How I Stumbled Upon a Weight Loss Secret

Three years ago I stumbled---and I mean that literally---onto a weight loss secret. I was out for my daily walk and I tripped on a curb. I fell, as they say, flat on my face. My hands were buried in my pockets and I couldn't get them out fast enough to break my fall. My mouth was gushing blood and my teeth felt totally out of whack. After a trip to the ER and the local dentist, I had a little wire brace to hold my front teeth stable.

It was a relief to still have my front teeth, but they were really sore and tender. I couldn't bite into anything. Everything I ate had to be cut into bite sized pieces and eaten with a fork. Even pizza. Because of the way I had to eat, I altered my usual lunch menu. Instead of the customary sandwich or over-sized bagel, I ate yogurt and a sliced apple. Everyday I had the same lunch---with a sugarless drink and a few cookies for dessert. For other meals, I ate what I always had, cut into smaller pieces.

Eight months later I had a routine check-up in my doctor's office. The first thing her assistant always does is take your weight---truly a dreaded moment. When I peeked up at the scale I knew it had to be wrong: I had lost 22 pounds without dieting. Really. I searched my brain and could not find anything different about my habits except for the yogurt and apple lunches. Even though my other meals had to be cut to pieces, I still ate the same as I had before. I still ate sweets and snacks.

I don't know if there is some magic in this combination, or if this was an odd coincidence. Only a few of the pounds have caught up with me in the three years since. I don't know how or why this works, but it does work for me and I am sticking with it. Maybe there is more to that apple a day thing than I ever knew.