I knew this day was coming

Usually, I devote Wednesday to recipes or something food-related. I like to cook, I like to eat, but that has come at a price.  Today, I got on the scale and it read 275.4 lbs.

Sigh.

I wish I could say I was surprised, but I'm not exactly unaware that I'm overweight. However, it's one thing to be curvy, and another to be flirting with diabetes.

So, as of today, I am on a diet. I will still be cooking and posting recipes. I have a long way to go, and if I try to do it on diet shakes and salad, I'll give up. This is less a diet than a re-working of my lifestyle into something more healthy. This is going to take a while.

My goal weight : 165 lbs.

My immediate goal: 265 lbs by December 1st.
Today's Recipe: Salad!
I've never been one of the stereotypical fat people you see in the media. I don't live on fast food. I think Twinkies are evil (why waste time on bad pastry when there are croissants?) and I like vegetables.

So I'm putting up a favorite salad of mine, which yes, is a little high on the fat content, but remember, this serves two to four people. I calculated the calories and the entire recipe comes to approximately 900. (I can't be super exact because calorie counters vary). Half of this would be a very acceptable dinner, with lots of crunch and flavor.

Red-Cabbage Salad (recipe from L.V. Anderson of Slate)

•  ¼ large head red cabbage, cored and shredded
• 1 to 2 ounces gorgonzola or other blue cheese, crumbled
• ⅓ cup chopped walnuts
• ⅓ cup golden raisins
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• Salt and black pepper

Put the cabbage, cheese, walnuts, raisins, oil, and vinegar in a medium bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Toss, taste and adjust the seasoning, and serve immediately.

Yield: 1 or 2 main-course servings or 4 side-dish servings