Since my parents flew back east, oh, a week or two ago, I’ve been left to fend for myself. I’m not really doing all that great a job of it. You see, I don’t cook — unless it’s a big deal, like having people over or something. My usual eating habits involve something that is pre-packaged and prepared that goes into the microwave for 4 minutes.
So, I’m having difficulty meal-wise. For the first week after they were gone, I lived on leftovers. But now, I’m on my own. And inadvertently, I’ve become a vegetarian. Except for the scrambled eggs I had for breakfast yesterday, for the last week I’ve eaten no meat, which is very unusual for me. I’m a carnivore, you know.
Rice, pasta, salad, Cheerios, fruit, salsa, nuts… this is what I’ve been eating. Like, cook up some brown rice, dump in a jar of salsa, then make a rice n’ salsa burrito with a whole grain flour tortilla. Easy. Or rotini with pesto sauce. Simple. Or white rice with some Indian Masala sauce. Spicy.
And, since the heart attack, I’ve lost 10 pounds. I don’t know how much of this is attributable to eating better versus a hospital stay (however short); but I’ll take it. I hope the weight loss continues, that would be sweet.
Still, my big 40th birthday party is coming up one week from today; I’ll have friends and family here and the whole healthy eating thing will go right off the skids for a few days — but not too badly off the skids, and frankly, if I have to deny myself a good hamburger or steak fajitas or ice cream then I ask you, what’s the point of living anyway? I’m trying to get myself into some good habits, and it seems to me that one of the keys to eating healthy is to realize that you shouldn’t deny yourself foods that you enjoy — don’t say “I can’t have that.” Instead, go ahead and have it. But not every day, and not as the cornerstone of your diet.
Don’t I sound like I know what I’m talking about? It’s all a sham, of course. I’m just making stuff up. Monday I have a follow-up appointment with my cardiologist — can you believe that I have a cardiologist? — and I’ll be talking to him about my official diet and exercise plans, so I don’t have to fumble around making it up myself.
Meanwhile, I’m off to brush my teeth. I have Cheerios breath, like a 2 year old.
Eating eggs, loads of eggs is part of the whole lifting weights gig for me. Great protein in eggs, but the drag is that all the bad stuff comes in the cute little egg as well. After cracking and consuming literally thousands of eggs over the years and dumping the yolks, I desided to breakdown and spend the extra buck (gotta pay someone to separate out the yolk from the white) and try the eggs in the milk-looking container. Lots of different brands to pick from (Better n Eggs…Egg Beaters…I go with what is on sale). Long story short, they have zero cholestrol, but are yellow in color so they still look like they have yolk in them. I eat with my eyes first. Anyway, I love em. Heat the pan, put in some zero trans-fat fake butter and pour in the fake yolk and real egg whites. So, as you are becoming heart healthy, take a tip from the egg man, they are worth the extra buck.
Coo-coo-ka-chew.
Eric