Happy New Year.

Sorry I’m late on that. It turns out that I am afflicted with something that feels suspiciously like flu. I have gone through half a box of tissues in the last 24 hours, my throat and nose feel like they’re on fire and I have body aches- everywhere.

I get the flu shot every year but for the last two years, the clade used wasn’tthe right one for what ended up circulating. I don’t know who’s responsible for that but the CDC and NIH have seen their budgets cut in the last several years and eventually, that’s going to make a difference.

Oh well. Need to find some Aleve and try to dry out. I haven’t had a cold or flu for years so I don’t know how to handle it.

Carry on.

**********************************

Last year, I lost 40+ lbs and dropped from a size 10 to a size 4. I have a strategy more than a diet. I haven’t given up any foods I like. It’s pretty simple to follow. But it does take a little self control, like no fast food, no noshing in the mall, no sugar in coffee and no more than 400 calories per meal. Weirdly, there are cook books to that effect so maybe I’m on to something. I add apples, crispbread with almond butter and other snacks during the day but try to stay under 250 cal/snack.

It does take some self control, not gonna lie. But it’s not a deprivation diet and I rarely feel ravenously hungry. In The Conversation today, self control fatigue or snowballing is discussed. The bottom line: don’t deprive yourself of pleasure for too long over an extended period of time. You’re more likely to suffer a breakdown of will and indulge. So ease up on those diets that ask you to give up too much for too long and look forward to getting into those skinny jeans again.