At a doctor's visit, the doctor discussed the benefits of intermittent fasting.  Of course, my only question (which I did NOT ask) was will you lose weight?  A woman at my gym did this type of fast and lost 30 pounds.  Granted, I don't have 30 pounds to lose, just maybe eight.  So why not give it a try.

The goal is to fast for 16 hours.  This allows you to eat for 8 hours and I have learned the key is determining the timeframe that works best.  I work out at the gym at 5:30am and I LOVE breakfast, but I cannot eat breakfast at 7am because then I would have to be done with my dinner at 3pm... now I admit, I do love to eat early (6pm) in relationship to most but 3pm?  That would mean I would have to have my happy hour at 1pm.  I think my boss might raise an eyebrow or two if I was shaking martinis at my desk.

So the best plan is to wrap up my last meal by 7pm.  Which means I can start eating each morning at 11am.  So, from 5:30am to 11am, I watch the clock. Tick, Tock, TIck, Tock.  Stomach growl, Tick Tock.  I do have to admit it is really not as hard as I thought but I do miss breakfast.  It makes you think about what you will be eating when you are allowed.  The doctor did mention that during those eight hours of feasting, you must eat a healthy, well-balanced meal.  Doctors take the fun out of everything!!!

It is 8:30am and I'm drinking my coffee and have my snack ready when the little hand hits the eleven and the big hand is on the twelve.  So if you want to meet for a breakfast meeting, I am happy to do that but everyone needs to know that I will be having my happy hour at noon and going to bed at 5.  Happy Fasting.

I have long been in the practice of saying hello and sharing a smile to strangers.  I will also give out a compliment or two:  That is a pretty dress"  "You are pretty"    It may weird out some folks, but 99.9% of the time, the recipients seem genuinely grateful.

Today, I was on the receiving end of a compliment.  Not only once but twice within the same hour, two different people.  The only reason I am sharing this is I'm living on the high from their kindness:  You look so nice.   You are so pretty. 

In a new year, we (me) seem to be analyzing everything about ourselves we need to change.  We set resolutions often centered around how to improve.  Goals to be thinner that we disguise in a resolution centered around "just being healthy."  Today, I'm going to go a different direction.  Of course, that doesn't mean I won't be reading about diets or how to lose inches FAST , it means I am going to take the focus OFF of me.  I want to be kind.  

My goal for 2024 is to

• write personal letters to those I love,
• give more compliments and
• always share a smile. 

You never know how long someone could ride that high. 


​Happy 2024!