Not pretty but not painful either: marinara topped vegetables plus shepherd’s pie from the Always Hungry Diet
Like a baseball player in spring training, I started following Dr. Ludwig’s “Always Hungry” diet the day after the Super Bowl. This is the third time I’ve done it but this year I’m having a lot more fun. I’ve finished the first phase and am now in the second phase where complex carbohydrates are gradually reintroduced. Done right, the Always Hungry diet is not painful at all. The key is to focus on stuff you like (vs his sometimes spartan recipes, like the ghastly Creamy Cauliflower Soup) as long as it follows the tenets of the plan.
The idea of the Always Hungry diet is to re-train your fat cells not to store so much fat which leads to overweight. You do this by eliminating simple carbs (including sugar and beer [sad face]) and creatively using fats (coconut cream and dairy cream, among others, as well as butter and oil) to induce a feeling of satiety, plus filling up with lots of vegetables. I’ve lost well over 10 pounds thus far, improved blood pressure and lowered pulse rate, and feel more energy without being always hungry.
I’m regularly eating his grain free pancakes with fruit spread (recipe in the book, which you should buy if this approach appeals to you) and feel a sense of empowerment now that I’m past the initial phase and can drizzle on some maple syrup. The diabolical doctor’s shepherd’s pie (also in the book) would be welcome at any table; it has a zesty ground beef base with lots of fennel bulb, topped with a cannellini bean/steamed cauliflower purée that is a dead ringer for savory and well seasoned mashed potatoes. His breakfast smoothie, cashew coconut clusters and black bean tofu scramble (those are recipes we’ve tweaked and published here) are all worth a try.
Coconut beef curry served on shredded cabbage instead of rice
But my real breakthrough this year has been going slightly off script with dishes that taste “regular” but are still free of simple carbs. For example, you can take any steamed vegetable and ladle on some quality (meaning it’s not going to contain sugar) marinara sauce (I used the excellent La San Marzano we tasted last summer), top with mozzarella or other cheese, heat till the cheese melts and walla, you’ve got an excellent veggie main dish or substantial side. I have made spicy southeast Asian curries and served them over shredded cabbage, vs rice, which gives me bonus Asian cole slaw after the entrée is gone. Speaking of which, I’ve decided it’s okay to use the Hellman’s mayo in my fridge rather than making my own sugar-free mayo, which opens me up to dishes like Vincent’s cole slaw, of which I can eat as much as I want.
It’s entirely possible, though maybe not likely, that I’ll publish a few completely Ludwig-compliant dishes in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, I have to go pound a handful of mixed dry roasted nuts. As you can see, the always hungry diet is not painful at all.
Sending you good wishes for your always hungry diet, sounds awful. I was able to drop 15 pounds during the Fall and picked them all back by the Super Bowl. It is hard for me to keep my focus on correct eating. I have to add calories to my diet to lose weight. Because I typically ingest too few each day my system is on starvation mode and my body tries to save everything.
Twice in the last 20 years I was able to significantly reduce my size by forcing myself to eat regular meals, four or five small means every day. Those were the most miserable days of my life. I was thinking about food all the time. According to two separate examinations of my diet as a “free man” I am about 1,000 calories short every day. By free man I mean if I just eat what I want when I want.
My problem is that I get hungry but do not want to stop what I am doing to eat. I do not eat junk food, because it does not appeal to me. I prefer to eat the meals that I prepare from fresh fruits and vegetables. I am on your side on this “Always Hungry” eating plan. Sounds like this will give you some benefits. I am eager to read more about your experience with this adventure. Good fortune to you and don’t burn your fingers.
Well, if you are 1000 calories under your allotment and you don’t lose weight, hmm… maybe the oxen are slipping something into your silage.
I’m now almost 2 weeks through the second phase where I’m allowed limited carbs and have continued to see physical changes (tightening the belt another notch etc) though the weight loss has slowed. Last night I made a big batch of jap chae, which is permitted because the noodles are made from sweet potato, a not-so-simple carb.
When I am 1,000 calories short every day I never feel hungry. That is, I may feel hungry for a moment and then it goes away. My problem is that I prefer to eat food that I have prepared myself rather than at a restaurant. Unless I have something to eat that I prepared close to where I am I pass on the meal. Worse, sometimes when I am writing at home I feel like eating but not enough to stop my writing project. I continue writing for another hour or two and the hungry moment has passed.
When I changed my eating style, and ate five times a day, I had to set a timer and would eat when it came off even when I was in the middle of a writing project. I lost a lot of weight and increased my calorie count at the same time. I stopped because this new way of eating kept me hungry all of the time. I could not wait for the next meal.
My writing suffered because I was constantly interrupting the work to eat the next meal. Even while I was writing I was thinking about the next small meal. Finally I stopped and I felt much better. I reduced the number of calories I consumed and regained the weight.
I have been told that my body is stuck in “starvation mode.” I eat too few calories and I my body wants to store everything. I am picky about what I eat. I love cooking my own meals. This morning I was 269.2 pounds about one half pound heavier than last Friday morning. I weigh myself every Friday morning soon after I get up but before I eat my first meal.
Good luck with your “Always Hungry” diet. I am off to the oxen in about one hour.