How this Fast Diet Lifestyle works: Eat these meals tomorrow, for a calorie total of less than 600. On another day this week, eat the meals from a different post, another day of eating 600 calories or less. Eat sensibly the other days of the week. That’s it: a simple way to lose weight and be healthier. Join me in the Fasting Lifestyle.

“Passing” means living your life as someone you are not, and getting away with it.. The term can be used for people living as a member of another race or of a different sex. Deborah Samson [note original spelling] was born on a subsistence farm in Massachusetts in 1760, one of seven children. Although her parents were descended from the first families of the colony, Deborah’s family was barely scraping by. When she was six years old, her father ‘disappeared at sea’ and never returned — years later, it turned out he was living in Maine with a wife and children. Deborah and her siblings were farmed out to neighbors and at age 10, she became an indentured servant. It can’t have been all bad, since Sampson learned to read and write while in service. When she gained her freedom, Deborah supported herself as a weaver and as a teacher. In 1782, Deborah Samson bound her breasts with linen strips, put on man’s clothing and enlisted in a local militia. [Some say it was for the signing bonus.] Tall, lanky, and plain, Sampson passed easily as ‘Robert Shurtliff’ for 17 months. She served as a scout, observing enemy troop movements, and fought in skirmishes. Once, she received a head wound, but refused medical attention. Another time, when she took a bullet to the leg, she dug it out herself rather than go to the doctor, lest her secret be discovered. Finally an illness caused her to pass out, so she was taken to the medical tent, and the cat was out of the bag. Samson was honorably discharged from the army after her commanding officer vouched for her bravery and service. A year later, Deborah married Benjamin Gannet, and they had three children. Once again, money was tight, so Samson petitioned the Massachusetts government for the stipend paid to veterans, and was granted $2 per month. Then she went on the road, taking her story on a lecture tour, the first woman ever to do so. In the show’s second act, Deborah appeared in her uniform, carrying a rifle. Amazing though her act was, it netted scant revenue, so she applied to the Federal government for back pay and wounded veterans’ benefits. And she got it, with help from powerful friends like Paul Revere — the first woman to receive veteran’s payments. Samson [the ‘p’ was added later] died of yellow fever in 1827. Funny, isn’t it, that as a woman she had no renown, but only seemed of worth when she passed as a man. She proved that women could serve successfully in combat roles, an idea that is currently in doubt in some circles..

Ham and eggs might have been served on the Sampson farm when Deborah was a child. A hearty soup might have been the dinner for soldiers at camp.

Ham Bake: 161 calories… 7 g fat… 1.6 g fiber… 13.5 g protein… 5.5 g carbs… 83.6 mg Calcium…  NB: The food values given above are for the egg bake and fruit only, not the optional beverages. PB GF The baked version of a ham omelette!

++1 two-oz egg ++++ 1 oz 3 %-fat ham from the deli, minced ++++ 1 Tbsp reduced fat ricotta +++ 2 tsp chives/scallion, chopped ++++ 1 tsp Dijon mustard ++++ large pinch of crumbled sage + salt & pepper to taste ++++ 2 oz unsweetened applesauce ++++ Optional: 5 oz fruit smoothie or berry-yogurt smoothie [88 calories] ++++  Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or mocha cafe au lait [65 calories] ++

Spritz an oven-safe dish with non-stick spray and set the toaster oven to 350 F. Vigorously whisk egg, ham, cheese, and seasonings and pour into baking dish. Bake 12-15 minutes until puffed, and set. Portion the fruit, pour the beverages and this will surely be a good day.

Lentil Soup: You can prepare this soup with meat or without. vegan = 136 calories… 0 g fat… 6.6 g fiber… 9.6 g protein… 25.4 g carbs… 48.5 mg Calcium… PB GF non-vegan= 170 calories… 0.5 g fat… 6.6 g fiber… 15 g protein… 27 g carbs… 75 mg Calcium…  PB GF This is how my mother made Lentil Soup, which always followed a few days after a meal of ham. The ham bone would be boiled in 3 quarts water with carrot, celery, and onion. The strained broth would go on to be the basis of the soup. HINT: This recipe makes 12 [twelve] cups of soup. One serving = 1 cup or go up to 1 and 1/2 cups if you have a big appetite.

Vegan Version 12 cups	Non-Vegan Version 12 cups
3 quarts water—-1 pound brown lentils—1 bay leaf—3 sprigs thyme—8 oz tomato sauce—1 cup carrot, chopped—1 cup celery, chopped	3 quarts ham stock—1 pound brown lentils—1 bay leaf—3 sprigs thyme—8 oz tomato sauce—1 cup carrot, chopped—1 cup celery, chopped
Combine ingredients in a stock pot. Bring to a boil, then turn down to simmer for 45 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.	Combine ingredients in a stock pot. Bring to a boil, then turn down and simmer 45 minutes. Add ½ cup diced ham, salt, and pepper..
Save out what you need for dinner, freeze the remainder. Before serving, spoon 1 Tbsp dry sherry into each bowl.	Save out what you need for dinner, freeze the remainder. Before serving, spoon 1 Tbsp dry sherry into each bowl.
	If you don’t have ham to add at the end, dice a hot dog.