C.H.I.P.

Today is the first day of the jump start for the Coronary Health Improvement Program. I had steel cut oatmeal and a banana and blueberries for breakfast. Lacking creativity, I had the same thing for lunch but it was not as satisfying. I only have two days of eating only grains and fruit and I am so glad. I went to the store and got some grapefruit and oranges and fresh pineapple. I also got some Bob's Red Mill 6 grain hot cereal. I am not feeling very enthusiastic about this but I can do it for two days. I would season the grains creatively but I don't really have a clue. Salt is verbotten as well as sugar. Perhaps garlic and ginger?

Fasting in the 2010s

When I got up (late) this morning, I didn't turn on the TV. It was nice and quiet and I decided to fast from electronics: no TV, no computer, no electronic games, no cell phone. I didn't fast all day long--just until about 3:00. This is what fasting is for me. I never understood or got value from fasting as a Muslim. It was stressful and ultimately made me sick. But fasting from electronics was peaceful. I read and was quiet. I'm going to do it again, perhaps when Jim is off in Crestwood, perhaps sooner.

I've started reading Karen Armstrong's The Case for God. I have been reading only fantasy and science fiction for a long time; I doubted I'd be able to read something serious. But with the electronic fast, my mind was quiet enough to become immersed in it. I wonder if being vegetarian helped clear my mind, too.