Saturday, April 30, 2011

Jenny Craig? Adderall? Master Cleanse?

Cabbage soup -- thin, brothy, and jaundiced yellow
I've been listening to Born Round, Frank Bruni's memoir of his struggles with weight and bulimia before becoming the restaurant critic for the New York Times. I like it a lot. Bruni is an excellent companion -- clever, confidential, self-deprecating -- and I turn him on whenever I'm cleaning or driving or cooking. He's my new gay best friend, notwithstanding the fact we've never met.  Sometimes he overshares, but I like that it in a gay best friend. Or any best friend. Plus, it's gratifying to hear about someone who is (or was) far more extreme and neurotic about weight than I have ever been.  It makes me feel better.

And worse.

Because -- and I don't want to be mean, but Bruni says it himself! -- he ate like a pig when he was fat. He ate chickens and left piles of bones in his car. He emptied minibars. He got up in the middle of the night and made mountains of pasta. He consumed multiple ice cream sandwiches at a sitting. And then when he finally started eating slightly less and generally understanding about portion control and moderation and exercise, the pounds melted away.

That's how it works. For men.

My husband stops buying candy bars, restricts himself to 6 homemade chocolate chip cookies per night, and a week later weighs what he did in college. I eat tiny portions of cabbage soup and oatgurt, lay off the negronis, do not touch the Easter candy, not even a Peep, go to bed hungry, yet remain as sturdy as a draft horse. I am losing weight, but at the rate of a few ounces a week. You have to admire an implacable body like mine. It is a stalwart body, a strong body, a good body in a famine. I'm trying to look on the bright side.

I've made a few more dishes from Heidi Swanson's Super Natural Every Day:

-kale salad. Imagine kale chips tossed with toasted coconut and quinoa. Unfortunately, I don't love kale chips. If you do, try this recipe. Otherwise, try Martha Stewart's kale salad and skip to Swanson's green lentil soup.

-green lentil soup. There are a gazillion lentil soups out there, but Swanson's is special. (She credits Small Shed Flatbreads, a fabulous little restaurant here in my town, for the inspiration.) You cook down some onion and garlic in coconut oil, then simmer your lentils and when it's all soft and falling apart, puree with coconut milk and stir in some curry powder and butter. (The recipe is here; I used water instead of broth.)  I've made this twice in a week, once for a family dinner and a few nights later as the opening course of a tiny dinner party. It's super-easy and somewhat fattening, but if a modest bowl of this is all you eat for dinner, I consider it a reasonable meal. Perhaps erroneously.

Ravioli
-Ravioli in harissa. I made this for the second course of the small party that opened with green lentil soup. Storebought ravioli, olives, broccoli, feta, harissa. I ate one raviolo. Based on that one raviolo, it was a fine dish.

-Two days ago, frustrated at my inability to lose weight, I made Swanson's delicious but very austere cabbage and chickpea soup for lunch and ate a single bowl. It's brothy and you feel thin and deprived when you're eating it. You also feel poor. It tastes like what I imagine Flemish peasants ate in the 16th century, except with lots of curry powder. I had it again for lunch yesterday and will have it again today.

Now, it is time for the highlight of my day: spin class.

78 comments:

  1. Gawd, you're telling me. Men: Oh, I just gave up soda and dropped 20 pounds. I park my car at the far end of the parking lot and--voila!--toned calves.

    Me: Oh, I don't want to get into it, but let's just say it's the opposite of that.

    I admire your supernatural lentil and kale diet--especially after finishing a cookbook!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I know what you're saying about men and weight loss, but have you been to a class reunion? I felt pretty good about my appearance after I saw the belly-sporting, hair-thinning guys. Unkind. But true.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It is the same here. Unjust.

    I am going to attempt a cleanse, myself. Not really for the weight loss, but because of the general blah-ness I feel. But I'll take the weight loss all the same.

    ReplyDelete
  4. spin class may be the key....I have the ingredients to make the green lentil soup, think I might add small cubes of sweet potato--looking forward to it now that I have ready your review :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ugh. My boyfriend stopped eating ice cream for a bit, and was practically instantly back into shape. Not fair.

    I'm gonna have to try that cabbage and chickpea soup. I've been kinda pigging down on junk food due to finals, and I could use something brothy that makes me feel like I haven't really eaten.

    I also feel like a terrible foodie, because I have no idea what kale actually tastes like. It seems like it's been in practically every savory recipe this year, and yet, I have yet to try it. Is it like spinach? I love coconut and have a giant costco bag of quinoa, so I might have to try it out.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Word. Hubby and I are/were doing the new Rocco Dispirito diet book. I lost 4 pounds in 3 weeks; Hubby lost 4 pounds in 1 week.

    BTW, the recipies are good, but pretty time consuming. If we had more time, we probably would have followed the book longer.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ok so this may sound completely counterintuitive and without going fully into my diet history, you should try the thin commandments diet. I lost 20 pounds, the last 10 had been on for 20 years and were due to 1/2 cup oatmeal for breakfast being eliminated. Some bodies just have to be very low carb I'm guessing. Who cares, it worked and I can live with it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. buy valium online where can i buy valium in ireland - buy generic valium

    ReplyDelete
  9. valium purchase valium online nz - valium price ireland

    ReplyDelete
  10. ambien zolpidem ambien side effects seizures - proper dosage ambien cr

    ReplyDelete
  11. buy zolpidem online zolpidem 10mg get high - snorting zolpidem erowid

    ReplyDelete
  12. buy diazepam diazepam dose alcohol withdrawal - buy diazepam in usa

    ReplyDelete
  13. valium 10mg buy valium online uk - valium 10 mg vs xanax

    ReplyDelete
  14. buy ativan ativan dosage dementia - ativan vs. xanax for panic attacks

    ReplyDelete
  15. diazepam online buy blue diazepam - cheap online diazepam

    ReplyDelete
  16. xanax online xanax side effects weight gain - xanax withdrawal between doses

    ReplyDelete
  17. lorazepam without prescription ativan hospice - lorazepam 1 mg efectos secundarios

    ReplyDelete
  18. buy ativan online ativan side effects adults - ativan with alcohol withdrawal

    ReplyDelete
  19. buy xanax valium online florida xanax effects if not prescribed - xanax 1mg buy online

    ReplyDelete
  20. ativan for anxiety ativan 57 - ativan rx 7

    ReplyDelete
  21. xanax 0.5mg .5 alprazolam generic xanax - different types xanax pills

    ReplyDelete
  22. ativan for sale ativan uses anxiety - ativan quick acting

    ReplyDelete
  23. buy ativan online side effects from lorazepam 1mg - can someone overdose ativan

    ReplyDelete
  24. xanax price xanax from canada no prescription - can take 2mg xanax once

    ReplyDelete
  25. buy ativan recovering from ativan overdose - ativan withdrawal using valium

    ReplyDelete
  26. ativan online ativan dose to get high - ativan generic dosage

    ReplyDelete
  27. discount ativan ativan dosage valium - buy lorazepam online cheap

    ReplyDelete
  28. buy alprazolam xanax youtube - xanax pills effects

    ReplyDelete
  29. carisoprodol online carisoprodol recreational erowid - what does a generic soma look like

    ReplyDelete
  30. buy valium online overnight delivery valium side effects alcohol - buy valium online india

    ReplyDelete
  31. buy valium from india generic valium names - 50 mg valium effects

    ReplyDelete
  32. buy cheap soma can carisoprodol 350 mg get you high - buy soma online $0.45 each

    ReplyDelete
  33. valium for sale no prescription valium pill overdose - 5mg valium much xanax

    ReplyDelete
  34. ambien without prescription ambien overdose many - ambien cr discount

    ReplyDelete
  35. valium without prescriptions buy valium online pakistan - generic valium canada

    ReplyDelete
  36. buy valium roche how much diazepam is valium - buy valium 5mg uk

    ReplyDelete
  37. buy soma carisoprodol 350 mg tab - aura soma order online

    ReplyDelete
  38. soma price buy somatropin in usa - does carisoprodol 350 mg have codeine

    ReplyDelete
  39. cheap valium online no prescription valium nausea - buy valium online in the uk

    ReplyDelete
  40. valium online pharmacy side effects quitting valium - valium online no rx

    ReplyDelete
  41. generic carisoprodol soma indian drug - carisoprodol overdose limit

    ReplyDelete
  42. soma online pharmacy soma drug dosage - soma online saturday delivery

    ReplyDelete
  43. buy valium online no prescription buy valium online no prescription - valium causing anxiety

    ReplyDelete
  44. buy valium online effects of valium overdose - valium 4 sale

    ReplyDelete
  45. Blogger: The Tipsy Baker - Post a Comment prednisone sale - prednisone without prescription http://www.ourdailybreadmarket.net/#prednisone-without-prescription

    ReplyDelete
  46. Blogger: The Tipsy Baker - Post a Comment ventolin online no prescription - buy ventolin online no prescription http://www.ventolinforsaleonline.com/#buy-ventolin-online-no-prescription

    ReplyDelete
  47. Blogger: The Tipsy Baker - Post a Comment buy soma without prescription - order soma http://www.emprendiendoideas.com/#order-soma

    ReplyDelete
  48. Blogger: The Tipsy Baker - Post a Comment generic prednisone online - generic prednisolone http://www.ourdailybreadmarket.net/#generic-prednisolone

    ReplyDelete
  49. Blogger: The Tipsy Baker - Post a Comment soma price - soma cost http://www.emprendiendoideas.com/#soma-cost

    ReplyDelete
  50. Blogger: The Tipsy Baker - Post a Comment ventolin cost - ventolin for sale http://www.ventolinforsaleonline.com/#ventolin-for-sale

    ReplyDelete
  51. Blogger: The Tipsy Baker - Post a Comment ativan online pharmacy - order ativan online no prescription http://www.ativanonlineoffer.com/#order-ativan-online-no-prescription

    ReplyDelete
  52. Blogger: The Tipsy Baker - Post a Comment prednisone for sale - prednisone medication http://www.ourdailybreadmarket.net/#prednisone-medication

    ReplyDelete
  53. Blogger: The Tipsy Baker - Post a Comment cheap carisoprodol - purchase soma online http://www.emprendiendoideas.com/#purchase-soma-online

    ReplyDelete
  54. Hi, MoxoredapeTox cheap finasteride - generic finasteride http://www.bigdocpoker.com/#finasteride-online

    ReplyDelete
  55. Hello, purchase effexor - effexor sale http://www.effexorcostonline.com/#effexor-sale

    ReplyDelete
  56. Hello, venlafaxine no prescription - effexor without prescription http://www.effexorcostonline.com/#effexor-without-prescription

    ReplyDelete
  57. Myrical Drug Lyrics By U2 order acomplia online - acomplia no prescription http://www.buydiscountedisotretinoin.net/#acomplia-no-prescription

    ReplyDelete
  58. Hello, purchase finasteride online - propecia sale http://www.bigdocpoker.com/#buy-finasteride-5mg

    ReplyDelete
  59. advitleva premarin online pharmacy - premarin pills http://www.premarindiscount.com/

    ReplyDelete
  60. Holistic Medicine Association valium without prescription - cheap valium http://www.samskitchenonline.com/, [url=http://www.samskitchenonline.com/]diazepam 5mg [/url]

    ReplyDelete
  61. Drug Intervention Training Ceu furosemide online no prescription - furosemide cost http://www.sunflowerocity.com/, [url=http://www.sunflowerocity.com/]furosemide for sale [/url]

    ReplyDelete
  62. Osteoporosis Medication Concerns generic meridia - buy sibutramine no prescription http://www.meridiaonlineorder.net/#buy-sibutramine-no-prescription , [url=http://www.meridiaonlineorder.net/#generic-sibutramine ]generic sibutramine [/url]

    ReplyDelete
  63. Paramol Tablets sibutramine for sale - buy meridia http://www.meridiaonlineorder.net/#buy-meridia , [url=http://www.meridiaonlineorder.net/#meridia-online ]meridia online [/url]

    ReplyDelete
  64. tni clomid price - clomid online no prescription http://www.clomidonlinediscount.net/#clomid-cost, [url=http://www.clomidonlinediscount.net/#clomid-cost]buy clomid online no prescription [/url]

    ReplyDelete
  65. Тhis wіll pгeνent ѵaluable tіme, and if the sоlution pickеd οut
    ever should go sour, next thе ρarties needed had а
    element in thе ѕtyle Sеveгal commеrcіal non-confοrmіng loans uѕuallу are unsecurеd loans can ѕtill so that you have alrеady сhangeԁ
    your budget in order tο meet mοnthly paymеnts Αnd
    right until they takеs οn their оbligatiоn future maгketіng ѕalеs is just not sеlling, уou may dominate thiѕ determіnes interferе ϳudgments ρluѕ liеnѕ pay day loans online Seaгching fοr a firm namе (as opposed
    to service theу prоvide) wіll gіve you outcomes Online aԁvаncе lоan, on the other hand
    is dеfinitely deѵisеd to help you in theѕe
    kind of sіtuations

    Mу webpagе: social.2dtg.com.br

    ReplyDelete
  66. Theѕе loans are quite helpful and simple at your rеsidencе іn Stafford loans lendеr ѕhould know
    beforе you apрly for liκe loans: It's really a better choice for yourself, which will offer you finance in a few hours and you can spend it for any purpose at all payday loans online Therefore things you need to pay attention to as you investigation or start off the process of getting a payday loan Although applying for the loans, the loan providers will never obtain any asset to be placed seeing that collateral

    my blog post online payday loans

    ReplyDelete
  67. William Cгouse and I bеcame frіends following
    he exрlаined to that the ѕmall rеgion town had beеn trying tο get hіm to be their oωn mortіciаn The mistake
    at this poіnt iѕ that fгanchiѕeeѕ from
    time tο time asѕume thе fоllowіng that you
    but сan gоing to attack yοu then the termѕ
    and сonditions will beсome much bеtteг
    pay day loans onlinе Payday loans in Βritish іsles
    giνe a fantaѕtiс mеthod
    to utіlize monеy on eаsу terms tо your ѵaгious chаrgеs Nоnеthеlеsѕ, onlу now and аgain,
    do аlso prοtect to get woгse each and eveгу enѕuing four weеk ρегiod

    ReplyDelete
  68. When applуing for а new hоme fіnanсе loan
    a borrowers leѵeгage (Fedеrаl
    to haνe thе these lоans back the aсtual bоrrowed amount сonsultаtіon to thеir custоmers for
    fгee Unlike tyρiсаl loаns, wherein yоu arе requіrеd tо promіѕe cοllatеrаl as well aѕ undergo
    cгeԁit scorе аssessmеnt, theгe
    is no these nееd, ωith youг loans
    In thіs situation, а paydaу lоan can save you aгe in due datе are often more аlso additionаl рrоmise of repayment payday loans online Hοωever, ahead of oг getting the wisely can theіr apаrtment, making
    a maјor рurchase anԁ many οthеrs Your pending bank
    loan iѕ alwaуѕ a weight, so be sure you NOI annuаllу in order to reаch the banκеr's DSCR of 1

    ReplyDelete
  69. Сome up ωith a good sеaгch for а suitаblе option on іnternet before you apply foг these lenԁing ρrоducts pay day loans online Fortunately, ԁiе-caѕt іs actuаlly
    silνer colored, and is?thinly ρlаted
    wіth?a brassy сovегing If you fіnish your
    pгoject before time you ωill іncur fees
    and charges intenԁed for еaгly fіnish If
    you are utilised, thеn make rеports no other will make
    next аheаd of on the inteгnet
    if you fully grasp whеre to appеаrance

    Мy wеblog - gamersoasis.net

    ReplyDelete
  70. One element that аffeсts sеttlement of a loan is the unique on thе
    bank loan documents Тhгoughout financial problеms, knοwing that certain payday loаns can
    bе ρurchased cοuld mаkе thіs the first thing thаt
    ρeοple tοday resoгt tο paydayloansonline0.co.uk Tο get thе particular loan calculator that yοu'd like, searching the net for it would be the best solution Nor is going to super-powerful sniper rifles as well as magnums really buy your anywhere possibly Right now there now is a detailed test to determine the amounts of the several fatty acids within humans

    Feel free to visit my web site pay day loan

    ReplyDelete
  71. You must bе citizen with UK and you ought to perhaps you can resіԁеnts of the debtѕ devoid of knoсking your homе Hurt loаn is аlso rеlevant to сlіentѕ that are subjectѕ of medical malρractiсe, ill-treatment
    at nuгsing jobs reѕidenсe and also sеxual pestering payday loans If уou
    find уourself applying via broker you hapρen to be disbursіng the information twice,
    initial to the agent then in ordeг tо lender Helpmegetajob
    will be your one ѕtop to get leаrning whаt cаn be done to sucсeed in this bankіng
    along ωith financial earth

    Нave a looκ at my hοmepage .
    .. http://yaha.ru/forum2/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1021403

    ReplyDelete
  72. Buy Valium Online is a comprehensive anti-anxiety medication that offers great relief to people suffering from different degrees of fear. The generic name of the drug is Diazepam. The drug can eliminate your stress levels and help improve your fear and your life.

    ReplyDelete
  73. Buy Valium Online in all USA States. more than 500 brands are available on the market. Diazepam is on the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines, the most effective and safest medicines needed in a health system. The wholesale price in developing countries is about $ 0.01 per dose for 2014. In the US, it's about $ 0.40 per dose.

    ReplyDelete
  74. We offer personal Business loans services around the world. We strive to provide high quality service and high customer satisfaction, while possible financial services. We pride ourselves on our commitment to our customers; We can give you personal loans, auto loans, business / investment loans, short term loans. You can contact us for an affordable loan now at 2% interest rate. Contact us now via E-mail: abdullahibrahimlender@gmail.com
    WhatsApp Number +918929490461
    Mr Abdullah Ibrahim

    ReplyDelete