I Survived 400 Days Without Rice and Softdrinks (Number 20 on my Definitive List of Things I'm Thankful For)
Friday, May 24, 2024In 2013, my friend Joey Alarilla went on a "no beef, no pork" diet. During this time, I needed to lose some weight and lower my cholesterol levels. Inspired by this type of diet, I decided to take on a "no rice" diet challenge. I started in November 2013 without any end-target date in mind.
I also added a "no soft drinks" rule, but that was fairly easy since I wasn't really fond of soft drinks. As the days passed, I wrote my thoughts about it in my daily journal. I also shared some milestones on Facebook using the hashtags #norice and #nosoftdrinks.
The first few days were okay, as it seemed like an exciting challenge. I would say that Days 10–30 were the most challenging, as it was a longer period of time than I had ever gone without rice in my life. I was able to adjust afterwards, and it became easier not to crave rice.
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| One of my many Facebook status updates about my no rice challenge |
As the days turned into weeks and months, I was able to cut down on sugar and lose weight. I was eating mostly salads, fruits, and tuna. Since my challenge primarily focused on rice intake, I didn't prohibit myself from eating bread and pasta.
Since I lasted for a few months without rice, I decided to extend and target it for a year. That also meant not eating rice during special occasions like my birthday, my wife's birthday, my son's birthday, anniversaries, special events, and Christmas. I'm happy to say I reached the 365-day mark and decided to round it off to 400 days.
I could've gone longer. However, at the end of the year, I made the decision to stop because we were planning a trip to Japan, which would be my first visit to the country. I didn't want to miss the chance to try all the authentic Japanese cuisine, most of which had rice in it. And so on December 30, 2014, I ended my "no rice" challenge, exactly 400 days since I began the journey, and treated myself to authentic Japanese rice in Tokyo.
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| Officially ended my no rice challenge on Day 400 in Tokyo |
During my journey, I lost 16 pounds, lowered my cholesterol level, decreased my triglycerides, and overall felt healthy. Aside from those benefits, it was also my way of determining if I had the discipline to resist eating particular foods. In the succeeding years, I tried intermittent fasting and, more recently, calorie-counted daily diets. I plan to continue to be conscious when selecting the foods that I eat, and to maintain a nutritious and balanced diet.
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