The Sumo Wrestler Diet

I'm on it.  I am on, or was previously on and trying to take myself off, the Sumo wrestler Diet.  This diet consists of eating one large meal a day like the sumo wrestlers in Japan, in order to gain a ton of weight.  This is exactly the opposite of what all nutritionists tell you to do.  This diet can happen to people for 3 main reasons: 1. You're a sumo wrestler 2. You have an unusual/ hectic schedule and can't/ don't find time to eat throughout the day or 3. You try to avoid eating anything during the day  (please don't do this, your metabolism will pay for this later) and end up binge eating from starvation.  

I've been unwillingly but consistently subjecting myself to the Sumo wrestler diet.  I work in a restaurant and consequently have a schedule with very odd hours -- which would categorize me under reason 2 for being like a sumo wrestler.  I go in at work in the late afternoon and get out of work around 1 am.  Although I'm surrounded by food throughout the day rarely do I have time to eat a meal.  And if I do snack it will leave me unsatisfied.  Then I go home and its like Starvation Nation.  Let me just warn you that this type of behavior will lead you to over-eating and doing this right before you go to bed will result in what resembles a sumo wrestler.  Have you ever wondered why huge 300-something-pound sumo wrestlers wear thongs when they fight, in front of hundreds or thousands of viewers?  It's because that's all that was left in their closet that would fit them.  I know because I can relate. 

OK, so I'm not exactly a sumo wrestler but this is one bad habit that needs to go.  Eating after 12am is going on my "demons" list.  Especially as a single girl, I know it's hard to adjust to a weird schedule and live on your own.  When faced with a stressful and odd schedule you deal with it as a Type A or Type B personality.  Type A is represented by all the Felix Ungers of the world, who would react naturally by waking up early to work out, get a breakfast in, and make sure they get to sleep right after work.  I relate more to the Oscar Madisons who do not like waking up early, don't feel like eating in the morning, think the best part of working out is when you're finished and like to eat ice cream in bed.  

I have to force myself to do things in the morning.  But, once I get up I'm usually really happy I did and in a much better mood during the day.  Who knew?  As much as I have natural tendencies towards being a "Type B" I know that getting enough sleep, eating right and exercise are good for me.  So that's what I'm trying to do.  This morning I had a smoothie with the Acai berry in it.  Have you heard of this?  It's suppose to be a powerful antioxidant that promotes weight loss -- Lauren Conrad lives by it so it must be real, right?  Tonight I came home from work, poured myself a glass of water and wrote on this blog -- you are my replacement for chocolate ice cream!  Trying to replace bad habits with good habits.  And I'm trying pilates for the first time tomorrow morning, wish me luck!

So maintaining a healthy schedule for eating and sleeping is essential for weight loss and a healthy lifestyle in general.  That is one big "mouthful" to handle, especially for the single, workin' city girl.  But if you can take control of it, you will be way ahead of the game.

Eating a healthy breakfast is one of the most important elements in maintaining a healthy schedule and jump starting your metabolism.  Oatmeal with fruit and skim milk is one of my favorites, especially if you're hungry.  Yogurt drizzled with honey and topped with berries is also really good.  

Eggs!  Eggs scrambled, poached, boiled, as an omelet, sunny-side-up, coddled, over easy, fried and baked  are all egg-cellent ways to prepare an egg.  But I love eggs in a frittata.  Add any veggies or filling that you want and have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  Frittatas are friggin' fantastic! 

Basic frittata recipe:

1. Prepare veggies, cheese, meats for filling.
2. Beat 6 eggs together with a fork in a large bowl until the yolks and whites combine.
3. Add the filling to eggs.
4. Heat a 7 1/2 inch non-stick skillet with (Classic frittata recipes say butter but I'm going to replace with) non-stick spray.
5. Add egg mixture and let cook until bottom has firmed and is golden brown.
6. Put a plate on top of the pan, invert pan so the frittata slips onto the plate, and slide frittata, soft side down, so the top can now cook in the pan.  Cook until golden brown.
7. Eggs should still be soft but not runny on the inside.

Eggs are very nutritious, filling, and full of vitamins.  This brings me to the Yolks vs. Whites fight in which the poor yolks always seem to lose.  But as a yolk lover and advocate, I will add that all of the egg's vitamins A, D and E are in the yolk.  It also contains more phosphorous, manganese, iron, iodine, copper and calcium than the white and all of the zinc.  It contains a little less than half of all the protein in an egg and is about 59 calories for a large egg.  So don't ditch the yolk when you order an omelet, they're the best part.  

So eat an egg for breakfast and take yourself off the sumo wrestler diet.