"Eat Yourself Slender" by Barbara Hoffman

Eat, eat, eat is Barbara A. Hoffman's solution for weight loss. Since that sounded good to me, I recently bought her new book Eat Yourself Slender.  I enjoyed reading her book and I'm already practicing some of the nutritional concepts presented in the book.  Here I share some excerpts from her book:

“Eliminate starch, flour, white sugar and increase protein and you will lose weight.  I promise.”

“Sugar is the Enemy:  It is toxic beyond its calories. SUGAR IS NOT YOUR FRIEND and it is very ADDICTIVE. Sugar will turn into FAT in your body, raise your cholesterol and raise your triglycerides.”

“Carbs turn into sugar when you eat them.”  “If you chronically eat too many carbs, you will become insulin resistant.”

“Sugar is more a drug than a food!”

“1 cup of grapes will turn into about 6 teaspoons of sugar in your body.  A banana?  4 teaspoons. The lowest amount of sugar is found in oranges, peaches, and berries.”

“Start you day with protein – every day!  Protein, protein, protein.  It is almost impossible to overeast protein, so don’t worry.”  “You need protein with every meal!”

“Insulin is the fat storage hormone and will make you fat!” 

“Put cinnamon in your tea! It can reduce cravings for carbs.  Use spices in abundance.”

“…no Splenda…Splenda is a chemical.”

“I firmly believe that good bodies are made in the kitchen, not the gym.”

Barbara A Hoffman is a naturopath, medical researcher and journalist.  She has been in the medical field for 30 years and for the last 20 years she has been researching weight loss.  I really enjoyed reading her book and I recommend it.  Below is one her newest Youtube video.

Autumn Blues

It’s almost mid-November and from now on it will seem like the days will go much faster. Where did the year go? 

From now on it’s my least favorite time of the year. As the temperatures begin to drop, I feel miserable and don’t enjoy going out as much. 

I hate winter. I hate cold weather. I don’t like winter clothing. I don’t like the holidays. Help! 
It’s indoor times for me. Movie theaters, restaurants, concerts, anything that has a roof, walls and a heater. From now on, my outdoor activities and my day trips are over until next year by spring and summer. 

Then we just had the daylight saving time. I hate that too! When at 5 pm it’s already dark and cold, I just can’t stand it. 

Below I list some of the reasons why I hate winter weather and the holidays: 

I don’t like the heater, but I can’t live without it. It’s like a love-hate relationship. 

I take hot showers and my skin becomes dry. Lots of body lotion this time of the year. 

It’s an agony to get up in the morning. 

Inside the car is freezing in the morning. 

As stated before, I HATE when by 5 pm is already dark. 

I hate winter clothing. Jackets, sweaters, scarves, boots, I hate them all. More laundry to do in winter too. 

I don’t get thirsty. I have to force myself to drink water. 

Higher utility bills.

I tend to eat less healthy food in the winter. I’m not prompted to eat salads and fruits like I am in the summer. 

Fruits are more expensive and tasteless. 

Ah, and did I mention the flu, allergies and my running nose? 

The water comes out from the faucets freezing cold. 

With respect to December, buying a single item takes forever because all stores are packed. 

Traffic is crazy. 

Finding a parking spot becomes a nightmare. 

People forget the reason for the season. It’s Christ-mas. But for the world it’s all about shopping and parties. 

People get in debt buying gifts that they cannot afford. 

The best Christmas seasons of my life were spent with my parents, both now in heaven. This is the time of the year when I miss my parents most. 

I know that a lot of people love winter and bravo for those. As for me, when it’s cold and windy, I want to escape and hide in a tropical island until spring arrives. 

On the bright side, this is a time to stay more at home and catch up with all those tedious tasks that are never done because I’m not home that much.

I finish this with a quote from Victor Hugo: 

“Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is on my heart.” 

TRAVELING THROUGH FOOD: KENYA

I had dinner today at a restaurant called Wine 5 Café on 3250 N Tenaya Way, Las Vegas. With such a name, how could you guess that it was a Kenyan restaurant – well, it was Kenyan cuisine fusion with American classics.  

That name troubles me.  Why not a name connected more with the ethnicity of the cuisine?  Oh well, the owners may have had their reasons, but I just think it’s a disservice to their ethnicity and to ethnic diners. 

Ok, that put aside, the food was pretty darn good and the servers were friendly and very attentive to our needs.  It’s a medium size restaurant, nicely decorated in a small shopping center.  

I started my meal with a salad and I give my salad 5 stars.  Usually appetizer salads are boring, just lettuce and cherry tomatoes, but this salad was so fresh and loaded with a variety of vegetables. 

Although I’m not crazy about pork chops, I eat pork chops maybe twice a year.  And today I felt inclined to order the Kenyan style Nairobi pork chops.  They were served over brown rice in a delicious sauce and they were absolutely delicious.   

Service was quick and friendly, considering that we were a party of 20!  Now, why the fusion with American food?  I would have preferred the fusion-not!   I know that fusion is the trend these days, but I prefer restaurants that specialize exclusively in one cuisine.  Well, that’s only my opinion and preference. 

So this was good food, good price, friendly staff, close to home;  of yes, I’ll be back soon for more.  

Nooo, thiswas not my dessert.

Balloon Festival in Las Vegas - the afterglow party

Up, up and away!  About a couple of weeks ago, I learned that this weekend there was a Balloon Festival in Las Vegas.  As soon as I found out, I knew that this was a must go. Years ago, I went to the International Balloon Festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and had the opportunity to go on a balloon ride.  That’s just one of those life’s experiences you never forget.  Then, once you do it, you want to do it again and again at different venues.

The Albuquerque Balloon Festival is huge while the balloon festival in Las Vegas is small, I mean very small.  Had I not been warned by one of my girlfriends who went on Friday morning, I would’ve been very disappointed.  The balloons all had the balloon shapes.   I missed seeing other shapes like the cow balloon, the clown, the panda and so many others.  Since I’m not a morning person and I already experienced the launching of the balloons in Albuquerque, I decided to enjoy a good Saturday morning sleep and go to the afterglow balloon fiesta, which is always fun.  

Although there were only a few hot air balloons on the ground, the afterglow party was fun.  I don’t understand why in an exciting destination like Las Vegas the hot air balloonists are not drawn by the masses.  Imagine flying up, up and away in a beautiful balloon overlooking the Strip and our spectacular landscape while sipping a glass of champagne.  I don’t know about you, but that sounds good to me.  With so much potential in this fabulous city, it’s hard to believe that this event is so insignificant in terms of balloons volume.  

The afterglow was very enjoyable.  There were lots of people, music, vendors, food, carnival rides, and, of course, the stars of the night - the hot air balloons glowing!  Popcorn! – that was the word we the public had to yell to have the pilots glow the hot air balloons all at once.  I had dinner at one of the food kiosks, took a few shots and, by the way, my camera became very temperamental between the darkness and sudden brightness.  (photographer fail)

I’m so happy that I went.  By now, I think I’ve been to one of the biggest balloon festivals and one of the smallest.  I’m starting to get the idea that going to balloon festivals can become a little addictive.  The important thing is that whether big or small, you always have a good time.

I just hope that over time Las Vegas becomes one of the best destinations in the nation to host balloon festivals.  This city has so much to offer.  Yes, we can! 

HUMOR...this really do make you think!

When I get bored, I like to drive downtown and get a great parking spot, then sit in my car and count how many people ask me if I’m leaving.

Humor is a rubber sword – it allows you to make a point without blood.

Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

When I said that I cleaned my room, I just meant I made a path from the doorway to my bed.

I went to a restaurant that serves “breakfast at any time.”  So I ordered “French Toast during the Renaissance.”

I installed a skylight in my apartment…The people who live above me are furious!

You have an inferiority complex -- and it’s fully justified.