Basically, I consider myself a vegetarian. Because of my concern for my cholesterol count, meat is not high on my agenda. I've been known to go weeks without consuming so much as a hamburger. Admittedly, by leaning more towards the Mediterranean style of cooking and eating, I expect health benefits. Yet, despite all my years as a vegetarian, I have become overweight; actually going from a low adult weight of160 pounds to an appalling 250 pounds (yes, honestly I'm slightly over 6 feet) in the last ten years.

On top of this, I had begun to eat when I was bored and stressed. Something has to change and soon. And something has changed. Rather than lament about my diet, I have opted to take dieting into my own hands by deciding that with modifications to my almost veggie diet, like consuming mega amounts of food and eating 7 or 8 times a day, I could reap greater benefits, lower my weight and body measurements. As to my emotional needs, I have substituted meditation, creative imagery and exercise for food. While it is a hard regime to initiate and sustain, it sure beats staying fat.

In my self-made diet, you will find an emphasis on raw fruits and veggies. Handy for snacking, they contain large amounts of minerals, vitamins and fiber and they will satisfy your appetite. With their wide variety of tastes and textures, they can pacify your sweet tooth, your need to crunch or spice up your taste buds. It is important that you adopt the concept of eating small, frequent meals - up to 8 a day or you won't last until it's time for you to retire! Yes. Really - I did say 8 meals a day. Have 3 main meals and 4 or 5 hearty snacks. You will discover that your blood sugar level will stay steady, and your energy level will increase. Since most of your snacks revolve around raw fruits and veggies, your appetite will thank you and so will your body fat or lack of fat, I should say!

Within this paragraph, you will find a list of safe foods that you can incorporate into delicious recipes. But due to space constraints, I'll have to give you a fuller list another time. However, I will list a few for you to get started with: All green leafy, yellow and white veggies, raw or cooked, salad condiments (good heavens, without oil dressings -- make your own), most fruits, raw or cooked also. Some need to be restricted in quantity and some of them are exempt. For example, mushrooms are the kings of the veggie world. Containing no calories or fat, they can be consumed in virtually unlimited amounts, in a myriad of combinations. Sauté all veggies in vegetable stock - nix on the frying in oil. For instance, eggplant is laden with minerals and vitamins. But bread it and fry it in oil, and it gobbles up the fat, dumping it in your body. But use common sense. If you are dying for a small glass of white wine, a handful of nuts or a scoop of tofu ice cream, then go ahead and indulge, but not more than once or twice a week. This way, you know that you can have the pleasure without having the bulge.

Now we should go onto the subject of exercise. Whoa! Are those groans I hear? Hey, I do understand. Working a full time job, I hear you when you say: "I have NO time." Some diet mavens tell us that this "no time" is merely an excuse. I say it's a fact. Many of us have little spendable time. Meanwhile, I'm reaching the end of my allotted space and time with you. We'll pick this up where we left off next month.

EDITOR'S NOTE:
We have tasted some of "Big Al's" veggie specialties. As soon as we decide which one of them is our favorite, we'll pass on the recipe to you. You can Contact "Big Al" on site; http://www.4pointspress.com or direct your email to the Editor.