Day FOUR, BACON (in a slaw) & Eggs!

Our American diet is not used to having cold salad-like things on our plate in the morning. Unless it pops out of a toaster or can be nuked in the microwave we deem it inappropriate for breakfast. This summer I spent two and a half weeks in Ukraine eating tomatoes and cucumbers with my hot breakfast. I became a believer! A cold crunchy side is an excellent accompaniment to my eggs and sausage!

Bean and Bacon Slaw

1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained

2 cups shredded cabbage

1/2 cup diced celery

1/3 cup chopped onion

4 Slices bacon cooked and crumbled

1/2 cup Mayonnaise

Salt & Pepper to taste

1 tablespoon vinegar

Directions

Mix vinegar, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and sugar in small bowl. In a large bowl mix cabbage, celery, onion, bacon, and beans.  Add the mayonnaise mixture and gently mix.

Day THREE, I love beans!

So we eat a lot of beans on this diet! I like them...and so far them seem to like me, which is really good for the people around me!
I made a big pot of lentils that I've been eating from which is a nice shot of healthy protein. Very easy to make...start by soaking them overnight in water and 1 tablespoon of backing soda. I rinsed them three times in a 24 hour period and added fresh water.

Start by heating some olive oil and sauteing yellow onions and garlic.

Add in your sprouted lentils and cook together and then add water and bring to a boil, then simmer for about 15 minutes.

You don't add spices (masala, salt & pepper) till then end when you will add them and cook 2 minutes.

Eat hot or cold!

Day TWO, we're on a roll

After cooking up a storm on the weekend and exchanging food with some other crazies I was all set for the start of this week!

Breakfast was the same as yesterday, and for lunch I took the left over chicken and added a MULTI-BEAN SALAD made by fellow-crazies Don & Julie...delicious! Beans, avocado, cilantro, lime...good stuff!

I had half at 11:00 and the other half at 3:00.

Dinner came courtesy the crock pot and involved a pork chop accompanied by a bed of lettuce topped with a bean and tomato relish.

And Now for the FUN part!

Did I mention that I like food? For a guy on a diet that may sound like an oximoron, but the reality is that by limiting what I can have it makes you enjoy the food you can have all the more.

Here is how DAY ONE looked:


Breakfast: Eggs, Turkey sausage, bean & bacon slaw

Lunch: grilled chicken, black beans, tomatoes/peppers



Dinner: grilled chicken, dahl (lentils), salad

On the Seventh Day He Rested

As in any diet there are some dos and don'ts...here's the skinny:

Do: Protein, legumes (pronounce with a French accent please), and veggies galore

Don'ts: grains, sugars, fruits, dairy, and sadly beer

However...the Lord knew what He was doing when He rested on the seventh day after viewing His magnificent creation. On this diet I'll be doing the same thing. Strictly following the diet for six days and then on the seventh PARTY!!! All those tasty "don'ts" become "dos" for the day!!!

Why? you ask. Well really smart people have figured out that by day six on this diet the message your fat is getting is "whoa there...slow down the burn...this guy is robbing us blind!" By eating the foods that normally produce fat the message that gets to those reserves is "burn baby burn!"

That's the plan at least...

Weigh-In

7:00 AM Saturday morning found me stripped down to my speedo taking measurements, photos, and sitting in a Bod-Pod. Here are the results at the ripe old age of 49:

• Percent Fat: 17.2%
• Percent Lean: 82.8%
• Fat weight: 29.6 lbs
• Lean weight: 142.3 lbs
• Total weight: 171.9 lbs
• Height: 5' 8"
• Mid-bicep 14"
• Waist: 37"
• Hips: 39"
• Mid-thigh: 22"

"I'm on a diet."

Those four little words are like a dirty four letter word. Speak them out loud and you get reactions bigger than a nuclear melt down. Say them as a reasonably healthy, active, fit man and expect to get Apocalyptic responses.

The subject of FOOD triggers something in each of us. We all have our own journey with our substance, but most seem to have strong opinions about how others are limiting, selecting, choosing, and consuming their daily intake.

This blog is my reaction to such thoughts...it is MY journey toward a very specific goal of getting to 12 percent body fat. This is a big goal. This will not be easy. But, this WILL be fun!

This summer packing in the carbs in Ukraine!