Sometimes, when asked to do the hard thing, you have to look adversity in the eye and say:

[DFW]

No way, let someone else do it!

Last checkup, my doctor in the USA told me to cut down on sugar and carbohydrates. I've really been trying to tackle this consciously, but yesterday evening, my wife noticed that we had way more apples than we were going to eat before they went bad. So, she cut a bunch of them up, and made an experimental apple cake, one for which there is no recipe. She used little (but some) sugar, yoghurt and quark and reduced amounts of eggs and flour. Dusted the top with cinnamon (of course).

She gave me one piece last evening after it came out of the oven, and was still warm. I ate only the one piece, but I was teetering on eating the whole thing. This was one of the best, if not THE best, cakes I had ever eaten, and as a German and expert chef already, she has a long string of pastry winners already in her portfolio.

This morning, before breakfast, she suggested another piece. I said sure, do it to me. She is now out running some errand, but she suggested, after she gets back, some hot tea and another piece of the cake. I said, of course.

i know, I am supposed to start saying no to offers like this.

In my next life, maybe--which, if I keep this up, may be sooner than I intended! (but what a way to go)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Ah, my dear DFW!

Lionel and I want to see you live a very long time!

I don't think that this wonderful apple cake will make any noticeable difference to your long-term longevity.

Enjoy!

[DFW]

5. I did! Repeatedly!

I hope it won't affect my longevity.

But if it does, like I said, what a way to go!

[Sanity Claws]

2. Don't say no to an offer from your wife

You don’t want her getting shy about making offers to you.

[DFW]

4. She's a German

She isn't shy about much of anything!

[NJCher]

3. someone suggested this to me

I've never tried it, but the idea is that if you're watching your diet, give yourself five freebies for the month.

You actually put them on paper and tack them on the bulletin board.

Once you've used one, take it off the bulletin board, reminding yourself you have 4 more, 3 more, whatever.

Anyway, under these circumstances, if I were using that system. this apple cake would definitely have rated a freebie!

[DFW]

6. That would give ample opportunity to cheat

During the week, my work takes me to somewhere between three and five different countries.

I can't see asking my work colleagues in Barcelona, Paris, Zürich and Utrecht to keep bulletin boards for me!

[ret5hd]

7. I had/have almost this exact issue myself...

- spouse that is an excellent cook/baker etc
- various health issues (weight/blood sugar/etc)

I solved it…for me anyway. Truly. I know this won’t work for everyone. I know this isn’t a one-size-fits-all. I know this isn’t a miracle.

I walk. I walk everywhere. I walk up to 10 miles a day sometimes. Usually with 20+ lbs in a backpack. I walk to the store. I hike. I park far from the store. I walk everywhere it is practical to do so. I add a walk to almost every other activity.

I lost 50 lbs. My A1C dropped. For some reason my desire for alcohol plummeted…maybe a drink/beer or two a month. For some reason my appetite fell also. I don’t understand it at all.

And…AND…I eat everything I want. Truly. Not that “oh, I like this or that so I will indulge myself with a tiny microscopic nibble that only inflames my desire”. No, I eat what I want.

Just sayin’ what worked for me.

[DFW]

9. I walk a lot, too

When I'm in a city where I have several appointments, I walk. Some cities have difficult topography, like Brussels and Zürich. Paris is mostly even, at least the parts where I work. Barcelona involves some serious up-and-downhill, too. Luckily, where we live in Germany, there is a huge park/woods system in back of our house, and we can take hour-long walks if it hasn't rained recently. This has been made difficult recently, because they close the park when there is a severe wind storm because trees and huge branches have been known to kill people when the storm gets violent. But it's a quick 15 minute walk to get into the center of our town, and that's always a nice plus when the weather permits. If I lost 50 pounds, I might get treated for malnutrition. Half that wouldn't hurt, though.

[Diamond_Dog]

8. Cutting carbs and sugar

Is probably good for everyone, especially the horrible diet most Americans have.

That said, I am always trying to do so, but IT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT when you have a sweet tooth like me! And who can resist a delicious apple cake warm from the oven ??

Good luck!

[DFW]

10. The horrible diet most Americans have doesn't concern me

The horrible diet many Germans have does, although my wife was read the law of survival when I had my cardiac near-miss 18 years ago, and she has followed it 95% or more. Cook only with olive oil, not butter. Only fish and poultry, no red meat. No whole milk, lots of müssli and oat flakes for breakfast. I haven't had a steak in nearly 20 years, and don't miss it at this point. But take away my wife's cod filets poached in white wine, garlic and shredded ginger, and I get withdrawal symptoms.

[Diamond_Dog]

11. Oh, I hear you!

No beef or pork in my house, either. No bacon or ham, no pancakes, waffles, etc. I never was a lover of the big American breakfast anyway and it’s really not good for anyone who isn’t active all day. I haven’t had a steak in just as long as you and I never loved steak anyway. Fish and chicken and occasionally turkey are what we eat mostly. Your wife’s cod fillets sound wonderful.
We eat fish at least twice a week here. Not fried, either.

You are both to be commended for sticking to the healthy eating regimen after your cardiac near-miss! I can think of several others I know who refuse to change their diets after such an event, and that doesn’t make sense to me at all. My late brother-in-law was like that. Said life wasn’t worth living if he couldn’t have all his favorite foods. I guess we all make our choices.

[AwakeAtLast]

12. Sounds so good!

I have cut the following since last year:

Pasta
Potatoes except yams
Bread except whole wheat
(and I eat very little)
Sugar
Milk
Soda (Coffee, Tea, Water only)
Fast food
Most fruit

What do I eat? All vegetables, meats, cheeses, nuts, seeds, berries and olives. I use a lot of South Beach Diet rules.

I have lost 40 lbs., my digestion is so much better, not eating Tums at night, inflammation is reduced and brain fog gone!

The list I made? Most of those things taste terrible now. It took awhile, but I'm so glad I did it!

I firmly believe my genetics and metabolism dictated these changes, but they also might help someone else!

[DFW]

13. Some of that is easy here, some near impossible

Potatoes are in almost everything (though they don't have to be made with butter, usually an equal culprit).

This is Germany, where bread is always fresh-baked without preservatives. A fresh black bread right out of the oven--even the smell will make you gain half a pound even if you walk away. Might as well have some.

Fast food? This is Europe--it mostly only exists to keep teenagers and visiting Americans happy.

Fruit--help me, I can't give that up! Oranges from Spain and Israel, and apricots from Southern France, the Wachau Valley in Austria and dried ones from Turkey. Carry me to my grave if you must, but I can't give up fruit.

[AwakeAtLast]

14. My husband and I have had the conversation

"Should we move to Europe?"

Maybe it's in the US food supply, and if I get a chance to eat in another country I might find out it's not just me.

[DFW]

15. I admit, I'd probably be dead now if I had been in the USA these past 20 years.

2004 was a near-miss for me, and I used it as a wake-up call.

[Wounded Bear]

16. I can resist anything but temptation...

[DFW]

17. I may translate that into german and post it on the door of our fridge! n/t

[Wounded Bear]

18. With my blessing...

[DFW]

19. You will be thankful you are far away when my wife sees it

What's the German for "accessory to murder?"

[Wounded Bear]

20. Took German in high school...

50+ years later there ain't much of that left in my head.

You're on your own, brother.

[DFW]

21. Into the valley of death............ n/t

[elleng]

22. 'Mittter am Mord?'

Sorry late to this party; hope you're well.

[petronius]

23. Well, I've learned several things from this thread:

1) "Quark" is more than just a subatomic particle or a Ferengi bartender, it's also a dairy product.

2) An apple cake is more than one serving? (This confuses me, to be honest. I mean, it's warm and moist and smells delicious and tastes like heaven - some people actually save some for later?!? )

[DFW]

24. I'm not a fan of plain quark, even though it is supposed to be good for you

But then, I don't like bananas, either, but LOVE my wife's banana walnut bread.

This is Germany, my friend. An apple cake made by my wife is half a meter across. If you can polish THAT off in one sitting, you had better be a seven foot tall lumberjack who hasn't yet had breakfast.