Weight loss program guaranteed to work

No, I’m not talking about walking across two states. But this new weight loss program I’ve discovered, quite by accident, is guaranteed to work. If I need to lose two or three pounds in a hurry, this has worked every time. In only a week, up to five pounds can disappear depending upon how well you follow it.

Yes, it does involve a measure of portion control. It does involve some lifting which engages your core as well as your legs, arms, and back. It is important to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night, which gives your body much needed rest.

Here’s the schedule:

Arise at 6:30 A.M. Drink one or two cups of coffee. You’ll need the caffeine. I don’t eat breakfast, but if you do, eat something like yogurt with fruit.

Lunch will consist of a small sandwich.

Dinner/supper will be one serving of whatever you’ve prepared. Nothing fried, no dessert.

No bedtime snack.

So what’s so different about this? Well, it’s what you’re doing in between meals.

No running or aerobics workout or even yoga. No treadmill or walking five miles on an outdoor track.

Then only equipment you need is two toddlers. More if you can handle it, but at least two. By the time you follow them around, push them in swings, lift them up or down, deal with happy times and sometimes frustrated times, read books to them, and whatever else interests them, you will log about 7,000 steps and keep your metabolism revved. You may rest during nap time or you may choose to take care of laundry or other household chores. Once they are down for the night, you can collapse. And you will have some of the best sleep you can imagine, as long as they sleep all night.

You will burn calories singing songs, laughing, kneeling to console when necessary, holding hands, and yes, you might give them a little more Mickey Mouse viewing time than Mom and Dad would like, but…well, there’s still plenty of activity.

Not only will you build muscle, lose weight, and have improved sleep, you’ll create memories that will, for you, last a lifetime. They’ll forget these days if they haven’t already, but you’ll never forget the cute sayings, the sweet hugs, and yes, even the occasional temper tantrum.

Or at least you hope you won’t.

Grandparents’ fitness week or long weekend. It works every time.