New Beginnings

I turned in the keys to my first apartment yesterday.

It was bittersweet as I turned to walk out the door and looked back at the empty apartment, continued out and locked the door for the last time.

But, I'm just dramatic like that.

In all seriousness, it was a little heart wrenching. It was my first apartment, and there were a lot of memories made. Even before I lived there there were memories made in its walls.  But I'm happy to move on, move forward with my boyfriend and my hunger for bettering myself and my life.

I'm a nomad at the moment, living with one of my best friends, so as I'm still a resident of Kent, I can't be too sad that I've locked the doors of 1911 Sioux forever. I'll be sad when I take my little tour of Kent before I leave to live in New York, indefinitely.

On another note, I have a new found obsession with "counting carbs", if you will.

Since rice and pasta are all I eat (you should know that rice is my favorite food), and my portion sizes are roughly the size and depth of a small sinkhole, I decided to make a change in my diet. My wonderful boyfriend Anthony is making this change with me as well and I must tell you, having a support system is the best thing you can have when you start a diet. Just having someone with you, next you, the whole way. Even if they are not making the change with you, having your own personal cheering section is the most motivating thing in the vulnerable time you're facing ahead.

So, in case any of you are interested in starting a diet similar to mine, I'll share what I have learned about carbs (this information is in reference to an e-mail I sent to Anthony, and references lovetoknow.com):

Good carbs are classified as complex carbs, meaning they are still natural and haven't been broken down and processed into simple carbs - or bad carbs.

Here are some good carbs:

Fresh or frozen fruit
Fresh or frozen vegetables (beans included - canned)
Nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans, etc.)
Whole grain breads (Wheat, rye, multi-grain)
Whole grain cereal (I like cheerios the best)
Whole grain pasta
Whole grain rice
Skim or Fat Free milk
Eggs (in moderation - 3 eggs a week)
Chicken
Beef
Olive Oil
Legumes (peanuts, soybeans, etc)


Bad carbs, or simple carbs, are foods that have been processed, refined, and contain preservatives.

Here are some bad carbs:
White Bread
White Rice
White pasta
Canned fruits (because they're soaked in sugar, essentially)
Cake
Candy
Potato Chips
Soda
Alcohol (damnit!)
Syrup
Honey

As far as drinks, water is the BEST there is. Eight cups a day is recommended. But, I don't see the harm in a gatorade once in a while for flavor and electrolytes (Anthony loves gatorade).

To recap, good carbs are high in fiber, contains the essential vitamins, minerals, and overall nutrients that the body needs to produce a healthy glycemic index. Bad carbs are processed, contain a lot of sugar and not enough fiber, have been ground up and refined to eliminate nutrients, and contain preservatives.

Also, If you notice, when you eat things that have the characteristics of a bad carb, you may be full for a little while, about 1-2 hours, but you find your blood sugar begins to drop and you get  the hunger shakes. And then your scrounging for an empty calorie snack, then the cycle begins.

I foresee more posts as I continue on my diet escapades. Anthony and I also bought a Recipe book to fill. So we'll be Julia Childs-ing it up and will share our favorite recipe findings with you!

But for now, I guess brown rice will have to do.

Until next time.