DAY TWO: Saturday, June 5: Breaking point?
My working week did not get off to the most strenuous of starts. A few Gulf News journalists met at the sandy pitches behind Rydges Plaza hotel to test out the official World Cup matchball, the Jabulani, which has been getting criticism from some of the game’s top players. Armed with a video camera, a tripod, and six bananas, I arrived at the pitch in 43 degree heat at around 10am. The weather conditions were not exactly conducive to sporting activity and around 30 minutes later I was travelling back down Shaikh Zayed Road with a bottle of ice cold water.
See how Kevin got on Day One of his diet
After a quick shower, I ventured into the office and had a salad from the canteen for lunch. I only ate a few pieces of pepper, lettuce and cucumber before reverting back to my old friend, the banana. There is no doubt that my body is detoxing but at this stage there has been no side effects of any great significance.
I went home via Mall of the Emirates and picked up a few avocados and some raw chickpeas. I was feeling pretty adventurous so I tried my hand at making guacamole and hummus. I left the chickpeas in water to soak for the next 24 hours and focused my attentions on the guacamole, which I hoped would be dinner for the evening. My attempt was disastrous. I threw all the ingredients – avocado, tomato, red onion and lemon juice - into a smoothie maker but tightened the lid too much and could not get it off.
As I sat on the sofa with my container I thought for a moment I was going to snap like Michael Douglas in the movie ‘Falling Down’ and embark on a rampage through the streets of Al Barsha. The lid eventually did come off but the contents resembled some kind sloppy gloop so dinner was one Granny Smith apple washed down with a pina colada (non-alcoholic of course) consisting of pineapple chunks and coconut milk. Based on the first two days, dinner is definitely the most difficult time of the day to get through.
I phoned my parents in Scotland who don’t seem too keen on the diet either. My dad, who has a slight tendency to exaggerate, was moaning about having a raw carrot for dinner and even my mum, who is a huge fan of salads, said it wasn’t the most exciting diet. I then went to bed early; I figure that sleeping means I won’t be thinking about food, just dreaming about it.
