Finally the weight has slipped below 104 - had it not, I would have stopped the coconuts as they were the only things that I could think of that had been added to my intake. I'm really pleased that I don't have to - they have become one of my very few daily highlights, upon which my mind becomes fixated. Pavlov's dogs have nothing on me. I did the long bike ride yesterday and felt excellent this morning. I am now back in the groove and all is well.
However there is one fly in the ointment. This may reflect badly on me and make apparent a lack of imagination which I have often suspected in myself - but I'm bored. I can't eat, I can't drink and frankly it's unwise (from the perspective of temptation) to put myself in harm's way. I have just been invited to a monthly dinner which will be hosted at a local club by the original founder and organiser who has come up from Australia - he doesn't do this often and it would be great to see him again. The format is simple - between fifteen and twenty of some of the heartiest trenchermen in Singapore gather together at either the Singapore Cricket Club or the Tanglin Club. Most of us already know one another - we hand over our cheques and then indulge. And I do mean indulge - in excellent food and wine, whisky, brandy etc. Invariably it is a fun night - we have plenty but it never gets out of hand - I haven't been to one for months and I would have loved to have gone to this one. Unfortunately I have had to say "no" as it is on the 8th of March - I'll still be fasting. If this were paper, you would see where my tears of anguish and deprivation had blotched the ink. The chief, in her wisdom, suggested that I be strong and just go along for the company - doesn't that sound like fun? I'm still not sure whether she was taking the piss or being serious - if the latter, then I don't think that I write very well. The long and the short of it is that eating, drinking and socialising are my hobbies. This is why I am fat. At the end of a long working day, I can think of few other things that are more fun than sitting down with friends and family for drinks and dinner. I would be interested to hear what the rest of you like to do in the evening. TV, cinemas, work, the gym - anything else?
So I passed a major milestone yesterday - the chubbier ones amongst you will understand how deeply satisfying this was. I have recently made reference to my "emergency fat boy" shorts. Well really they should have been "my nuclear meltdown" shorts because they were the shorts that I had to buy when the real "emergency fat boy" shorts got to small for me. Along with the real "emergency fat boy" shorts goes a real emergency fat boy wardrobe all of which has now been tried on and where things are loose and baggy they have been packed away to be replaced by my old set of clothes which I have been promising myself that I would get back into. Oh yes - I know some of you will have clothes that you will "one day" be able to get back into. Do you want to know how it feels? Fan-bloody-tastic! I am now the very dashing epitome of sartorial elegance - even my old suit fits comfortably and it's ten years old. Oh deep penetrating joy!
i find having a screaming baby an absolute tonic to any hunger pangs i may have in the evenings- although given the halitosis with which you mentioned you were currently inflicted, i don"t fancy your chances much with the chief. seriously though, hamish and i used to run together - which we really enjoyed.
ReplyDeletei"ve just noticed that if u type in "hamish" the auto correct function corrects it to "famish".....how apt....Hx
I was being serious. Maybe not go to a big major 8 course dinner, but you must start going out and socializing. Your life can't stop because you're fasting. That makes you like one of those "gomen" civil servants in KL who leave the office at 4pm because it's fasting month. One thing if you're doing it for 7 days, quite another if it's for 42. You can't eat. Turn off that part of your brain that thinks about your next meal. It's obviously not a physical need to eat. You look fine, great even, energized and better than I've seen you in a long time. It's all mental now. Maybe you shd use this opportunity to reassess your relationship with food.
ReplyDeleteOn that note, I am now going to make myself a big fat midnight snack... xxx
Things I like to do with my friends that don't involve eating (and yes Ben, in answer to your question, your lack of imagination in this area is akin to a child unable to consider any activity aside from television to amuse himself):
ReplyDelete* Long walks in beautiful places
* Climbing Munros
* Netball
* Tennis/squash
* Yoga/ Pilates
* Kite surfing (admittedly I've only done this on a few occasions)
* Making stuff- anything from DIY to brewing beer (which contrary to the Rule of Ben you do not then have to drink in one go)
* Gardening
* Sewing
* Museums/galleries
* Lectures- great place to meet interesting people, expand your horizons and learn
* Reading (solitary)
* Board games (unwrinkle your nose, some of the funniest evenings I've had have involved a ridiculous game. Playing Thoughts and Crosses a couple of Christmases ago with a Very deaf Aunt Linda right up there)
* Stamp/toe nail collecting
* Going to auctions/festivals/fairs
* Live music (you don't have to replace your blood flow with beer to enjoy)
* Theatre/concerts/comedy
* A group therapy session ("My name is Ben and I have a disgusting obsession with putting things in my mouth")
Sometimes you have to push people a little to make them do different things with you and it can seem unrewarding. BUT when they do, they tend to love it. It really saddened me to read your post about the only time you socialise with Asya being at meal times. You have things the wrong way around. You may happen to eat when you are socialising but you shouldn't have to. If you spent as much time and money as you do on food and alcohol on ANY other pursuit think how talented/skilled/cultivated you would be...
Keep going, soon you'll need an emergency skinny boy wardrobe.
ReplyDeleteKeep going, soon you'll need an emergency thin boy wardrobe.
ReplyDeleteHi Ben, I have started to read your blog and it seems that you are losing the weight.
ReplyDeleteRemember not to starve yourself thin but eat the right things in moderation.
My wife would be able to help with the nutrition side of this....
More thoughts in my mind but better keep them to myself...........
I am going to have my dinner now!