[Sidenote:  But You Do Not Have To]

You could keep on this for some time, or fast for some time, and probably be much benefited.  I fasted five days once, or rather fruit-juiced five days.  I lost about ten pounds, I think, and my heart, which had begun to carry on, was relieved.

[Sidenote:  Sob Stuff]

It was during that period of which I have spoken, and of which I am ashamed; for I had my M.D. degree then and should have known better.  But you know we have good authority that it is easier to teach twenty what were good to be done than to be one of twenty to follow our own teaching.

Third Order

[Sidenote:  You Are Down to Business]

[Sidenote:  And Maybe Diabetes]

Now you will have to reckon on the amount of food or number of calories you need per day.  Review the rule I have given.  You find for your age and normal weight that you will need, let us say for example, 2200 calories.  You have probably been consuming twice that amount and either storing it away as fat or as disease. (It is surprising how small an excess will gradually add up pounds of fat.  For instance, three pats of butter or three medium chocolate creams a day, if over the maintenance limit, would add approximately 27 pounds a year to your weight!)

Now you are to reduce your maintenance diet—­the 2200 calories we are taking for example—­to 1200 calories—­quite a comfortable lot, you will find.

You will be surprised how much 1200 calories will be if the food is judiciously selected.

[Sidenote:  After All, Hunger Is Much More Agreeable Than Apoplexy]

You may be hungry at first, but you will soon become accustomed to the change.  I find that dry lemon or orange peel, or those little aromatic breath sweeteners, just a tiny bit, seem to stop the hunger pangs; or you may have a cup of fat-free bouillon or half an apple, or other low calorie food. (Count the calories here.)

One thousand calories less food per day equals four ounces of fat lost daily—­approximately 8 pounds per month.  If you do not want to lose so fast, do not cut down so much.

Fourth Order

[Sidenote:  You Register Joy]

You may eat just what you like—­candy, pie, cake, fat meat, butter, cream—­but—­count your calories! You can’t have many nor large helpings, you see; but isn’t it comforting to know that you can eat these things?  Maybe some meal you would rather have a 350-calorie piece of luscious pie, with a delicious 150-calorie tablespoonful of whipped cream on it, than all the succulent vegetables Luther Burbank could grow in California.

My idea of heaven is a place with me and mine on a cloud of whipped cream.

[Sidenote:  You Registered Too High]

Now that you know you can have the things you like, proceed to make your menus containing very little of them.