wife wanted to take the family to the park. We also had to take a ride afterward so I didn’t know where my next meal was coming from – literally. I’m doing this Induction without the benefit of a lot of portable foods like Atkins shakes and nuts so I needed to eat an ample amount of calories before I left. I grabbed some roast beef and Belgian butter and made 4 roll-ups and had those while everyone got ready. I also downed a Greek yogurt as well. This gave me a total of 770 calories as well as ample protein and plenty of fat to run on. No matter what happens, I should be fine. Continue reading “I Don’t Want Any, Sweetheart – I Want it ALL! – Scenes from a Low Carb Life #1” →

All Weight Loss Makes You Artificially Thin

A Indian sweet called rasgulla, for those of you unfamiliar with the treat

The past week – one that included a birthday celebration and Thanksgiving – and included what would pass as ‘normal’ eating for the average person – proves the assertion that I am kept artificially thin against my body’s will through a low carb diet.

On Thursday I was 197. Today, just 2 days later, I am 205. The ability to gain 8 pounds in 2 days is a remarkable feat, and has to do with my body thinking that my weight is far to low for its comfort. In reality, my body decided long ago that I should be at least 250 pounds and while I have kept it from that number for many years now, my body has never been in agreement with me on this, and the past two days – when I have given it the opportunity through providing it what would be considered a ‘normal’ amount of daily carbohydrates (300 grams per day), it has taken the opportunity to go for the gusto and start to rebuild my fat stores back to what it deems appropriate. Continue reading “All Weight Loss Makes You Artificially Thin” →

Fast and Fake Low Carb ‘Mashed Potatoes’ for Thanksgiving

I was going to forego mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving, but cleaning out the fridge to make room for the Thanksgiving turkey revealed an old head of cauliflower and some aged radishes. With 10 minutes of unattended cooking and 10 minutes of prep, using ingredients I had in the house, I had a decent mashed potato substitute for tomorrow.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium head of cauliflower, washed
  • 6 white radishes
  • 1 green onion
  • 1 tablespoon of garlic puree
  • 4 ounces cream cheese

Directions 

Nuke the cauliflower and radishes in a 2 quart bowl in the microwave for 10 minutes with 2 tablespoons of water. When done, they should be soft. Add the cream cheese, garlic puree and green onion and hit it with the immersion blender, working the blender around until all of the radish and cauliflower are of a mashed-potato-ey consistency.

Done. The radishes worked out quite well, adding an additional bright flavor note, and the cream cheese makes it creamy – and it’s nutritious and low carb.

I won’t be feeling deprived tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving All.

 

 

 

Weight Loss and Happiness are Two Different Things

We only get one ride on this carousel. Pick a horse you like, go for the brass ring, and even if you don’t get it, be sure to enjoy the ride.

The above popped in my head after reading a harrowing and sad story of weight loss in Slate magazine. Titled ‘I Once was Obese’, it chronicles just how miserable the author needed to become, and has resigned herself to continue being, in order to become a size 12.

Is it worth it? I won’t judge this person, except to say that she makes a solid point against the ‘virtue’ of weight loss. ‘Virtue’ – the quality of a person – cannot be measured by a waist size. Neither can happiness, though a lot of fat people think a certain weight will make them happy.

Un, no – it doesn’t. Fat or thin, if we don’t know how to make ourselves happy, we will find things to bitch about. Continue reading “Weight Loss and Happiness are Two Different Things” →