Hello, and welcome to another day of the Give-Back Diet.  Today, let’s keep it really simple and joyous and count our blessings together.  Have you lost weight, stabilized your weight and diet, or made some healthy changes?  Let’s identify what’s right and good!

ACTION PLAN:

— Take 5 minutes right now and make a written list of everything that is good in your life.  This may be a challenge, but do it anyway.  There’s no wrong answers, just list anything and everything that comes to mind, unedited.

— Now, take that list in hand, close your eyes, breath slowly in and out three times.  Open your eyes, and going down your list say a prayer of thanks for each good in your life.

— Be sure to feel the love and care coming from God in counting all your blessings and good today.  Be sure to accept the great assistance that is coming your way with this “Give-Back Diet” program, in ways that are new to you:  new powers of mindfulness, sweet surrender of foods that do you harm, inspiration and motivation to fully utilize your body, to be active, and to help others.

— Have you been saving money avoiding buying snacks and junk food?  Please be sure to put that on your list.  Did you skip a high-calorie, expensive meal?  Did you not have extra helpings and seconds?  Early in the program, I suggested making a savings bank, or jar, of money saved through healthy living.  Are you filling it up?  Have you donated any of those savings to a hunger-relief charity?  Please think on that, the “Giving Back” part, and let us know about it.  That would be really inspiring!

—  Continue your food program, limiting meats and saturated fats, trading them in for more vegetables, beans, nuts, and fish.  Continue avoiding added sugars, and limiting carbohydrates.

— Go for a walk, do yoga, stretch, dance for 30 minutes, if you are able.

— PLEASE POST some items that are good in your life.  Share them with others.  Remind us of what me may also have in common that’s joyous, positive and right.

If you are new to this column, and new to the Give-Back Diet, welcome!  Please take a look at the whole program here.