Tuesday, May 6, 2008

The Diet. Part II.

It's been close to ten days since I've been on my diet and I'm happy to say that I'm still alive ... LOL! I never thought I'd actually go through with it for this long cos in the past I've tried to go on diets before and they never last for more than 3 days tops! So nine whole days is a big achievement for me.

(*pats self on the back*)

And the amazing thing is, for a rice bucket (or a 'fan thong', as Cindy puts it) like me, I never thought I'd be able to give up my rice meals. But I have and for the past nine days, I've not touched a single grain of rice! Woohoo, I am so happy. In fact I think I've lost a few centimeters off my waist line already cos my jeans fit all that much more comfortably now and I had to buckle up my belt an extra notch!

(*doing the happy jig on my desk*)


When I first started this silly (back then it was) notion to join wifey with her diet programme, I didn't think I'd be able to give up a lot of my vices like my rice, my junk food, my greasy burgers, my fizzy drinks, etc, etc. It was REALLY hard initially. I kept craving for rice. I've never gone without rice for more than a day in my entire life so you can imagine the withdrawal symptoms I was going through.

It was hell coping the first few days. I already put my foot in my mouth and told wifey that I'll stick with her on the diet through thick and thin and with a promise like that I'd look like a loser if I gave up. So suffer I did the initial few days. We ate nothing but salads the first 3 days and I was practically hungry most of the time. The fact that I had images of steaming hot chicken rice and deliciously mouth watering nasi lemak (rice steamed in coconut milk) didn't help all that much.

I was screaming for my chicken curry, my beef rendang, my fried eggs, my greasy burgers, my junk food. I thought I'd lose my mind. I was craving for all these rich and fattening food that I would have even eaten ostrich feathers if it was offered to me. Slowly but steadily my system started getting used to my change in eating habits. I started to lose my cravings for rice. I stopped thinking about all that glorious food I was missing and actually started enjoying my new found healthy meals.

Soon, wifey and me started preparing different menus, we alternated between the salads and started making chicken sandwiches with wholemeal bread (I used to actually hate wholemeal bread!). We'd boil the chicken and then shred the meat, well wifey anyway cos I'd put the whole chunk of chicken meat in there, add our lettuce and stuff and we'd have that for dinner. Oh and I'd also have chicken soup from the chicken we boiled. And that alone filled us up considerably. And without having a single grain of rice at all :D

And you know what? I actually feel so much more perkier these days. I don't feel bloated after meals anymore and I don't feel as lethargic as I was before. So I guess the dieting and change in the way I'm eating has helped a lot. And the best part is I don't crave for rice or junk food anymore. That was by far the hardest thing for me to achieve in this diet programme I'm on. But I'm glad I stuck it out.

The only drawback with this whole diet thingy is finding places out there that caters to what wifey and me eat these days. Almost everywhere you look, there isn't really any restaurants selling healthy meals out there. And I don't blame them, people wanna eat good food, not some salad or things that don't taste good, right? Take for instance last Saturday, we went to Sunway Pyramid (I kinda love the place after the built the new wing, makes it feel like Mid Valley) and when it came for lunch, we couldn't find anything that would cater for us as a family.

We had the boys with us and we couldn't like force them to go some place and eat salads, they'd cause a riot. Those two are the chicken, burgers and fries kinda kids and fast food was definitely a no-no for wifey and me, well, not at this stage anyway when we're just getting into a nice pattern with our meals. So, there I was, walking around the entire food wings of Sunway Pyramid looking for something that would please all of us.

And with the boys complaining of hunger and threatening to start a picket, we finally settled for Kenny Rogers Roaster cos that was the only place I knew where the kids would get what they want and we could get our salads. And to be honest, I wasn't really happy about it cos the salads were way too sour and the soup we ordered were way too lumpy though the boys happily gobbled up their meals. And the price was pretty steep as well. It cost us close to RM100 for the 4 of us. And to think Kenny Rogers Roasters started out as a fast food joint!

But what I really like about this whole diet thing is the fact that wifey and me will prepare our meals together. She'd prepare the boys dinner earlier in the day and wait for me to get home and only then we'd both prepare our own dinners together. I just love helping her out in the kitchen and it so much more fun dieting this way with the two of us prompting and supporting each other. And we're going to start running together pretty soon too, she just needs to get a new pair of running shoes, come to think of it I need a new pair too. Isn't it great being healthy and having someone to share that passion and drive with? :D
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34 comments:

  1. Wow, you're really disciplined! I can't go on for that long. You both should be proud of yourselves!

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  2. awww!! so sweet!! Preparing you meal together is actually a very romantic way to spend your time with wifey. Thats very nice of you two..

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  3. My daughter has high cholesterol so we totally changed the way we eat recently. It's a lot better for us, but we really miss the grease. LOL

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  4. Way to go Nick!!!!
    You motivated me to force babe to start dieting with me too instead of teasing me mercilessly...hhmm....

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  5. BT - It took a whole lot of will power too! I was going crazy from rice withdrawal! Thank god I'm over that now ... hehehe ...

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  6. should go on a detoxification regime. im not sure what is the name of that tea-detox packet thingy.
    i think that will work as well.
    all the best

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  7. Kadus Mama - That's true and wifey and me find as much time to be together as possible ... :D

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  8. Tammy - Well, good for you guys :D I'm sure it'll do a lot of good in the long run. And yeah, I miss my greasy food too ... hehehe ...

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  9. wow..I'm glad it worked!! when someone at home is doing it together, that's the best thing. ;-)

    Btw Nick, you have been tagged :-D

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  10. Jen - Thank you :) Yeah, you should get your babe to join you on your diet quest but don't tell him it was my idea la, after he come and wallop me ... LOL!

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  11. Lxndreasb - I tried that a long time ago and for a while it did work but them I went off it and was back to square one again ...

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  12. Monica - It was hard just trying to make it work but yes, doing it together with someone is so much easier.

    A tag? For me? Why thank you, I'll go check it out soon :D

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  13. For me, it's really easy to lay off rice while in KL, cause you know, if you have rice you'd have to cook other stuff to eat it with.

    But when I'm back home in Sandakan, its torture. Rice everyday, and I end up feeling like a whale. Then I get so used to it after about a month there, that when I come back here, I'm craving for rice again! *sigh* Takes me awhile to "acclimatize" again.

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  14. Good luck in your diet, Nick my friend! you can do it when you are determined! :)

    My hubby is also on diet and exercise regime now since he has more free times (he is resigning this month), so far so good! ;p

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  15. It's nice when you have your spouse working together with you in losing weight. I don't eat much rice here, I kinda got used to it, but snacking at work and at home still expands my waist. I could settle for simple rice, meat/fish and vegetable anytime now, but it's hard when hubby ddidn't grow up eating rice all the time. He told me I need to lose some weight though, how can he when he snacks on Cheez-its!:) Congrats, Nick!

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  16. really nick you can stand the diet? wow i salute you and you deserve my cupcakes hehehe..get it from me when you come to kk. me and hubby can't do it la, even once a week trying to be a vegetarian also hard hahaha

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  17. 9 days without rice!?!?!? Forget the pat on the back, you deserve a medal! I'm such a rice addict.

    Sounds like the new healthier meal lifestyle is working out for you :) I love Kenny rogers roasters. I haven't seen one in a long time though.

    Keep up the great work!

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  18. Haizum - I'm the exact opposite to you when it comes to laying off rice. That's why I'm amazed that I could tahan for 10 days now ... hehehe ...

    I'm still going to eat rice eventually but maybe in really small portions and only of the brown rice kind and maybe 2 or 3 times a month :D

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  19. Rose - Thanks for the good luck wishes :) And here's a big thumbs up to your hubby!

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  20. Dina - First of all, welcome to my blog :D

    I used to snack quite a bit too but have also given that up. It was one of the main contributors to my expanding waist line too ... LOL!

    Yeah, how could he, snacking on Cheez-its and telling you to lose weight, smack him on the head for me, will ya? LOL!

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  21. Deana - Well, so far it's been a success :D And don't la tempt me with your cupcakes ... hahaha ...

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  22. Sandy - Yes, 9 whole days. I'm totally amazed with myself ... hehehe ...

    I just hope I can keep up this healthy lifestyle with all those tempting and delicious food out there ...

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  23. Congrats, congrats!! Hehehe

    P/S: Am done with Spiff's tag. :P Nasib also ada cos I needed a fast in between! Hehehe

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  24. Hoorayyyy!! You did it!! This calls for a standing ovation!! I'm glad you managed to change your eating habits... No rice for 9 days!! Wowww... Hebat la you and wifey!!

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  25. Hi Nick, kudos! I have also ditched rice for a month now - going for food high in protein instead. It's amazing what it does to your body. You lose weight and you feel great! Keep on going :)

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  26. Rozella - Thanks :D It wasn't easy and it still really isn't but I'm determined to see this through all the way ...

    Oh, that was fast, I'm sure that Spiff fellow will be pleased ... LOL!

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  27. Syura - Thank you but no need la standing ovation, once i get my six pack abs, then maybe la ... LOL! Just kidding.

    Yup, no rice for 9 days and counting and the strange thing is I'm not missing it at all ...

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  28. Charlene - Thanks, it wasn't easy but I'm really determined to do this and so far I'm beginning to enjoy it ...

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  29. diets are tough. stick with it...it will be worth it.

    But that sure is nice.... you and wifey preparing your meals together


    :)

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  30. Meleah - So far, the little good esults that I'm getting look promising.

    I think I should be able to stick with this :)

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  31. Diets are really tough, You neeed someone by your side to stick with it. I could not get it by myself!
    Congratulations!!!

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  32. Cidao - Tough is a mild description. It was hell the first few days ... LOL!

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  33. It does my heart good to hear of two people who are obviously so happily married. You're awesome Nick and I enjoy reading your blog because you are always spreading sunshine around :)

    Well done on sticking to your diet. I know how much you like to eat out so it must be killing you. Good for you.

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  34. Gypsy - Well, we do our have usual married couple tiffs and all that but we never let that get in the way of our love.

    I'm actually getting used to eating less food so that's a good sign :)

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