April 30th, 2009Don’t Eat So Many Calories
Don’t eat so many calories
I was inspired by two of Michael Pollan’s books, The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food, to try to radically change my eating habits. I had just started a normal “don’t eat so many calories” diet when I read them, so I thought I would experiment. I’ve followed the “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” dictate and also followed his shopping advice. Basically I haven’t eaten anything that I haven’t cooked from base, organic ingredients (whenever possible). I’ve eliminated all soft drinks - diet or HFCS filled. Avoided fast food. Reduced my meat intake to no more than 4oz per day with red meat only one day a week and several days a week all vegetarian. Eat three or four pieces of fruit a day and greatly increased my vegetable consumption.
After five weeks, I’ve lost 22 pounds. I know it sounds like a cliche, but the most amazing thing is that I never get really hungry (as in weak with hunger). I don’t snack continually, but I find I can have something like an avocado for lunch and not eat anything else for four or five hours - something I would have thought impossible before.
For Thanksgiving, we were at a family function so I didn’t have much control over what was served, but I got one modest plate with a small serving of everything I liked (no seconds is another good rule to follow). I ate slow, shooting for the 80% mark. Left a little food on my plate (prompting concern that I didn’t like it or I was sick). I even had very, very small servings of my three favorite deserts.
The next day I was down another pound and I thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
