An Amazing Thing Has Happened...

I no longer crave fatty or high carbohydrate foods. In fact, my body is rejecting them. It used to be that when I got really hungry I grabbed sandwich makings, and would produce a whole wheat sandwich with mayo and about a quarter-inch of lunch meat. I would add some Claussen pickles and a few Triscuits, and chow down.

Not any more. I don't want sandwiches; I want vegetables or tuna, and a reasonable portion at that. Lunch is more likely to be a can of well-drained tuna, Claussen pickles, a few crackers, and some cottage cheese. I'm not looking to fill up to be full; I'm looking to eat a small portion of dense protein (thanks, tuna!) and lots of vegetables. I get my quick fix with Glory brand mixed greens nuked in the microwave, with a splash of hot s-s-s-sauce, y'all.

I love a cold relish plate of cut celery and Claussen pickles. I'm going to start experimenting with make-ahead cold antipasti that are low in olive oil or that don't use any fat at all. It's amazing what some quality balsamic vinegar, a little sea salt, and a touch of fresh herbs will do to vegetables in the fridge overnight. I'm thinking par-steamed cauliflower dressed like that. And fire-roasted red bell peppers sprinkled with a little citric acid and salt. And salt-cured anchovies fileted by hand and soaked in vermouth, then mixed with the red bell peppers. And cipollini agridolce. There's a lot I can do with little or no fat and very little sugar.

I also no longer have cravings for snacks like the Satan-inspired Doritos or the equally evil English flavored potato chips. I would still want them if they were right in front of me, but I don't seek them out any more. I have no desire to pick them up when shopping at the grocery store, I don't think about them (it's not like I obsessed before), and when they're not in the house (they're not allowed any more) I don't miss them at all.

Tonight I had to catch a quick dinner between getting fitted for a tuxedo and going grocery shopping, so I stopped by a great Vietnamese restaurant for their pho. Lean beef shaved thin, a defatted broth, fresh vegetables and herbs, and fresh rice noodles. Normally I would down the whole bowl with an order of fried spring rolls, but tonight I didn't even feel like spring rolls (and they're delicious), and I couldn't finish the whole bowl of soup. My stomach is shrinking! I don't feel like packing food into me any more!

I don't know why I had become such a glutton starting in my mid-twenties, but whatever it was I'm conquering it now, and it feels damned good. I have twenty-plus years of gluttony to reverse, and every day I feel like I'm not only closer to my goal, but I'm stronger in the journey.

I've never told them this, but my in-laws have been a source of inspiration for me over the years, albeit from a distance. One of my sisters-in-law would always be munching on celery when she got hungry, and I never thought I would have the willpower to do it myself (Doritos I could do), but damned if every single time I munch celery these days I don't think of her and how hard it must have been for her, too.

My mother-in-law and father-in-law are aliens from outer space -- somewhere near the planet Zilox 7, I believe, where all humanoid creatures possess massive strength and vitality due to the planet's unique atmosphere and the diet of mostly radioactive compounds.

In their seventies, they are in better shape than most twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings I know. I'm not exaggerating, folks. They're both really active. And I don't mean senior-citizen-protein-drink-commercial active, I mean Marine-Reconnaissance-Underwater-Demolition-Team active. It's sick: they climb up and down Stone Mountain. Stone Freaking Mountain! There should be a law against embarrassing younger people like that. Punishment would be they have to sit around watching CBS and drink some of those protein drinks.

Seriously, they do inspire me to keep working the plan. This time next year I should be strong enough to join The Lovely And Talented Lisa on her march up and down Stone Mountain. Gotta make sure my ticker won't tock first.

KBO!