FAT TO MUSCLE

Reading "The Fat-To-Muscle Diet - Boost Your Metabolism for Permanent Weight Loss" by Victoria Zak, Cris Carlin, M.S., R.D., and Peter D. Vash, M.D., M.P.H. Published in 1987 by G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York.

So far this appears to be the most logical and doable program I've run across. Makes the most sense. Reducing fat intake and increasing metabolism alone would usually do the trick if you can do it, but I've been searching for a complete new way to approach aging and weight gain.

And believe me, I've got all the books ... Atkins, Southbeach, Fit for Life, etc etc ... an entire shelf of them. This one gives you three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner), broken down into five components: starch, fruit, dairy, vegetable, protein . . . and gives you lists of foods that fit into those categories. You choose and create. If you snack you take something from the lunch or dinner groups, but you don't duplicate them, it's one or the other.

This along with exercise of course, it goes without saying. Doesn't work without exercise and drinking lots of water. Simple, simple, simple. Couldn't get any simpler. No fats at all for the first couple of weeks while you're acclimating to the change in your diet. After that you add a tad of fat to the mix. But at a minimum.

Something in the book that jumped out at me ... when you eat sweets and fats, each makes you crave the other till your diet is eventually made up mostly of the two. And I can attest to that as being factual. I've watched what I've been eating and it is so true. One breeds the other until they take over your food intake.

One thing I must do, though, is cultivate a taste for yogurt. Up to now I've never cared for the stuff. But I see it can be a substitute for fats in cooking. It works as a substitute for sour cream on vegetables along with spices although I don't like sour cream anyway, my downfall is butter). And you can use yogurt on baked potato, or as a mix for macaroni salads.

You can eat pasta, by the way, that's one of your starches - 1/2 cup at lunch and dinner. That appeals to me. Served with a half cup of chopped, seasoned, canned tomatoes or fresh tomatoes . . . perfect! I can do that, I do it already. Just need to make a change in proportions, evidently 2 or more cups at a sitting just doesn't hack it. Proportions are very important, I'm seeing. No overeating allowed.

Instead of mayonaise on tuna, use a dash of mustard and a spoon of yogurt with seasonings.

Instead of poaching fish in oil or butter (like I do) use a 1/2 cup dry white wine with seasonings. The alcohol burns off and leaves a well-seasoned protein.

Lots of tips in the book.

Sooooooooooooooooo ... a new me will emerge in a month or two, and I'm lovin' it!

James Patterson Takes it to the Limit!

Well, I don't know about you, but I was borderline appalled at the killing spree in James Patterson's SWIMSUIT. I know there are heinous crimes out there, I do know that. So I know it's reality, and I'm not feigning innocence. Every day we're reminded on the tele about the atrocities committed upon our human race - shows like CRIMINAL MINDS, LAW & ORDER: SVU, CSI, depict it all to the hilt. But are you noticing the horrid extent to which novel writers are going to bring that sadistic realism to readers?

It's like the influx of bigger and more extravagant casinos in Vegas, each one doing a one-upmanship. Same is happening with movies, TV shows, and crime novels. It seems the more blood is shed, the more sales are made.

But this time, as I read SWIMSUIT, I couldn't believe the continual vivid descriptions and the number of visual murders this book contains. I understand Patterson's reasoning(unless I'm wrong) of portraying the serial killer from the character's viewpoint making it seem more believable. Yes, I understand that. But you know, I read to be entertained, to relax, to be taken to a place that I can enjoy, and to also learn more about my craft of writing. And I know, I'm not the only reader out there. I'm aware that others read for shock value and excitement, something to feed that inner craving for horror.

And yes, of course I must admit the novel was a page-turner, I read it from cover to cover in a relativly short time in spite of the horrendous visuals, and I do understand why it is a page-turner. Patterson is a genius when it comes to knowing how to end a chapter and begin another: short, clipped, action-filled chapters, one driving you on to the next. So you might say, that's a learning experience for writers who are not aware of the importance of it.

But for entertainment, no. I was not entertained. The book left me feeling frightened, and left horrid pictures in my mind, left me wishing I hadn't read it, made it difficult for me to sleep.

It also made me rethink my recent desire to write a murder mystery or thriller. On second thought, it seems to me there are enough murder mystery writers, thrillers, and so forth out there. I think I'll stick to what I know best. Romantic suspense. Sure I have crime and death in my novels, but that isn't what drives them,there is more good than bad. I write what I like to read and it's going to stay that way. If that means I won't be a best-seller like James Patterson, then so be it.

Just want to add . . . I read THE POET by Michael Connelly just before I read SWIMSUIT. And although THE POET is also a serial-killer page-turner, Connelly's take was much more palpable. I enjoyed the read.

TIRED TIRED TIRED!!!!

I got up too early this morning, that's what it is. There is a limit to how early my body clock can handle it and 5:30 a.m. just isn't it. Okay, so now I'm up and I'm grouchy, tired, sleepy, restless, agitated . . . name it, I'm it!

Have you ever felt like you can't find anything you want to do or read or watch, nothing is satisfying? That's what I'm going through right now. I even washed some windows to curb my agitation. lol lol I do have to laugh at that. Washing windows has never been part of my M.O. Whatever possessed me to do that? But now they're clean, so that's a godsend. Guests coming in a few days and I now have clean windows. lol lol lol

Maybe I should just lie down and go back to sleep. Make up for what I lost earlier when my cats so rudely awakened me. Now they're napping while I'm climbing the walls. Maybe I should take their cue since they pulled me onto their schedule before the sun came up.

Well, I don't know what to do. My mind isn't working right to write.

Okay, I'll take a nap.

TIME GOT AWAY FROM ME!

Sometimes I feel like I'm being pulled from every direction at every angle. This is one of those times with two publications coming out this month: 1) a collection of short stories by Edd Voss - RAMBLING, and 2) the launching of a new literary magazine - LITERATI, first issue December 31. Trying to do all the marketing and publicity is taking its toll on my energy ... trying to do it all is next to impossible. But I keep plugging on. I'm looking forward to the day I can hire another person to do the marketing. Oh boy! That will be heaven. Not the right time, yet.

So, my head and heart are racing to meet the deadlines, the pressure is on, and I'm wondering if it all will come down as planned. Gawd, I hope so!

Because of all the travel and activities during the holiday season, and preparation for my blogtalk radio shows, plus the launching of the above two books, I've not worked on my own projects for several weeks. And I miss my writing with a passion, I'm happiest when I write.

My mind's in a whir, however, always writing in my head. That never stops. The changes I'll be making in my mystery novel are spinning around inside my brain, and how I'll hone the action in my latest romantic suspense novel. Both manuscripts waiting on the table. Both to be published in 2011.

You know, I am so enthralled by thillers of late and am feeling the urge to cross over into that genre after I've written my first mystery - working title: SCREAMS. That one may bridge the gap for me from romantic suspense to mystery to thriller. Dean Koontz, David Morrell, Stieg Larrson: at this point in time are my favorite thriller-writers. An upcoming political-thriller writer on my favorites list is David S. Rosenberg, I must mention him too. And my friends Marilyn Meredith (detective mystery) and Vincent Zandri (mystery/thriller). Just Google them all and you'll see what I mean.

My favorite historical fiction writers continue to be Jack Whyte and Philippa Gregory, in case you're interested in that genre. I read all their series and stand alones. I have some novels by Bernard Cornwell that I plan to read, too.

Speaking of Cornwell, Patricia Cornwell is terrific, isn't she? I still love reading her. Medical Examiner protagonist.

Okay, gots to get off of here ... (wrote that sentence in honor of a new writer who has trouble using too many gots and gets and the combination of off of. lol lol Here's to you Edd!)