Getting skinny with it...

After our Miami Beach experience of tanned people with perfectly carved bodies and an even more traumatizing experience of our friend G measuring us with her miracle machine that will tell you not only how much you weigh, but also how much muscle and fat you have in your body composition, 'visceral health' which means how much fat percentage you have around your organs, and how much is your resting caloric requirement - way lower than we consume thought. 

We decided it is time for a change. We have both neglected our booties and bellies and it shows. 

As we are both big fans of the 'maximum gain with minimum effort' approach, we decided to get on a diet first and gradually add exercise into our days. 

The diet that fits our philosophy is the Slow Carb Diet. This is a principle introduced by Tim Ferris in his latest book 4 hour body - a great read which we highly recommend. 

There are few simple rules to be followed in your eating habits:

1. Avoid all white carbs - that is pasta, rice, bread, cereal. 

2. Start the day with a high protein breakfast which should be consumed 30 minutes upon waking. Eggs time.

3. Avoid all dairy, all fruits (except tomato and avocado) and all sugars, including sodas and fruit juices. Drinking your calories is not smart. You can have unlimited amounts of water, coffee, tea or diet soda.

4. Have Cheat Day. This is by far the most amazing and liberating concept of diet world. One day a week (for us Sunday) eat all you want, all you dreamed of having during the week but didn't, all the sugars, fries and bread. This is actually proven in the studies to aid the fat loss process by creating a shock in your body and making your metabolism go in super burning mode. 

What does that leave us with from Monday to Saturday?

- Meat - chicken, beef, pork, fish.

- Veggies - all you can find, the greener the better, except potatoes.

- Legumes - beans (black and pinto are the recommended choice), lentils and chickpeas.

You can have unlimited amounts of these 3 categories. 

We measured and weighted, took the Before picture and compiled the Excel graphics that will monitor our progress. Yes, we are geeks!

Here is a sample of our menu. Please bear in mind that Mr Van is 6'5" and Mrs Van is big boned.

Breakfast

Scrambled eggs, tomatoes, capsicum and black beans

Lunch

Thick tomato soup with beans

Chicken curry with cauliflower

Dinner

Garden salad with stir fry beef.

We will obviously publish our evolution, so tune in regularly!