How much should one eat?

There is no end to advice about the number of calories a normal person should eat. The most common is that for woman, it is 1800, for a man, 2200.

But what if one is overweight? Does one continue to eat 1800, and sometimes accidentally overshoot that limit? Someone has said that if you (a woman) want to lose weight, then, whatever you eat, make sure that it is 1000 calories, and you'd lose weight. And guess what? I've been trying that formula out on myself.

Roughly I've been eating way below 1800. Which is good. but the bad news is that, it has been almost impossible to stick to the 1000 level. Somehow, by the end of the day, when I add up the food values, it always is a few hundred calories above 1000.

I'm trying to remain optimistic, inspite of slipping from the goal occasionally. And I think, there has been a small amount of success. Like losing a few pounds. The dinner of rice, sambar and eggplant curry this evening, even though it was very little, on a quarter plate, was above 1000.

The point here is to be more determined, at least until reach my goal, which is 105 lb. For that to happen, I have to keep reminding myself. Several times during the day, I have to examine, and also revise my strategy.

Grapes of Wrath

Amazing novel by John Steinbeck, a classic no doubt. The use of local language, and style of presentation has a dramatic effect. There are commentary chapters about farmers leaving their land in search of work and money, interspersed with the story of the Joad family.

Each of the chapters described well how one by one the characters leave their moving family. Finally Tom, the son who killed a second man, leaves, and there is little or ho hope. But now and then, hope trickles in. The children's mother is extraordinarily strong. The surviving men help her by keepin together the remaining family.

Through all the suffering, help comes in in some way or the other. There was no work, but somehow the people earned a few cents and dollars, and the members dragged along.

The end is optimistic. The poor helps the poor. Rose of Sharon loses her baby, who is born dead. But she gives life to a dying man by giving him her milk. A striking, innovative, real end.

All throughout, the feeling is of a real family suffering.