Passover is terrible for gaining weight. Here's a picture showing my terrible weight gain results in the past week, as well as some other periods of failure.
So why is this Jewish holiday so weight unfriendly?
On Passover, Jews don't eat certain foods -- depending on tradition. Banned foods always include wheat and most grains, and in some interpretations include all grain-like things such as legumes and pulses. The only exception is matzo bread, sort of like a large square cracker (see picture below.)
The problem here is that grains are the most common source of carbohydrates, and carbohydrates are very important to gaining weight. Yes, protein is important to build muscle, but the importance can be overstated. You need protein, but you need that protein to be in excess of how many calories you need in energy. In other words, if you are not eating enough calories, the protein is probably going to be burned up for energy instead of adding to your body weight.
And if you want lots and lots of calories, you need carbohydrates. Let me demonstrate.
Check out this pile of non-kosher-for-Passover rice.
The problem here is that grains are the most common source of carbohydrates, and carbohydrates are very important to gaining weight. Yes, protein is important to build muscle, but the importance can be overstated. You need protein, but you need that protein to be in excess of how many calories you need in energy. In other words, if you are not eating enough calories, the protein is probably going to be burned up for energy instead of adding to your body weight.
And if you want lots and lots of calories, you need carbohydrates. Let me demonstrate.
Check out this pile of non-kosher-for-Passover rice.
This is less than three cups of raw rice. It contains 2,300 calories. That's enough to sustain most people for a day. Not that you should only eat rice, but there are enough calories to get by until you die of scurvy.
Beans and chickpeas, which some Jews eat during Passover, are not quite as efficient. They are not as calorie dense, and have more protein and water. To get the same number of calories you would have to eat this many.
Beans and chickpeas, which some Jews eat during Passover, are not quite as efficient. They are not as calorie dense, and have more protein and water. To get the same number of calories you would have to eat this many.
That's a little bit more intimidating. And finally, if you want to get the same amount of calories from meat, you would have to eat this whole chicken (shown with an apple for size.)
Chicken is also fairly fatty, so if you were eating leaner meats like beef or fish you would have to eat much more.
So that brings us back to grains. The only grains I can eat during Passover are matzo. But matzo are big and dry and airy. It's hard to eat a lot in one go. This whole box only has 1,700 calories:
So that brings us back to grains. The only grains I can eat during Passover are matzo. But matzo are big and dry and airy. It's hard to eat a lot in one go. This whole box only has 1,700 calories:
Really, I should be eating potatoes. Potatoes are a good source of kosher for Passover carbohydrates. I just haven't gotten to the store in a while.
The good news is that by sundown tonight, Passover will be over and I can get back to the pasta, brown rice and oatmeal that makes my graph tilt pleasingly upwards.
Next week I'll write about strategy, and now to mix a simple 1,300 calorie beverage.
The good news is that by sundown tonight, Passover will be over and I can get back to the pasta, brown rice and oatmeal that makes my graph tilt pleasingly upwards.
Next week I'll write about strategy, and now to mix a simple 1,300 calorie beverage.
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