CHAPTER 5
The Carb Chronicles
Cliff’s obsession with weight control became nothing short of legendary—at least, in his own mind. As a medical professional, he approached dieting with the same intensity he brought to his work, diving headfirst into an ocean of research that quickly turned into a tidal wave of conflicting advice. His evenings were dominated by stacks of books and articles, each one promising the secret to effortless weight loss. If only it were that simple.
Cliff's exploration of diets was like a culinary tour of the absurd. He’d read about some sensible diets, which offered a delightful mix of fruits, vegetables, and olive oil—things his mother would be proud of. But then there were the more... creative approaches. The water diet, for example, which suggested drinking nothing but H2O to shed pounds. Cliff couldn’t help but imagine the disappointment of ordering a burger only to be served a glass of water with a side of... nothing. Some of these plans were so outlandish that he couldn’t help but chuckle, others were downright dangerous, earning a quick trip to the mental trash bin.
But among the sea of nutritional nonsense, there were a few gems that demanded his attention. Cliff's office soon resembled a battleground of nutrition philosophies. Papers were strewn across his desk like the remnants of an academic food fight, each one dissecting the merits and pitfalls of various diets. The deeper he dug, the clearer it became: it didn’t matter how trendy or flashy a diet was; the real magic lay in whether you could actually stick with it. The fad diets, with their wild promises of rapid weight loss, were nothing more than mirages—offering a brief glimmer of hope before inevitably leaving you stranded in the desert of disappointment.
Amid this chaos, one diet caught Cliff’s eye: the Atkins diet. It wasn’t flashy or trendy, but it had a certain old-school charm, like a reliable friend who always gave good advice. It made sense to Cliff on a fundamental level, reminding him of the basics he’d learned in med school. The problem wasn’t fat, he realized—it was carbs. Specifically, the sugars and simple carbohydrates that had sneakily made themselves at home in his diet, contributing to his gradual transformation from “fit doc” to “plump doc.” The key wasn’t to eat less, but to eat smarter, to change the very nature of what he consumed.
With the enthusiasm of a student on the first day of school, Cliff threw himself into the Atkins philosophy. He devoured the book like it was his new favorite meal, then followed up with another one for good measure. Soon, he was supplementing his knowledge with online articles, forums, and videos, all in the pursuit of understanding the art of carb-cutting. The plan was straightforward: eliminate simple carbs, focus on vegetables, and maintain healthy levels of protein and fat. The science was solid—cut the carbs, lower the insulin, and watch as your body burns fat for fuel. Cliff was sold.
Cliff wasn’t about to do this alone, though. He convinced Venus to join him on this culinary adventure, promising that it would be more of a lifestyle change than a diet. Together, they would face the carb-less future, armed with determination and a pantry full of low-carb alternatives. At meals, when someone inevitably noticed Cliff’s avoidance of bread or pasta and asked if he was on a diet, he’d reply with a calm, almost smug, “No, I’m just eating healthy. It’s a long-term nutrition plan, not a diet.” Because, really, who could argue with that?
The first two weeks were, as Cliff would later describe, “character-building.” Cutting out sugar and simple carbs entirely was like asking a cat to avoid a ball of yarn—it was unnatural, and it required every ounce of his willpower. But as the days passed, something magical happened: Cliff started to feel... lighter. Not just physically, but emotionally too. The back and knee pains that had plagued him for months began to fade, replaced by a newfound spring in his step. It was as if he were shedding years of accumulated stress along with the pounds.
After those grueling first two weeks, Cliff gradually reintroduced small amounts of healthy complex carbs into his diet, carefully monitoring his weight with each addition. If he hit a plateau, he adjusted, cutting back the last food he’d added. It was a dynamic, ever-evolving process, but one that Cliff found surprisingly manageable. He had mastered the art of discipline, learning to resist the siren call of sugar and fast food that once held him captive.
Nearly a year later, the results were undeniable. Cliff had reached a healthy weight and a balanced body mass index. He moved with ease, unburdened by the extra weight that had once made even climbing stairs feel like a marathon. Yet, despite his success, one challenge remained—the craving that popped up like an unwelcome guest, when he was feeling down. When he was strong, Cliff could dismiss it with a wave of his hand. But in moments of loneliness or sadness, the craving grew stronger, threatening to undo all his hard work.
It was during one of those low moments, when the urge for comfort food was almost too much to bear, that Cliff stumbled upon a YouTube video... and that’s where things got interesting…
