I've lost weight – and a lot of people have told me so. But this never really hit me like it did the other Saturday when I attended my nephew’s wedding in Tagaytay. It was a chance to wear my favorite gray suit custom made by one of the country’s best tailors. I wore it last to some function early last year, had it dry cleaned and haven’t had the chance to wear it again until this last weekend. I noticed the pants were loose – expected since all my pants have become loose and crumple up at the waist when I pull my belt to the last hole. But the clincher was the jacket – as I pulled it on during the walk from the car to the chapel’s door I suddenly felt I was in a tent.

It was just then that it really dawned upon me… what have I done? More specifically, what have I done right?

I’ve got through a lot of weight loss programs in the past – Slim Fast, weight training, High Protein, No Carb, South Beach… I’d lose weight slowly and gain it all back fast. I had given up… it always entailed some deprivation or suffering that I felt it just wasn’t worth the aggravation.

But this time around, it seems as fun as anything. It all started with my wife and sisters having to go through some lifestyle change to fight the big C. Breast cancer, after all, is the leading female problem (I’m just second, they assure).

So it meant a change of lifestyle, basically eating healthy and living clean. So, I figured, it doesn’t make good financial sense to have two grocery lists in one household. So whatever they’re having, I’ll have too.

Eat all you can

Yes, you gotta believe it. It’s eat all you can in our house. Of course, it’s eat all you can in vegetables, fruits and fish. That’s it. And before you protest, let me say that there are countless ways to make the meals interesting and great tasting that you won’t crave for anything else. I don’t know about you but salmon belly and bangus belly everyday is something I can live with.

So basically it’s no meat, no seafood, no dairy products like milk, cheese and ice cream, nothing canned and processed.

Coupled with this is preparation: nothing fried and if you grill it has to be wrapped in banana leaves. Nothing open over flame or charcoal. Oil must never be cooked – even the healthy olive oil. Just add later as flavoring and texture.

Egg whites and bottled sardines are OK.

Nothing white – because white means processed with chemicals – like white rice, white flour and white bread, white sugar (brown sugar is also processed, but avoid sugar altogether). Have brown rice, wheat or multigrain bread and use muscovado, honey or even that new coconut sugar as sweetener.

No junk food. Have raw nuts instead like almonds, walnuts etc. Peanuts are not nuts but legumes and should be avoided, but are better than your chips and dips if you have no choice.

And water. Lots of water. No softdrinks or any carbonated stuff. Occasional alcohol like beer and wine – not to excess – and no artificial juices. Natural fruit juices are great, but limit your intake to the equivalent of actually eating the fruit. Remember, these juices are actually easily digestible and concentrated forms of the fruit – you may forget that one tall glass may actually be a whole case of apples.

The thing is you never have to go hungry. Just stuff your mouth with what’s good, fill up that ol’ tummy.

Supplement, supplement, supplement

Vitamin supplements are a must. You just can’t get enough of the right stuff with regular eating. Years ago I gave up popping vitamins because I thought it wasn’t doing me any good. I was energetic, could keep late nights and still make it to early morning meetings. But when I restarted taking some basic multivitamin – one that says it’s complete with all the stuff needed by the body – it now makes all the difference. You can really feel the boost.

I also tried some other stuff like an all natural food and tonic combination, and it was great. But it cost an arm and a leg so, at the behest of my doctor, I went back to the regular multivitamins that cost P9 a day. Besides, I was just moved by the priceless look of ridicule my doctor gave me when I showed him my new vitamin regimen: “So you think money down the drain is a smart move?”

In addition to the multivitamins we’ve added three other supplements: ascorbic acid for added vitamin C (so long as your stomach can take it), fish oil and CO-Q10 (coenzyme antioxidant and good for the heart and circulation).

Only the best

I must admit, every once in a while I have the urge to backslide – to go back to my evil ways. After all, there’s always that Peking duck, rib eye steak or pork barbeque beckoning me, calling out my name… This is where Lory Tan, Chairman of World Wide Fund for the Environment Philippines, and his eating philosophy comes in: “If it isn’t the best, I won’t eat.”

Indeed, why partake of lousy or even mediocre preparations? Save your sinning for the best and only the best. And that’s why, once in a while, you’ll be reading of the best places to have the best food in this blog.

Life is too short to die yet.