121 days remain in 2010.  I have fasted 211 meals so far.

This week has felt good to get back to two meals each day.  I honestly think I could live this way the rest of my life.  When dinner time comes in the evening, I am truly hungry and not eating simply because I cooked something and it smells good, or because it is time to eat.  My food really tastes good because I am hungry and ready to eat.

One thing that has amazed me this year so far has been how often I used to eat when I wasn’t hungry.  I would often eat breakfast because I worried I would get hungry.  I had lunch in order to take a break at work, not always because I was hungry.  Now I have given myself permission to go for a walk at lunch and take the break when I want.   I can have a cup of green tea when I get back to my desk, or a glass of cold water.

I always hear about diets from other people.  Eat this, don’t eat that. It is our national obsession.  Have cabbage soup one day and a “deep fried onion appetizer at a chain restaurant the next day (2000 calories before your meal arrives).  It is crazy. 

I had some new red potatoes the other day and was looking for a simple recipe to make using them after work.  I was amazed at the ways to make the potatoes “diet food” with fake margarine, fake sour cream or various not real food substitutes.  What I wanted was to steam them and serve with a little parsley, garlic and butter.  I wasn’t worried about making them more skinny.  I sure don’t eat fake food these days or things that don’t taste good.  When I was on diets I ate lots of things I didn’t care for or that didn’t taste good.  And I ate because it was time to eat.  I don’t do that any more either.  I am so much happier.

With fasting, I eat what I want.  I am much more focused on hungry and full than following a plan. I do eat a lot of vegetables, and my husband and I eat meatless two days during the week.  I look forward to those days.  They feel light.  Food and it’s preparation is more simple in my life now.

I am fasting lunch again today.