TVP -- It's not just for breakfast anymore
I've lost a Backstreet Boy. No, I wasn't flung across the bar at Nobu by a feisty Cameron Diaz. I mean I've literally lost a Backstreet Boy. And while we weren't separated in a groundbreaking medical procedure, I am 100 pounds lighter.
People ask excitedly how I pulled this off. I'm sure they're not expecting my reply, because after I've told them, their eyes glaze.
I didn't get to where I am (which is no place special, just smaller) by following a gimmicky diet plan. I didn't cut out all my carbs, visit South Beach, invite others to Watch my Weight, meet Jenny Craig, or shout Hallelujah over my juicer seven times a day.
I worked my butt off.
This is not rocket science, really. The Rx? Eat less. Move more. Start slow. Keep going. Be consistent.
Bam! Weight loss!
And maintenance is about the same, except for the first part... You can eat a little more.
Sounds boring? Sounds like it might not be worth the sacrifice? Try that in the dressing room at Banana Republic when I'm pulling on a slinky size 8.
"Oh no, no! This just won't do! Do you have something frumpy and blocky in a 22? With ruffles?"
Renee Zellweger was asked how she lost the weight after two "Bridget Jones" films. The answer (though not a direct quote) was something along the lines of "Lots of bran, lots of water, and walk your a** off!"
Okay, first off, to get that garishly skinny, you'd have to be eating nothing but bran, drinking gallons of water and walking about 15 miles a day.
Eat a sandwich, sweetie. You're scaring the children.
But really, she's right. Let's investigate:
1) Lots of bran:
According to recent studies, dietary fiber seems to block about 9 calories per gram ingested. Which means at the end of the day, you can take the total grams of fiber you've had, multiply it by 9 and subtract that from your total calories. Pretty freaking cool.
Except that you actually have to learn how to eat whole grain bread instead of white. (The flood of low-carb bread and pasta products are great sources for this.) And you're going to have to get some veggies down your gullet at some point, whether you like it or not.
Fiber also has the added advantages of keeping one's stomach feeling fuller as well as helping to eliminate what's been eaten faster. (Metamucil, anyone?)
I've personally gotten so grossly full on grilled vegetables that I couldn't move. And we're talking maybe... 300 calories worth.
2) Lots of water:
Nearly everyone has experienced the groaning childhood glut of too much soda in summertime. Kids, that buoy rolling around in your stomach is liquid.
Liquids tend to be heavy and very good at filling shrunken spaces (a.k.a. your growling stomach).
Hungry? Chug down a quart of water and then see if you're ready for the buffet.
Water also flushes your system of the fat you've been burning with all those "Sweatin' To The Oldies" videos and, like fiber, keeps your elimination system shooting right along.
It's supposed to be good for your skin, too.
3) Walk your a** off.
Well... yeah...
Which leads us to one of my favorite discoveries of the past 7 years -- TVP.
No, it's not a disease that's killing children by the thousands in Africa. And no, it's not something being loaded into a crop duster. It's textured vegetable protein. Which sounds just as discouraging until you've tried it.
TVP is used in a myriad of vegetarian dishes; veggie burgers, veggie chili, breakfast "bacon", "sausage", veggie "chicken", all kinds of stuff. Why do I like it so much?
When you're trying to lose weight, TVP is one of your best friends. One can't go out for ribs much on 1500-1800 calories a day. What to do? Grab some veggie riblets and a Diet Coke and boogie around your living room in your new skinny pants. (I recommend "It's Raining Men.")
"Gardenburger" and "Boca Burger" (among others) are pushing this stuff like crack and making a pretty penny. TVP is filling, fiber rich (in most cases), low in calories and loaded with protein. And it don't taste bad either. (My personal favorite line of products comes from "Light Life.")
Sadly, some simply can't palate the stuff. To them I say: don't eat it. I don't know what to tell you. Find another source that does all the cool tricks this stuff does. And when you do, let me know. I'll toast you with my Diet Coke and my meatless veggie corn dog.
Now, back to the disco.
More fog, Roberto!
People ask excitedly how I pulled this off. I'm sure they're not expecting my reply, because after I've told them, their eyes glaze.
I didn't get to where I am (which is no place special, just smaller) by following a gimmicky diet plan. I didn't cut out all my carbs, visit South Beach, invite others to Watch my Weight, meet Jenny Craig, or shout Hallelujah over my juicer seven times a day.
I worked my butt off.
This is not rocket science, really. The Rx? Eat less. Move more. Start slow. Keep going. Be consistent.
Bam! Weight loss!
And maintenance is about the same, except for the first part... You can eat a little more.
Sounds boring? Sounds like it might not be worth the sacrifice? Try that in the dressing room at Banana Republic when I'm pulling on a slinky size 8.
"Oh no, no! This just won't do! Do you have something frumpy and blocky in a 22? With ruffles?"
Renee Zellweger was asked how she lost the weight after two "Bridget Jones" films. The answer (though not a direct quote) was something along the lines of "Lots of bran, lots of water, and walk your a** off!"
Okay, first off, to get that garishly skinny, you'd have to be eating nothing but bran, drinking gallons of water and walking about 15 miles a day.
Eat a sandwich, sweetie. You're scaring the children.
But really, she's right. Let's investigate:
1) Lots of bran:
According to recent studies, dietary fiber seems to block about 9 calories per gram ingested. Which means at the end of the day, you can take the total grams of fiber you've had, multiply it by 9 and subtract that from your total calories. Pretty freaking cool.
Except that you actually have to learn how to eat whole grain bread instead of white. (The flood of low-carb bread and pasta products are great sources for this.) And you're going to have to get some veggies down your gullet at some point, whether you like it or not.
Fiber also has the added advantages of keeping one's stomach feeling fuller as well as helping to eliminate what's been eaten faster. (Metamucil, anyone?)
I've personally gotten so grossly full on grilled vegetables that I couldn't move. And we're talking maybe... 300 calories worth.
2) Lots of water:
Nearly everyone has experienced the groaning childhood glut of too much soda in summertime. Kids, that buoy rolling around in your stomach is liquid.
Liquids tend to be heavy and very good at filling shrunken spaces (a.k.a. your growling stomach).
Hungry? Chug down a quart of water and then see if you're ready for the buffet.
Water also flushes your system of the fat you've been burning with all those "Sweatin' To The Oldies" videos and, like fiber, keeps your elimination system shooting right along.
It's supposed to be good for your skin, too.
3) Walk your a** off.
Well... yeah...
Which leads us to one of my favorite discoveries of the past 7 years -- TVP.
No, it's not a disease that's killing children by the thousands in Africa. And no, it's not something being loaded into a crop duster. It's textured vegetable protein. Which sounds just as discouraging until you've tried it.
TVP is used in a myriad of vegetarian dishes; veggie burgers, veggie chili, breakfast "bacon", "sausage", veggie "chicken", all kinds of stuff. Why do I like it so much?
When you're trying to lose weight, TVP is one of your best friends. One can't go out for ribs much on 1500-1800 calories a day. What to do? Grab some veggie riblets and a Diet Coke and boogie around your living room in your new skinny pants. (I recommend "It's Raining Men.")
"Gardenburger" and "Boca Burger" (among others) are pushing this stuff like crack and making a pretty penny. TVP is filling, fiber rich (in most cases), low in calories and loaded with protein. And it don't taste bad either. (My personal favorite line of products comes from "Light Life.")
Sadly, some simply can't palate the stuff. To them I say: don't eat it. I don't know what to tell you. Find another source that does all the cool tricks this stuff does. And when you do, let me know. I'll toast you with my Diet Coke and my meatless veggie corn dog.
Now, back to the disco.
More fog, Roberto!
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