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“Mitt, oh Mitt, time to wake up darling.”
“Mitt? Mitt really, you must get up!”
“Lemme alone will ya? I’m sleeping. I don’t wanna go.”
“Willard Mitt Romney you get out of that bed immediately. It’s past eleven and you have to get dressed still!”
“Call and tell him I’m sick. I don’t feel good. I think I have a fever. My head hurts, and my stomach is queasy. Really I don’t want to infect the President of the United States. They wouldn’t want me to do that!”
“Stop it. There is nothing wrong with you and you know it. This is traditional, every candidate has done this. Just put on a bright face and shake hands like a man and congratulate him for winning. Eat a little of the soup and comment him on how nice the Christmas decorations look. Just be a man!”
“Please, can’t you come with me? I just can’t stand the idea of having to sit there and make small talk. He’s not a job creator like me. He can’t understand real Americans like us. He’ll say something nasty, I just know it, all wrapped up in a smile and a pat on the back, but he will get his digs in. I’m not some John McCain. I was a titan of capitalism, a major success. How could this have happened?”
“Will you stop whining? Get up and get dressed. Tagg is going to drive you.”
“Can we go to Disneyland again? I really liked it.”
“Yes Mitt, take another bunch of the grandkids if you want. They like to ride the car elevator at house. Just please get up!”
“Okay Annie, for you. And for the love of God, don’t send that maggot Christie a card this Christmas. I hate New Jersey!”
Ø Ø
Okay, so a woman at the pool recommended this book, so I ordered it and read it, and it’s called The China Study. And I believe it, really I do. It basically says that the science is pretty darn clear that eating only plants and fruits is great for you, and eating any meat of any kind and any dairy is just awful. And there is no way in God’s green earth that I can give up all meat forever and all dairy. Even if I could live another ten years beyond however long I’m gonna live, I don’t think I could do that.
I mean, if it were best for us to eat only plants and fruits, why are we able to digest meat and dairy at all? I mean really? I know some folks are intolerant of some dairy. I don’t do so well on milk, so I get the lactose free stuff. But no other dairy products really bugs me and I think the milk thing is more about what I thought was wrong with me, but which turned out to be something to do with our well water in Iowa. Which sounds crazy I know, but all my symptoms disappeared within two days of leaving Iowa.
So, I’m conflicted, since I’m aging and well you start to think about the BALANCE of your life, which is why I walk an hour in the desert every day when everyone I know who knows me, knows I don’t like walking. I find it freakin’ boring. But I do it, like I go to the pool three days a week. Women at the pool come up to me and say, “gee, you are so dedicated. You never mess around. You don’t gab, and just stand around chatting. You work out every minute you’re here. I commend you.” Blah blah. Well, I like swimming to a point, but I do it, cause I don’t want to be unable to walk and bend and so forth and so on in ten years.
And of course there are studies which suggest that we are only who we are because we ate meat.
And I know that sometimes studies are paid for by those who have a stake in the outcome.
And so I’m conflicted.
I figure we ate meat when we could get our hands on it, and we gorged on it. The rest of the time we ate wild grains and vegetables and bird eggs and fish and shellfish if we could get it. And fruit was a luxury which we enjoyed to the fullest when we found it. And honey was much prized. That’s how I figure it.
Dairy came a good deal later when we domesticated cattle. But damn, cheese is great stuff. It is the best of stuff. A great cheese is better than dessert.
It all makes me dizzy.
So I’m trying to eat mostly food that is whole and cooked by me, without additives. But of course meat is full of crap. I know that. What to do?
Explain your eating theories please.
That is your assignment. Due date is tomorrow.
You will be graded.
Existential Ennui 
I like the photo of Romney posted above. We need a goofy caption, something like, “PEEEEOOOOPLE! Bethel cookies are PEOPLE!”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/19/romney-cookie-pennsylvania-bakery_n_1436333.html
I read the China Study (and other similar books) about a year and a half ago, and then gave up all meat (including fish and poultry) and dairy. That is all. I still eat all I want. I do not exercise more. I have lost about 40 pounds and both my blood pressure and cholesterol are down. I feel great. Will I live longer? I don’t know, but I do know that I am living better.
I utterly commend you for your willingness to do this. I wish I could. I look at the recipes and just go…nice side, but that can’t be the entree! I’m trying to make some changes but I don’t think I can manage that. My husband says he will sneak out for his burgers and I should do what I want, but oh I love my cheese! lol…I do keep mentioning cheese don’t I? !END
I do miss cheese more than meat.
Hmm… it sounds great but if I still “ate what I want” I’d still be eating meat and dairy! I do commend you for your fortitude!
I was talking more about the amount of food that I eat rather than the type of food that I eat when I said I eat all that I want.
What I find interesting now is that when I over eat (and we all do occasionally), I will gain a pound or two, just like before. But now, it drops back off within a day or two without any special effort. Before when I ate meat and dairy, I had to consciously diet to lose the extra weight. As a result, I slowly gained weight over the years.
Now I let my body select the weight it wants to be at. Dieting is not necessary and I weight what I did when I was in high school roughly 50 years ago.
wow, sounds utterly great. I would love to weigh what I did 50 years ago. lol.. !END
A low fat, high fiber diet has been working form me for a long time. Throw in some resistance exercises (weight lifting) and some cardio (stationary or actual bicycle) and I think ya got good health nailed. Oh yeah, sadly I’m finding that alcohol has got to go: empty calories, effects sleep patterns etc. I’m six feet tall, weigh 180 lbs, and am not on any prescribed medications, except what my ‘special doctor’ recommends I smoke to reduce suffering. Balance is the key.
Do I get an A???
Two thoughts…the only known diet that actually reverses coronary artery disease is one in which you ALWAYS and forever consume 10% fewer calories than what you need…that essentially mimics how we ate in the bad old days before regular good supplies and agriculture…if the only way I can live longer is by going hungry?…I’ll take food now and enjoy myself.
There had not been a single study that shows regular exercise extends your life, not one. Exercise does not affect mortality it only affects morbidity, which translates to quality of life. So you won’t see me giving up hours of my time to do something I simply loathe…just saying.
Well I contend based on nothing really that eating as little food that is processed is best. So I cook a lot making stuff instead of adding water to boxes of chemicals. As to exercise. I admit I feel much better and have much better strength. The dog requires the walk otherwise he is crazy, so it’s my excuse to get mine. I do like the pool so I’m lucky there. I don’t think exercise adds to your life, but I do think it improves the quality by keeping you moving as you get older. Such is my take.
Based on what I read here, you set a marvelous table. I would gladly eat from your kitchen and celebrate good food and good conversation rather than some sacrificial diet that leaves me hungry and unfilled. I totally agree about slow food over processed crap.
I admire you for your dedication to your dog and your health. It really is quality of life that is improved, not overall longevity. That is why it amazes me to see folks who insist on running – they always look so miserable. You keep walking, I think it’s good for your soul and psyche as much as for your body.
Thanks! Actually the walks aren’t so bad. Every day catching the sun light up the Dona Ana’s as it comes up over the Organs is a joy. So very pretty since the Dona Anas run a long distance and well today the full moon was up about too. It was lovely. and of course we see jackrabbits and so forth as we move along. Diego has the best time. We enjoy food here, lol…I’m always trying something new. Come on Down! !END
I am gradually moving towards eliminating meat from my diet. Not because of any health reasons – no, instead, for some odd reason the idea of eating meat now makes me nauseated. I don’t like the look or smell of it anymore. I’ve been eating lots of tofu and beans. Cheese – I’m never giving up cheese altogether, though I rarely eat it. And I must have skim milk in my coffee – no fake stuff, no soy milk. I avoid the word, “exercise” and I advise others to do so as well. No one loves exercise. But you can enjoy a nice brisk walk, a swim, a jog. Keep moving. I can see what sitting and being stationary has done to my Dad. He is now in a permanent seated posture and cannot straighten up.
Gosh I wish I had some tofu recipes. The Contrarian would blanch at eating tofu knowingly. lol…I’d have to hide it. !END
You are already doing way better than I am. I actually am going to a nutritionist next week to inspire me to lose weight and eat better. Not that I don’t already know all the rules of what is good and bad, but just going to her and having to weigh in should give me the kick to the butt I need. I agree non-processed food is the way to go – I also need to stop eating out so much. Restaurant food is always bad for you and there is always too much of it. And like Hansi, I will have to give up my wine… not only does it add calories but it makes me lose my will power and eat things I shouldn’t! But I could never become a vegetarian or vegan. I guess we can do what they say is the way to go and use meat as a “condiment” in our meals rather than the big central main course.
Yeah I don’t drink hardly at all. We opened a bottle of wine for thanksgiving and half of it is still left. I use it in cooking so thats good. I need to eat way less meat. That would be success from my point. And I could probably change to almond milk. And Soy milk is okay too. !END
P.S. – love the Willard/Anne conversation – I’m sure that is exactly how it went!
tee hee. it was fun !END