This year, it's different

This Year, It’s Different.
By: Chef Cristian Feher
www.tampabaychef.com

Wow, 2011. What a year! Kim Jong Il is dead, Justin Bieber sprouted a generation of kids with ridiculous hair, Schwarzenegger’s hanky-panky with the cleaning lady came to light, and you probably gained a couple of pounds. But 2012 is going to be different.

What resolutions have you made? Have you recycled last year’s resolutions again? Most of you probably woke up (late) on Jan 1st and said to yourselves, “This year is going to be different. I’m going to lose weight, get in shape, make more money, be happier, and make a difference in the world!” And although you may have failed in previous years, this time it’s going to work. You know why? Because one of my resolutions was to help you do it!

When I woke up on January first I tried to remember some of the wise things people have said to me over the years. I knew that I remembered these things for a reason - so, why not actually put them to use? Here they are:

“Money is a result of attracting positive attention by providing people with what is needed and wanted. Find out what is needed and wanted. Provide it.” -- A very wise man with a lot of money.

“Stay out of the attic! There are monsters up there [and a vast collection of gentleman's magazines].” -- My grandfather.

“Every day is a new chance to start again.” -- Tammy.

“Try? Do, or do not. There is no try.” -- Master Yoda.

“The only real pay in life is friendship, and the feeling that you’ve helped another.” -- A Buddhist monk. I don’t know his name.

“Pay it forward” -- I think that was the name of a movie. But I believe in that.

Although I’m not necessarily here to solve your money problems, or help you break in to your grandfather’s attic, I would like to help you get the most out of life when it comes to food.

For those of you who had a resolution to lose weight, and get in shape, here are some tips that will help you.

Cut the fat - As you will read in my upcoming book “Fat Chef, Skinny Chef” you’re fat because you eat fat. There are other less important determining factors, but fat is the big thing. Fat packs the most amount of calories per unit than any other food. By cutting out oils, butter, nuts, and animal fat, you’re not only drastically cutting calories, but you’re also forcing your body to use it’s own fat stores.

Go ahead, eat your carbs - You’ve been told for years that carbohydrates are the devil. And you’ve probably also found that not eating carbohydrates (although it does cause you to lose weight temporarily) also makes you feel tired, head achy, angry, annoyed, anxious, and such other undesirable conditions. It’s OK to feed your body carbs. Your body prefers them as its main fuel source. It’s the type of carb that matters most- avoid processed white carbs, and opt instead for healthy carbs such as sweet potato, al dente pasta, wild and brown rice, or just limit your carb intake to reasonable sized portions without any refined sugar in or on them. You don’t have to give up carbs to lose weight. You just have to be smart about them. You don’t buy 100 galons of gas to drive to the corner store, and you don’t need to eat 1800 calories of carbohydrates when all you do is sit around all day.

Move it, buddy! The easiest way to wreck your car, motorcycle, boat engine, or lawn mower is to let it sit for a long time without using it. You would think the opposite, but I urge you to try it for yourself if you don’t believe me. The best way to keep engines (your body is also a carbon-oxygen engine) working is to use them often. That’s why exercise is so important. This does not mean that you have to be that guy who’s wearing neon tights and a fanny pack, running up the street at the crack of dawn checking his sports watch to make sure that he beat yesterday’s time. You can get into really good shape by simply walking 30 minutes to an hour (continuously) every day. A brisk walk - or “constitutional” - keeps your engine parts lubricated and running well, and uses up that extra fuel you’ve been carrying around in the form of fat.

I guarantee that if you put these three things to use, and you keep it up, you will achieve your fitness and weight loss goals in 2012. And if you need my help to plan your meals, please let me know, I’m here to help!

I trully wish you a year of success and happiness. Thank you.