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November 13, 2005
Buddhist Drinking Games
I've got to stop drinking with Buddhists. I always eat too many carbs.
I seem to have fallen in with a sect of Buddhists who believe in drinking. I'm all for that, of course, but between the carbs in the wine itself and any subsequent carbs that we eat, I always seem to have an anxiety fit following a night of hanging out with Buddhists. That seems rather contrary to the principles of Buddhism... shouldn't I feel all calm and enlightened??? Maybe that's just Zen Buddhism... I'm fairly sure these folks are Tibetian Buddhists cause they're always going on about yak butter salt tea. But the point remains... I'm no good at Buddhist drinking games. I seem to lose the higher reality in the blood sugar rush.
On Friday night I went out with a friend of ours for drinks after work. We're going to put on a play of sorts in March, and he's re-writing the script, so we wanted to chat about possibilities for my character. We met in a bar in Center City Philly. By the time I got there he'd already ordered a bottle of cabernet, and I was on such an empty stomach that the first glass hit me very hard. Then we went to Whole Foods to pick up some food to make for dinner... and we went crusing for samples. Whole Foods had great samples of cheese, grapefruits, crackers, etc. Then on the way back to his apartment we stopped off at his favorite bar and had another drink... I had something sweet in a martini glass called a French Connection. By this time I'm feeling quite tipsy... I am such a lightweight now!!! Good thing I am a cheap date, since I pay for myself and MR and I are saving for a house! After one drink we head back to my friend's house and eat pita with hummus, zucchini, feta (I only had one piece) and roasted red pepper and eggplant spread for dinner. TOO MANY CARBS! Sure enough, I wake up in the middle of the night (safely home with my Orange One) with the predictable anxiety. Can not do this carb thing!
Last night we had a bunch of friends over for a potluck dinner. I made a make-your-own-burrito bar with Trader Joe's low carb whole wheat tortillas -- no transfats! -- and black beans, Quorn, homemade guacamole, tomatoes, purple bell peppers, low fat sour cream, and salsas. Some of our friends brought tuna and ham and cheese finger sandwiches, which Kieffer attacked a little too enthusiastically... the sandwiches had to retire to the top of the fridge for their own protection. I made quesadillas for MR but ate a bite of this and that myself... a couple fingers of sandwich, a burrito, a bite of homemade pumpkin pie, a handful of wasabi cashews. I didn't eat too much, but enjoyed sampling everyone's dish, as well as a helping of the Vampire red wine one of my friends brought. I ate sparingly enough that I was still hungry for our delicious Sunday breakfast this morning.
Today we had a friend over for lunch and I made broccoli and mushroom tatta with mushroom gravy and apples with hazelnut oil and hazelnut (spiced with cinnamon and "grains of desire") on the side.
Now I'm about to make my tomato tofu for dinner... gotta go!
Posted by april at November 13, 2005 4:06 PM
Comments
Hi April,
After downloading the Palm version of Calorie King I became sufficiently motivated to give CR a serious try. I am now two weeks into it and already noticing some really amazing changes in my mood and behavior. A few years ago during a very stressful stage in my life I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and prescribed Welbutrin. After a while Welbutrin alone didn't seam to cut it so I was also put on Effexor. The panic attacks went away but I started to experience alternating periods of Hypo-Mania and Depression which were rapidly increasing in severity. Several other medications were added to my regimen in order to combat what was described as a newly emergent presentation of Bipolar Disorder. At this point I had been on medication for several years and had forgotten what it feels like to be myself and accepted this diagnosis. Luckily I am married to a scientist who cleverly reasoned from his years of behaviorial observation that the drugs themselves were the likely cause of all my trouble. In a tremendious act of will and in direct disobayance of my doctors I endured the withdrawl and quit all the medication. The good news was that I wasn't exibiting symptoms of Bipolar Disorder anymore, however, I was having panic attacks again. Anyone who has ever had a full on panic attack knows it's not something you can just learn to live with. I felt like all hope was lost as I could stand neither the affliction nor the remedy. It may be too soon to tell but in these past two weeks I have been injesting far fewer carbs than ever before. I feel fantastic and completely anxiety free. In fact I am almost too relaxed to the point I am having a really hard time doing my crappy job. Its hard to take a crappy job seriously once you can see it for what it truly is. My body is really happy about this new turn of events. Long before any of this happened I was a dancer. I haven't been able to dance much in the years since because something has been missing. Now I can't stop dancing, in the kitchen, hallways, while waiting in line, elevators, even while driving (remember, I am a professional don't try the last one at home). Elevated mood and weight loss seem to be the only side effects so far which I can live with. AD and I are very excited about seeing you and MR for dinner in Boston. See you then!
Posted by: Christine Davidson at November 16, 2005 12:05 AM
Cats and blood-sugar
There was an article in my newspaper today about cat behavior. (probably translated, no signature). It explains some of the cat acts and it says that they too have a low blood sugar and cravings from time to time, so it's a good idea to keep their plate full. It stated that low blood sugar levels tempts them to stealing.
I thought this explained my female cat's, Bocek's tantrums. She's always complaining, wanting something in front of the fridge and I got these baby locks for the fridge after it was emptied by her for the dozenth time! She is able to open the fridge and eat whatever she wants if there is no lock! And this cat likes human food! She loves wheat bread, cauliflower, feta cheese, green beans and olives! Her brother cekirdek on the other hand, only likes catfood and potato crisps...
So, maybe Keefer has low blood sugar too and he likes human food. I mean, mine makes it even inside the fridge, let alone the top.
Posted by: zeynep at November 16, 2005 5:50 PM
Good thing you weren't out with a Ukranian Orthodox Catholic or you might have wound up eating cabbage rolls, perogies, potato salad & sauerkraut, all washed down with vodka shots (At least that's what they serve at their parties......)JD ;-)
Posted by: Judith at November 16, 2005 6:34 PM
hi im called sian and i would like to join the buddhist community
Posted by: sian at June 26, 2006 4:56 AM
your buddhist frinds sound awful buddhists. as a buddhist, i am diaspointed in the fact that they drink, which is one of the five preceps. i am finding it difficult to believe they aere budhist, as to be buddhist you ave to go to the three jewels and follow the five precpts, to aat least calll yourself buddhist!!
Posted by: buddhist at March 8, 2008 3:03 PM