Thursday, March 06, 2008

South Beach Diet

I'm on day four.

The first two weeks are very strict, no carbs except for veggies, no sugar. Sounds simple enough, and it is, except that it's taking a lot of planning, because I have to cook and create all my snacks and meals. No "insta-food".

But it's really working! I've only been on it 4 days and I've lost 7 lbs!

A curious side effect, however, is that I'm a little bit, er, um, more tempermental than normal.

Let me give you an example.

Last night I went to play poker like I usually do at Dooly's in the south end. Just before break two players were battling it out and there were a lot of chips on the table. After the winner won, the loser (good natured) helped push the chips towards the winner. The guy beside the loser helped too. I was sitting on this guy's other side. I saw him gather up a large handful of $500 chips and then put them in front of the now-distracted winner. I saw him keep one chip in his hand, holding it there with his pinky and ring finger of his left hand. Then he made as if to tidy up his own stack, and I heard the clink of the palmed chip falling onto his chips. As it was now break, everyone was getting up and there was a lot of distractions. I went right over to the assistant tournament director and told her what I'd seen and what should I do. She said talk to the manager of Dooly's (who also runs the tourny). I told Nathan what I'd seen and he said "Next time just tell him to fuck off and stop stealing." Three things occurred to me at this point: 1) he didn't want to do anything about it; 2) I don't talk like that; and 3) I didn't want to get punched in the face, even if I said a modified version of this statement. There is a supposedly strict cheating policy, and anyone caught cheating gets banned. What's getting caught though? NOT seeing someone stealing with my own eyes? Is there some other way?

I have friends and aquaintences at poker, and the assistant director Chantal and I were telling people what I'd seen. I told the girl whose stack he stole from.
Chantal told the other players at our table.

After break was over, I got dealt pocket kings. A great hand. I had $2400 in chips left, so I went all in. No one called except for Cheater Boy. He had Jack 4. I was way ahead. The flop, turn and river gave him two more 4s. "PERFECT" I said. "I lost to the CHEATER." My blood was boiling. I pushed my chips at him and said "I SAW you palm that chip." and I stormed off. I passed a table with a friend at it who asked me if I was out. "Yep! I lost to the CHEATER!" I said kind of loudly. Then as I got towards the door, I saw from across the room the guy looking at me with his palms out, like "what's going on?" and I pointed at him and said VERY loudly "I SAW YOU STEAL THAT CHIP!!"

It was actually kind of freeing, to be able to express my anger like that. On the way home, I felt surreal and really wondered if I'd become a crazy person. After telling Jake what happened, he was shocked and surprised and we both had a laugh because I would normally NEVER make a scene like that.

Ahh good times. Oh right. And hopefully when I can eat carbs again in week three, I will be less crazy. Only 9 1/2 days to go!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent work my dear. EXXXCELLENT! Haha! I question my sanity all the time. No worries. :P

Anonymous said...

Good for you for saying something. I don't think it was crazy at all. You're well on your way to being a healthy, happy, *bossy* person. ;)



C.

Hussicots said...

I just learned today that the cheater came in first that night. I guess cheating DOES pay off.

And I lost another pound this morning. Yay hooray!

Also, today I was noticing how stable and calm I feel. I think the sugar/carb detox. withdrawl stage is past the worst part. It's a nice feeling.