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January 21, 2007
Another Way the Megamuffin Saves the Day!
I left the house at 6:45 for my 7:30 am meeting with nurses... since it's Sunday, traffic was light. Normally I would leave at 6:30. I packed one of my new strawberry cherry megamuffins to eat for breakfast, since our usual breakfast time is 6:30 and I didn't want to slam a cup of eggwhites and run out the door.
When I got to the McDonalds where I was scheduled to meet with nurses, I saw a man wearing scrubs. I asked him if he was looking for the nurses' meeting. He said no... was there going to be a meeting here? Concluding that he might be a doctor at the hospital where we are trying to organize, I just said that I was meeting a few nurses whom I hadn't met before, so I wouldn't recognize them.
"Can I interest you in breakfast," he asked.
"I brought my own," said I, and proceeded to brandish my megamuffin.
"That looks homemade," said the man in scrubs.
"Yes, my partner engineered them to have 10% of the RDA of everything per 100 calories. So this 209 calorie square has 20.9% of the RDA of everything."
"Wow, that's great. Bye!"
And he left, and I waited for my nurses who showed up a few minutes later.
It reminds me of how, before I met MR in the flesh, I used to carry the RANT around with me when I went bar-hopping with friends. If I was early (which I always am, I was released too soon from the home for the compulsively early) I would order a glass of pinot noir and sit at the bar reading my worn out print out of MR's famous RANT. If a guy came up to me, he would inevitably ask what I was reading. I'd say, "It's a long rant about how if you eat a small number of calories packed with optimal nutrition and get really, really skinny like this 115 pound six foot tall guy who wrote it, you'll age a lot slower and live longer!" That was guaranteed to make sure that no one asked for my phone number. I may look normal, but scratch the surface, and I'm a CR geek.
Shefaly asks an excellent question about protein. You must be very small if you are eating 1100 a day! My main protein sources are organic nonfat dairy and eggwhites, with brewers yeast accounting for 16 grams per day. I eat chicken or fish about once a week, and I eat Quorn about once every week or two. You can get a ton of protein with eggwhites and dairy without eating all the saturated fat that comes with meat. I'd like to see your diet crunched in nutritional software to make sure you're getting the RDA's (or DRI's... thanks for the informative comments, btw, WG!). For folks on CR, there's some evidence (that is not at my fingertips right now but I could get) that a higher protein intake than normal is better for longevity. But that is, of course, a matter of much debate. For practical purposes, I tell people who are trying to cut calories to eat more protein and cut out high carb but empty nutrient foods because it's a good way to control hunger. I have maintained a weight lower by 20 pounds than my normal adult weight with very little effort, and one of my main tools is my protein intake. Intake of unsaturated fats (olive oil, flax oil, almonds, hazelnuts) is second in terms of useful tools for cutting calories while maintaining satisfaction and getting all the essential fatty acids we need to have beautiful soft skin and healthy brains. Have you ever crunched your diet? If you're happy with your current calorie and protein intake, I'd say stick with it if you're getting your RDA's out of an 1100 calorie a day diet. What are your goals? Longevity, obesity avoidance, general health? All of those come into play when deciding where to set macronutrient targets. I have learned that if I eat too little protein, I lack mental focus, am more prone to anxiety, and have more hunger. If I eat too little fat, my skin gets dry, I have sugar cravings, and I feel hungry more often. So to fit in with my goals of slowing aging as much as possible while enjoying my life in the here and now, I eat quite a bit of protein and much more unsaturated fat than I did pre-CR. All of these are very individual decisions. Let me know if I can help with any aspect of crunching your nutrition.
Meanwhile, Carolyn mentions the menu for CR get together 07! MR and I were just discussing it at lunch. I think that for the Friday night dinner, I will make CR pizzas for all. They're Zoned and calorie controlled, so we can serve side dishes in easily measurable amounts and all of you can build meals of appropriate sizes around pizza with sides. Mashed cauliflower, salad, baked apples, various nuts and oils... we can tailor our sides to our calorie and macronutrient needs. All will be labeled. MR even suggested that those who eat megamuffins bring a few for a muffin tasting! We can sample savory, cherry strawberry, traditional and brownie! And any new variations y'all have come up with.
For the luncheon on Sat, we'll do a whole bunch of easily weighed out dishes. I did a similar party two years ago when MR first moved in. It was a ton of work but turned out great, and this time I'll have tons of CR sisters and brothers around to help!
I realized that I've never cooked for a seriously CR'd woman before... I've cooked for women on moderate CR, but never for women who attempt calorie levels like mine and track everything. Sure, most of us still go out from time to time, but we'd prefer to stick to our low calorie diets and eat the most nutritious food possible. It will be so much fun to have all of you here!
To answer Shelia's question, quotidian means "everyday." My quotidian diet is my plain basic boring diet that I love that forms the basis of my CR program. I eat other foods, but I tend to gravitate towards the same breakfast and lunch. That makes it easier to stay on track both caloriewise and nutritionally. I still vary my foods quite a bit, but I've constructed a diet that is easy for me to prepare and delicious that fits all my nutritional needs in a small calorie package, so when I'm not cooking something special or going out, I tend to return to my quotidian.
Speaking of cooking something special, I made MR an awesome lunch! I made eggplant medallions: eggplant sliced thin and covered with stewed tomatoes, garlic, oregano, eggwhites, nonfat ricotta, and fat free mozzarella. Microwaved till the veggies were steamed and the cheese melted. Topped with olive oil, along with a side of asparagus with lemon and oil. He loved it! I have so much fun cooking for him, and while sometimes I eat the food, at other times he doesn't mind if I'd rather just eat my regular lunch salad.
Off to do some work before dinner!
Posted by april at January 21, 2007 2:41 PM
Comments
I just found your blog.
Among my many questions would you point me to a location where I can discover a methodology of Calorie Restriction?
Where do you find the nutrtional values of foods etc.
I am interested in your program.
Louis
Posted by: Louis St. Germain at January 21, 2007 3:26 PM
April,
Oh, oh oh it's ma-agic. You know..Now I've got the song in my head too!!
I love the sound of your eggplant recipe. I need to make that very soon.I have the oddest reaction though when I eat eggplant. I get this tightness in my chest. Like my body does NOT want it and I love it so, I just keep on eating it. When I stop, the tightness goes away. Isn't that weird? Has anyone else ever felt this?
I'm loving the March Gathering plans..(has sort of a celtic ring to it..no?) the more I read the more this is gel-ing in my head as something I'll be able to do.
D
Posted by: Deborah at January 21, 2007 5:47 PM