It’s occurred to me recently that people I know or hear of, often have seemingly good ideas. It’s also occurred to me that many of these “good ideas” are seemingly not for me. Some of them are so “seemingly not for me” that I think I’d still be opposed even if threatened with a gun. I’m going to present examples here now.

The first is the concept of a 72-hour fast. Yes, there are people who are withholding food (not water) from themselves for a 72-hour period. It’s purported to be an exercise in promoting health, weight loss, and detoxification of the body.

I give the first Sunday of the month “skip two meals, and give money for the poor, Latter-Day Saint church fast” a half-decent try most months. I usually feel like a wet noodle and have a headache by the time I break my fast. So that doesn’t give me a lot of motivation for an extended fast.

I know friends and family who have done this 72-hour deal. They don’t seem to be any worse for wear for having done it. Some represent that it’s been a positive thing and have done it more than once. Some say that diseases can be counteracted through fasting like that.

I say, talk to your health professional before you try it. I also say, withholding myself from chocolate, soda pop, and chips for three days would be a Herculean task for me.

Speaking of soda pop, here’s my second example. I am actually trying something that I said I would not do. So, this, in fact, goes against the premise that I often oppose many seemingly good ideas.

A friend of my wife told her that since she’s restricted her intake of aspartame, the sweetener in so many “diet drinks and foods,” she’s felt better. The friend’s aches and pains have lessened significantly. The theory is that aspartame contributes to pain in the joints.

So, in consequence of my incessant complaining about my aches and pains (I should have kept my mouth shut), my wife suggested multiple times that I try giving up aspartame for a while. I didn’t want to do it.

But, when I found myself contemplating buying stock in the companies that make Advil and Tylenol, I decided “what the heck,” I’ll give it a try. The hard part was giving up my favorite no sugar sodas. I’d become fond of Dr. Pepper & Cream along with many others.

And, I know. I know. I know – that soda pop in general isn’t a healthy choice. And, I know. I know. I know – that too much sugar in a diet isn’t a good thing. I also know – that I’m now really enjoying the occasional full sugar soda pop after largely being away from it for years.

I didn’t tell my wife at first that I was taking her suggestion. What if her friend was right and my wife’s suggestion was a good, valid, life changing recommendation. That would be embarrassing after having been stubborn about the whole thing.

But I hasten to say that my wife can be stubborn about things too. For example, she won’t taste Dr. Pepper soda pop. Her reason – she might like it. She loves Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, but she won’t try Reese’s Pieces. Why? She might like them. (She doesn’t want to add any more sugary unhealthy “likes” to her list of “likes.”)

So, you’re probably wondering, what’s the verdict on my “aspartame fast?” My research gives me mixed results on the actual benefits. I don’t see clear-cut studies and evidence one way or the other.

However, and this is hard for me to admit. I do feel like I’m feeling noticeable improvement of my proverbial aches and pains. I’m taking significantly less pain relievers. So yes, I concede. My wife’s suggestion seems like it had merit.

Now, whether this is real or imagined, I guess it doesn’t matter. It may be a case of an object of reluctant faith. I’ve been at it for several months now. I’ll continue to monitor things.

If you can make the leap of the connection, like I can, my situation may be in the same league of the old joke that Woody Allen told in the movie Annie Hall — “…you know, a guy walks into a psychiatrist’s office and says, hey doc, my brother’s crazy! He thinks he’s a chicken. Then the doc says, why don’t you turn him in? Then the guy says, I would, but I need the eggs.”

Now, let me end with a disclaimer. I am not a doctor, medical advisor, dietitian, nutritionist, Native American medicine man, chiropractor, pharmacist, water witch, sugar cane farmer, soda pop bottler, spokesman for any church, tarot card reader, or most any other thing you can think of. Also, no animals were harmed in the writing of this column. — Merrill

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