Diary Of An Unsuccessful Cabbage Soup Dieter

I have a confession to make...I attempted the Cabbage Soup diet. 'Why?!?' you ask. Well, it's simple really. What with having images of beautifully formed females thrust in my face daily, I wanted in on the admiration. In the last couple of years, I have successfully managed to bring my weight down from a whopping 62kg to an ok 58ish kg by means of a healthy eating plan from a qualified dietitian. However, I've struggled to lose the extra few kilos that I could do without and I felt stuck. So what better I thought, than a radical kick start? I wanted to see fast results in order to motivate myself to take the final plunge and finally be happy...or so I thought:

DAY ONE:

Drink unlimited amounts of cabbage soup and eat as many fruits as you wish (no bananas).

Seemed simple enough and it was. I guess the excitement of starting something new kicked in and I quite enjoyed this day. I didn't even feel too hungry!

DAY TWO:

Drink unlimited amounts of cabbage soup and eat as many veggies as you wish. Treat yourself to a baked potato with a little butter for dinner.

Again, the food was not a problem on this day. It was a little harder to drink the soup admittedly, but at least I had my jacket potato to look forward to. During the day however, I did feel a little faint and I had the first twinges of a headache.

DAY THREE:

Drink unlimited amounts of cabbage soup and eat as many fruit (no bananas) and veggies as you wish.

Despite drinking plenty of water throughout, I woke up with a stinking headache. Perhaps it was my body detoxing, but I was feeling weak and almost passed out on the tube. By lunchtime I was feeling sick with hunger (how pathetic eh), yet I couldn't face the soup. I persevered until the evening and feeling truly dreadful I gave up! I had some lovely fish, brown rice and veggies instead!

So yeah, not only did I attempt the diet, I also failed miserably. I figure if something makes you feel so bad, it can't be good for you! Even though I could see I'd deflated considerably in just 2.5 days, i didn't bother weighing myself. What if I then felt it was worth it and continued, pushing myself beyond my limits?? I'm not saying that the cabbage soup diet is necessarily bad for you and I do think the first 3 days are definitely the hardest in terms of what you can eat. However, with my long commute to work, I was simply using up more energy than I had and it felt unhealthy.

On the plus side though, I've found my weight loss mojo again. The experience has strangely motivated me to follow my dietitian's plan until I reach my ideal weight once and for all. I'm tired of yo yoing and never being happy. Weight loss is a long term plan and maintenance is the tricky part-I could have put myself through 7 days of strange eating in order to lose 4kg and then probably gain them right back again. I now feel ready to make a life change for good and I look forward to feeling confident. At least something good came out of the cabbage soup diet!

No Country For Old Men (15)

Plot

Texas 1980. Whilst hunting in the desert, everyman Llewellyn Moss (Brolin) stumbles across the remnants of a drug deal gone bad and makes away with the cash. A bloody chase ensues as the man sent after him to recover the loot, is an amoral killer (Bardem) who will stop at nothing.

Review

The Coens’ latest endeavour is said to be an impossibly faithful adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s acclaimed novel and is nominated for an impressive eight Oscars. It is therefore possible that the problem I have with the narrative is a bi-product of not having read the book. Nonetheless, it is never clear who commissions Anton (Javier Bardem) and it is impossible to keep track of the various truckloads of Mexicans sent out to also reclaim the money. Perhaps most disappointingly is the way in which Llewellyn (Josh Brolin) is killed. He is the strangely amiable anti-hero the viewer is rooting for, yet he is not even afforded the dignity of memorable death. Instead he falls victim of a messy shoot-out involving the Mexicans and the viewer only witnesses the aftermath.

That aside, it would be unfair not to acknowledge that the Coen brothers are definitely back on form after the rather forgettable Intolerable Cruelty and The Ladykillers. No Country For Old Men captures the magnitude of the Texan landscape with breathtaking panoramic shots and it is this sprawling landscape that acts as a constant reminder of the doom that seems to follow Llewellyn wherever he goes. All the open space only heightens the stench of death as there is nowhere to hide from it. Death permeates through the oppressive silence as the Coens masterfully convert a footfall on a wooden floor or the soft breeze scaling the rough terrain, into an unbearable tension.

It is without a doubt the faultless performances that set this film aside from others of a similar genre. Brolin is the resourceful noir hero who although is not altogether morally correct, is affable and delivers some of the film’s best dry humoured lines. Particularly memorable is one of his conversations with wife Carla Jean (Kelly Macdonald). Just before he goes on the run he says “If I don’t come back, tell my mother I love her” to which Carla Jean replies “Your mother’s dead”. “Then I’ll tell her myself” he mutters. Tommy Lee Jones’ Sheriff provides a stillness and grace that is detached from the sporadic ultra violence. Perhaps the most convincing yet terrifying performance is that of Bardem as the psycho killer obsessed with chance, taking lives at the random toss of a coin. Donning an unsettling bowl-cut hair do and armed with an equally unsettling weapon (a pressurised cylinder traditionally used to kill cattle), he is the embodiment of pure evil.

Borscht, from Miracle Soups

Beetroot is full of goodness and I often buy it pre-cooked and use it in salads, sandwiches and as refreshing side. Last week however, I received some raw beets in my weekly organic vegbox and after my initial panic, I entrusted Amanda Cross. This soup is amazing. It’s beautiful in colour with a slightly rough texture which makes it fulfilling. Give it a go and see for yourself. The quantities make a lot of soup, so ideal for freezing or feeding around 6.

• Place 1 tbsp olive oil in a large saucepan. Add 1 chopped onion, 1 chopped garlic clove, 500g raw chopped beetroot, 1 large chopped cooking apple, 2 chopped celery sticks, 1 chopped red pepper, 125g chopped mushrooms and 3 tbsp beef stock. Cover and cook gently for 15min, stirring occasionally.




• Add 1 tsp cumin seeds and cook for 1 min. Add 3 pints of beef stock, a pinch of dried thyme, 1 large bay leaf, 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 20min.




• Let the soup cool then blend until suitably smooth. Return to the pan and reheat.




• To serve, garnish the soup with swirls of soured cream and sprigs of dill.

An Unlikely Footie Fan

For someone whose football education has only recently commenced, I’m not doing too badly. Last Tuesday I actually visited Anfield as an away fan supporting Luton Town and I know plenty of Liverpool fans who have never visited the spectacular ground, let alone Luton fans. Even though Luton suffered an inevitable defeat, the atmosphere was fantastic and I suddenly had an enlightenment. Amongst the screaming Luton fans, at the famous stadium with its perfectly manicured pitch, it suddenly dawned on me what the appeal is.

Football is not just about a bunch of overweight men, shovelling in the pies, guzzling down the beer and shouting abuse at the opposition. Although the above is indeed abundant, football is also about camaraderie. It’s about feeling united and passionate about your team, however well or badly it may be doing. It’s about encouraging your team by singing your heart out, even though many football songs / chants are rather unsavoury. It’s about family outings and rituals, as young children gaze up to their parents and formulate views about the game. There at Anfield I felt a rush of emotion and warmth I’d never before associated with football. At that moment, a previously intolerant girlfriend became more forgiving towards the game and more appreciative towards her boyfriend’s love of the game.

Of course I can’t promise to voluntarily watch every single televised match. There are far too many dull ones, but perhaps the big ones will capture my attention. I am in fact looking forward to watching Liverpool versus Aston Villa tonight. Come on Villa! I also can’t promise to ever learn the offside rule, but surely my new found enthusiasm will counteract my lack of technical knowledge? Likewise I can’t promise to refrain from committing the cardinal sin of referring to football as ‘just a game’, but it will now be limited to times of pure frustration, not just mild annoyance.

My sudden change of heart is of great significance. I have always been of the ‘I hate football’ disposition and to some extent I still feel like a traitor towards mutual female haters. A few more home matches though and who knows….a Hatters season ticket?!?

P.S. I’m still not impressed by the notion of being ditched on Valentine’s Day for football, however much notice I’ve been given!

Crunchy Chinese-Style Kale

I seriously love kale, but I always lazily steam it, a method which now bores me. This quick little recipe takes no time at all and is so delicious, it's guaranteed to please your taste buds:

1. Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok. add 1 sliced garlic clove and fry for a few seconds.
2. Throw in 200g kale and make sure to toss it so it's coated in the oil.
3. Pour over 100ml boiling water and cook for approx 7 mins until the kale has wilted, yet retains its crunch.
4. Stir in 1 tbsp soy sauce and 1 tbsp oyster sauce and heat through to serve.
   

Roast Pumpkin and Cinnamon Soup, adapted from Moro East

If you’re a soup fanatic like me, you’ll love this recipe. It’s unbelievably silky in texture and so soothing during the cold weather (I actually took some into work in a thermos flask and it was such a treat). The hint of cinnamon and chilli gives it that unusual eastern spiciness and I found myself imagining I was in an exotic location. Anyway give it a try:

1. Preheat the oven to 220C/gas mark 7. Cut 600g seeded pumpkin or squash into 3cm cubes. Toss with 2tbsp olive oil and salt and pepper. Roast in a roasting tin for 30-40min until soft.




2. Meanwhile, fry one sliced onion and some salt in a saucepan. Add two thinly sliced garlic gloves, 1/2tsp ground cinnamon and a pinch of crushed dried chilli. Fry to release flavour , then add one medium potato (in 2cm cubes). Cook for 5min, add roasted pumpkin and 1litre vegetable or chicken stock. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 20min.




3. Let the soup cool down then blend until smooth.




4. Once blended, reheat and serve with Greek yoghurt and fresh coriander.




5. The original recipe included pine nuts lightly browned in unsalted butter as a topping also, so give that a go if you’re a fan.

St Pancras Intl: Commuter Hell

From a purely selfish perspective, I don’t care what the brand spanking new St Pancras Intl has to offer. I don’t care that it boasts Europe’s longest champagne bar or that you can travel to Paris in 2hrs 15min. The only thing I care about is my attempt to get to work in a timely and orderly manner each day, something I could accomplish perfectly well whilst Kings Cross Thameslink was still open.

Yes, I am one of the unfortunate thousands that have to make their way into London on the First Capital Connect services and then battle their way to the tube. Being forced to use St Pancras Intl adds at least another 15 infuriating minutes to my journey. I put this down to the fact that this new and improved station is simply a chaotic obstacle course for us commuters.

Not only is the underground located on the opposite side of this huge station, but we commuters have to ‘play’ a game of Battle Royale to get there. First there is the initial ticket barrier that creates a painfully slow funnel effect. Once through, you must battle the non-commuting masses; the amblers, the travellers, the abrupt stoppers. There are people everywhere, walking in utter bemusement. Completing that trial you are then rewarded by having to negotiate the rammed ticket purchasing area, filled with tourists donning the largest luggage sets known to man. Trampling and stumbling over those, you finally arrive at the second ticket barrier where it seems the whole of London inter-changes. You are hot and bothered and running late. And if you are unlucky enough to have a ‘faulty’ ticket and need assistance, you have to refrain from combusting at ridiculous requests from transport ‘gate-keepers’ like ‘Can you try swiping it again?’. No!?! Clearly I’ve tried that already…I’m not one for wasting my own time!

With Kings Cross Thameslink there was none of this. Despite the same volume of people, we all headed off the platform and down the single flight of steps towards the tube in solidarity. There were no ‘others’ thrown into the mix for the fun of it. With no barriers to slow us down, no oncoming traffic and everyone practising the unspoken commuter rules, commuting was made sweeter.

So please, please can we have Kings Cross Thameslink back? Failing that, can we have a commuter-only tunnel direct from the platform to the tube? Come on St Pancras, can you redeem yourself…?