Today, I broke my fast at 9 a.m. after 36 hours. The fasting didn’t make me hungrier than usual. I had a two-egg scramble with asparagus, Brussels sprouts, chickpeas, and cheddar cheese, and some fresh mozzarella and strawberries on the side. I wanted to replenish my body with rich protein and vitamins. I also had a cafe latte spiced with cinnamon, which helps to lower blood sugar and prevent weight gain.

I started getting a headache around 18 hours after starting the fast. Although the headache was minor, it persisted for a day. A 12-hour fast helps to not gain weight, while a 16- or longer-hour fast helps to lose weight. To prevent headaches, I will proceed with the 16/8 intermittent fasting schedule, eating only within an 8-hour daily window, occasionally. I have been doing the 12-hour fast daily for two weeks – no snacking after dinner.

Since 2019 began, I have been meditating, exercising, and writing every day, and cooking at home most days. In the past two weeks, my weight is down from 53kg (117 lbs) to 51kg (112 lbs). Today’s weight is after the 36-hour fast, so I expect it to go up a bit. Because my focus is forming a habit, not reaching a specific weight loss goal, I do not weigh myself every day.

Although I am not motivated every day, I have been able to stick to my New Year’s Resolutions. The biggest help behind my success so far is social media. I do not want to see empty days on my Facebook page or blogs. I also compete with my hubby, who keeps track of his New Year’s Resolutions on a whiteboard where he draws stars after completing his activities.

Benjamin Hardy, the author of “Willpower Doesn’t Work,” emphasizes creating the right environment to nudge you to act toward your goals. Our environment forms our lives, but we also have the power to change our environment. Even minor change in our environment can lead to big changes in our minds and eventually in our lives.

He also suggests that pessimism leads to a victim mentality while optimism spurs us to take charge of our own lives. Despite the uncertainty of the future, we need to believe in ourselves in order to change ourselves and achieve our goals. Uncertainty is scary, but also exciting. If we do nothing, it is almost certain that nothing will happen. If we do something, we have a chance for the change we want.

Here is the gist of what I learned about creating a positive environment for positive change from Benjamin Hardy’s book:

1. Share your goals and progress on social media. Creating social pressure will help you stick to your goals.
2. Set a morning routine around the most important things. Focus on your priorities.
3. Stay close to positive people. Stay clear of negative people. The people you spend your time with will change the way you think and the way you live.

I set midnight as my deadline for my One Thing for Me a Day project. The time stamp of each post pushes me to finish writing by the deadline. Although nothing is certain, I know that writing regularly is key to growing as a writer. So, I will continue!

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