Weight Loss After Winter -- The Cure...
As mentioned, I had gained a lot too many unwanted kilos over the winter -- because of Peri's irresistable food dishes. And, before I knew it, it was 'April Fools Day' (Nisan Bir Şaka in Turkish).
If I wanted to avoid looking like a blimp at my first public Aegean-beach appearance in late April, something had to be done in a hurry.
So I turned (by habit now) to the very effective Turkish Diet, Ye-İç Zayıfla ('Eat, Drink and Stay Thin'), put out by the İleri Kitap Yayın ve Dağıtım Kollektif Şirketi. It's an adaptation of the original Dr. Atkins Lo-Carb Diet, and it includes numerous Atkins-like 'Food-Carb Counter' Lists in Turkish.
But the Turkish lists are interestingly different than what you may be used to. Not surprisingly, meat dishes based on Pork are nowhere mentioned on the Low Carb Meat list -- replaced by the likes of Shish Kebab, Pirzola, and Köfte.
And there's a separate list for Turkish Meze lovers that nicely complements the liberal daily dose of alcohol you're allowed -- as long as it's Rakı, Vodka, Gin, Cognac, or Whiskey. (In any case, it certainly doesn't mention any of those pricey Atkins Advantage candy and milkshake substitutes that we've seen on the Internet.)
And wow! Does this diet ever work for me... This year, I lost 4.9 kilos (almost 11 lbs.) the first week. (Later on, we'll post an 'On the Beach After Diet' photo -- so you can see the difference for yourself.)