17 Weeks In, Down 25 Pounds: My Wife Called No Cook Week “Hell Week”
Let me be upfront: no cook week worked for losing weight. Still down 25 pounds, still on track. But the family verdict on the food itself was... divided. Happy Healthy…
We Waited in Line for Birthday Longevity Noodles at a Tianjin Hole in the Wall — Worth It
There's a Chinese tradition that on your birthday you eat longevity noodles — 长寿面 (cháng shòu miàn) — noodles kept as long as possible because the length symbolizes a long…
16 Weeks In: I Gained Weight on Maintenance Week — Here’s Why That’s Okay
Week 16 was maintenance week — also called a diet break — and the honest result is that the scale went up a little. Before anyone panics, let me explain…
A Taxi Driver Told Us to Come Here — Peking Duck in Tianjin Did Not Disappoint
The best restaurant recommendations don't come from travel guides. They come from taxi drivers. Our driver mentioned he takes his own family to 天津正陽春·臻选店 (Tianjin Roast Duck Restaurant) — and…
15 Weeks In, Down 25 Pounds: The 3 Things You Actually Need to Lose Weight
After 15 weeks of doing this I've had some time to think about what's actually made the difference. Not the meal plan itself, not any single dish or swap —…
Inside a Private Dining Room at Tianjin’s Most Beautiful Restaurant — We Ate the Bones
味鼎轩·曹府 (Weidingxuan Cao Mansion) in Tianjin is not a casual dinner spot. The moment you walk in you know you're somewhere special — beautiful traditional architecture, private rooms, an environment…
Stop Eating What You Want — Eat What You Like Instead (14 Weeks, 20 Pounds Down)
Twenty pounds down. Fourteen weeks in. And this week I ate tri-tip, steak fajitas, lamb chops, salmon with Brussels sprouts and bacon, red simmered chicken wings, cashew chicken, a Denver…
Inside Tianjin’s Most Crowded Breakfast District — Honest Verdict
If you're visiting Tianjin and someone tells you to go to 西北角特色街区 (Xibeijiao Specialty District) for breakfast, here's what they won't tell you: it's packed. 9:30 on a Monday morning…
13 Weeks In, Still Hungry: Why Leaving the Table Wanting More Is the Secret
Thirteen weeks in and I want to talk about hunger — because it keeps coming up and I think it's worth saying plainly: being a little hungry all the time…
Inside Ancient Culture Street: The Buns Even a Dog Would Ignore (We Didn’t)
If you find yourself on Ancient Culture Street in Tianjin, there's one thing you have to eat: 狗不理包子 (gou bu li bao zi). The name literally translates to "even the…