With this being my ninth day on the Longevity Diet I am getting stronger and more adept at adhering to calorie restriction throughout the day and finding the time and energy for exercise.

I started the day with a 40 minute walk that included jogging for two segments on my route.  Then I dashed to the lab to get my blood work done - I requested a lipid panel, cortisol and thyroid tests.

During the day I felt a bit hungry on two occassions so I drank Rooibos tea to overcome the urge to eat.  Rooibos is an herbal tea that is naturally caffeine free and high in antioxidants; I figured this was a great way to get filled up on zero calories especially since I love the taste of the tea.  

In addition, a friend invited me to happy hour at a local restaurant after work.  I enthusiastically agreed and then panicked about what on earth I could eat at this high calorie restaurant.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that they post their menus on-line including nutrition information.  This gave me a signficant strategic advantage.  I decided what I was going to eat ahead of time based on the calorie count.  I ordered chicken lettuce wraps and steamed pork dumplings and only ate two of each.  I was more than satisfied and stayed within my calorie limit for the day.  And, again - no wine or alcohol of any sort.  I saved on calories, cash and brain cells!