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.

I read Kazuo Ishiguro's first novel

Kazuo Ishiguro's first novel, A Pale View of the Hills, is about a Japanese woman who remarries, relocates to England, and how her decision to live life in this way is so much similar to Sachiko, the woman she had met long time ago, and her child Mariko who loved cats.

Nowhere is it told blatantly that she is a woman who decides on her own, or is strong. But she does make decisions in the end. She turns out to be a woman with a mind of her own.

The feeling of Japan - Nagasaki and Fukuoka - of England (London, and rural England), and of America - in the American tourist they meet at a fair - are well-blended into the story, without being loud about it. Things are implied, soft and subtle, and one could feel the Japanese etiquette and reverence in the way they spoke.

The effects of World War II, in the thread of the father-in-law coming to visit them comes through clearly. The postcard representation of the War symbols are to an extent funny and humorous to her.

There is an underlying thread of suspense and mystery. There are at least stories beautifully intertwined.

On being a Secretive Non-vegetarian

Can anyone tell me what one can do when there are two people in the house, and one is vegetarian and the other isn't? Can love sustain when neither of them is willing to give in?

This is the true story of a non-vegetarian woman, recently married to a strict vegetarian (who eats eggs without the yolk). The woman cannot give up meat and fish, and the man cannot let her cook or eat any of it inside the house. Of course, he is not ready or willing to turn into a non-vegetarian.

Eating out every day is not economically viable. Neither is it practical, as the portions are too large, and taking away the leftover goes against the principles of the man.

They are married, many months pass. The woman is unhappy, the man feels guilty but cannot give in. How could he go against his religion, or, how would he be able to accept that things are being cooked in the house?

And then, at the end of many many requests made by the woman, the man agrees. To one thing. And they begin working towards it.