It's been nearly a year since I began intermittent fasting. Reflecting on this past year and the changes that have occurred, I am truly amazed. 

I go over everything with you in detail in today's video, including the rather surprising weight loss. This video and blogpost is intended for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to be medical advice. If you are interested in trying intermittent fasting, do seek the consult of your physician first. 

I will not write a lengthy blogpost for this topic, as the video is somewhat long... Here are the time stamps if you wish to skip ahead... or focus on a particular subject: 

⚜️ Time Stamps 0:00 Introduction 1:06 Disclaimer 1:32 Why IF 2:50 My weight history 7:50 No deprivation 8:48 16:8 method 10:13 How long until results? 11:12 Keto? (Hint: no) 12:20 What I weigh now 14:28 Will I keep losing weight? 15:19 Other benefits 17:11 One change I've made 18:20 More benefits 21:20 Yor questions 26:40 Conclusion

For all of the details, make sure you watch today's video. If you have any questions or requests, please leave them in the comments below for a follow-up video. 

⚜️Recommended Resources

The Obesity Code by Dr. Fung

Delay, Don't Deny by Gin Stephens (not by a doctor, but an interesting read)

*Added note: For exercise, I continue to walk and use the rebounder. I forgot to address exercise in today's video. 

News

📍I have released a new line of beautiful and affordable digital art through Teespring. Check out these beautiful Parisian Cityscapes. A 3-pack of artwork is only $2.99. Print them and frame them for easy and elegant artwork in your own home. A Parisian Monuments 3-pack is also available. 

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Comment of the Week

Lynn from SoCal writes, "Hi Jennifer, your cleaning videos always make me want to clean. Thank you for the inspiration!

I have been struggling with knee pain and fatigue lately so the cleaning has been put on the back burner (luckily, I live alone so only I have to see the dirt).

Under normal circumstances when I struggle to get the motivation to clean, I put on some fast-paced music (or even Bach's Cello Suite No 1 in G Major - this always gets me going)and mix myself a cocktail. For some reason, a cocktail always makes cleaning more fun!"

Hi Lynn, I hope your knee pain subsides soon! I agree with the music and the special treat! I have never cleaned with a cocktail, but it sounds fancy!

I hope you enjoyed today's video. If you have any questions about intermittent fasting that you'd like me to address in a future video, please leave them in the comments. Have a wonderful weekend.

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Chic Assignment no. 1 Rachmaninoff Prelude in C Sharp Minor (Op. 3 No. 2) 

This month we listened to Rachmaninoff's Prelude in c sharp minor (Op. 3 no. 2) performed by Rousseau. Today, I am sharing ten interesting facts about Rachmaninoff's life from Classic FM.   

  

Presentable sleepwear: I'm always surprised by the responses I get from women who write to me about this subject. I get comments that range from, "Who needs presentable sleepwear? I sleep naked!" (TMI) to "Why should anyone care what I wear to bed?" to "I have worn sloppy pajamas for years and I want to look presentable at home." One thing is for sure, the concept of presentable sleepwear gets people thinking. 

In my presentable sleepwear videos over the past year, I have presented many lesser known sleepwear brands to you. My goal with this is to provide an alternative to Victoria's Secret and the other standard mall brands that most of us are familiar with. I enjoy discovering these smaller niche sleepwear brands that are really passionate about making beautiful and functional sleepwear for women.

⚜️ Recommended Sleepwear brands

NEIWAI sleepwear JS10 for 10% off Lilysilk Chic pajama set Daily12 for 12% off Montelle Intimates Bust-Support Chemise SELFLOVE20 20% off

Fleur't Intimates COZY20 (20% off)

Lusomé Sleepwear LUSOME20 - 20% off

Rya collection RYA15 for 15% off Plush Necessities robes Jennifer's budget Sleepwear Store on Amazon Jennifer's slipper recommendations on Amazon

In wearing the various styles over the past year I have made some discoveries about myself. This will ring true for me and you might relate or you might not. But I'd love for you to think about what sleepwear style you prefer to wear to bed. 

I have discovered I am definitely a nightgown girl. I love nightgowns. If I had to choose just one style to sleep in for the rest of my life,  the nightgown would be it. They are free and not restrictive. They are beautiful and feminine, and they can be layered to keep me warm or I can take the layers off if I get too hot under the covers. 

Surprisingly, my favorite piece for winter out of the sleepwear I've tried was this Lusomé Lucienne nightdress (LUSOME20 for 20% off). I'm not sure why I was surprised by this. Maybe because this nightgown is very unassuming. It's very plain. It has a v-neck and 3/4 sleeves with lace trim. Here's what I like about it: it's comfortable (mine is actually a size too big, which I don't mind too much for sleepwear), it has that Xirotex moisture wicking technology so I don't perspire at night in this dress, I like the longer sleeves for winter but I don't get too hot under the covers like I do with heavier pajama sets. All-in-all, this nightgown is perfect! I could wear one in each color and call it a day. I really enjoy analyzing what I like to wear the most in any given category. That helps me make smarter purchases going forward. If I were to purchase a new pajama, it would likely be the Lucienne nightdress from Lusomè in a lighter color like grey or blue. 

As the spring and summer approach, however, I might not want 3/4 sleeves. I really enjoy wearing the Montelle Intimates chemises (SELFLOVE20 for 20% off) because they are pretty and feminine and keep me cool. They are a bit too skimpy to wear around the house, however, so I either wear them with a robe, such as the Plush Necessities spa robe, or I will wear them with this cropped ballet sweater from Morning Lavender. Sometimes I'll be cold and go to bed with the sweater on and then I'll get hot and take it off. 

As for the pajama sets, the Lilysilk set really has performed well. It's a beautiful and chic pajama set (code DAILY12 gives 12% off), washes well, and hasn't shrunk. The silk keeps me cool but the coverage keeps me warm when I am out of the bed. I love their silk nightgown too, but I have to put that in the tumble dryer otherwise it gets wrinkled when I just hang it on the line

A solution to staying warm in your sleepwear (as well as daywear) is adding a layer of thermal underwear. This set by NEIWAI (JS10 for 10% off) is so soft and warm. This is a great solution for chilly winter nights. 

The Classic Form-fitting Thermal Underwear Set from Neiwai's classic collection is made using a special blend of WARM MATCH® fabric and TENCEL™ Modal for a garment that’s lightweight, absorbent, and retains body heat without the wearer getting too stuffy.

Here are the features of this thermal underwear:

● Shallow V streamlined neckline and nearly invisible bottom hem

● No side seams for a chic, slimmer look and more comfort when lying down

● High-waist pants that are just the right length to be easy to wear with socks and boots.

I am doing a giveaway for the NEIWAI cozy pajamas (JS10 for 10% off). They are sold as separates with both top and bottom. Enter on the YouTube channel by leaving a comment under the video (you must be a subscriber). The Neiwai classic cozy pajama details are as follows:

• Lightweight & refined pajamas with a light gloss sheen, designed for more restful sleep.
• Classic style with French lapels, a small chest pocket, and color-matched buttons. 
• MellowSilk® is a fabric blend that combines TENCEL™ Modal with materials extracted from cashmere & other fabrics, woven to be satiny-soft and elastic. The outcome is a lovely texture, reminiscent of cashmere and silk.

These pajamas are ultra high quality, like the others I have featured. I'll be reviewing their Barely Zero bra in an upcoming video. 

I hope you enjoyed today's video. 

News

I hope you enjoyed today's video. Is there a habit I discussed today that you would like to cultivate this year? Let us know in the comments below and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog. 

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Comment of the Week

GypsygirlA2 writes, "If you clean as you go, then the mess will never show".... ~ my grandma. Love your style and this video! Have a great day!"

I love your grandmother's saying. She's right! I'm working on it :)

Thank you for watching today's sleepwear video. I would love to know what type of sleepwear you prefer to wear.

NEW* Join The Chic Society on YouTube and become a member of The Daily Connoisseur.

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In today's video I'm sharing ten habits that have changed my life for the better and have set me up for success. 

One of this month's Chic Assignments is to cultivate a good habit. I thought I'd share ten habits that have improved my life for the better so we can keep the discussion going. 

I highly recommend reading the book, Atomic Habits, by James Clear. This book has put so much into perspective for me. I realized why some parts of my life are successful... and others aren't. It's all about my habits. Let's look on the bright side today as I share the good habits I've cultivated over the years. 

🌿Habit #1 Wake-up Early I started this habit around 13 years ago when I became serious about becoming a writer and I'm so thankful I did. Of course, there have been exceptions over the years (like when I have a baby), but generally I wake up between 5:00 am and 6:00 am. I even did this before I had children. Waking up early sets me up for success each day and if I ever oversleep my alarm or wake up with the kids on a busy weekday, I always regret it. 

🌿Habit #2 Setting Up the Homeschool Room the Night Before Yes, there are other things I prepare for the night before, but this particular habit, helps the following day run much smoother. We tidy up the room when we are finished with school, but at night I go over the lessons for the next day and lay out all of the school work at their desks. That way, they can get started without me, if necessary, and there is no confusion about what work to do in the morning. On the nights I don't do this, chaos generally reigns the next morning. I realize not everyone homeschools, but if there is something you can prepare the night before to help the next day run smoother, develop a good habit to cultivate that. 

🌿Habit #3 Taking Vitamins I got into the good habit of taking vitamins at the beginning of my first pregnancy, over ten years ago, and have regularly taken vitamins since. I've been taking the Women's 18+ from Ritual for the past year and can personally recommend them to you. They have a lovely mint essence that make them easy to swallow, and never upset my stomach. Thank you to Ritual for sponsoring today's video. Code DAILY10 gives 10% off.

🌿Habit #4 Meal Planning I have experienced life while meal planning and life without meal planning and I can definitely tell you that meal planning makes life easier and keeps us on budget. After the birth of our fourth child I really burned out and didn't meal plan for nearly two years. I relied heavily on meal kits and last-minute dinners. The ironic thing is that meal planning would have made my life easier back then. I now enjoy meal planning. It's fun to try new recipes and keep them mixed in with family favorites. You can check out my What's for Dinner? playlist for more inspiration. 

🌿Habit #5 Ordering Grocery Delivery I resisted this for a long time, but one of my good friends convinced me I had to try online grocery delivery. I took her advice and have never looked back. It can be really stressful to take all of your children to the grocery store, especially if they are little (and especially now in a pandemic). I love ordering my groceries because I save money by not putting extra things in my cart that we don't need. Armed with my meal plan, I am able to save so much time and energy and just focus on actually creating the meals. For those curious, I use Instacart and my personal code gives you $10 off your order JSCOTT70795F190

🌿Habit #6 Intermittent Fasting I do the 16:8 method. Since I started intermittent fasting last year, I have seen a massive improvement in my overall health and wellness. I was able to lose over 20 lbs and settle comfortably at my pre-pregnancy weight from over ten years ago. I also have increased energy, clear skin, and so much more. I'll be doing a one-year update on intermittent fasting in March so I hope you will join me back for that. 

🌿Habit #7 Listening to audio books while cleaning I have an audible subscription and enjoy it so thoroughly. You can also listen to audiobooks free from the library. I'm always listening to a riveting book and the wonderful side effect is that it actually makes me want to clean. I enjoy popping my headphones on in the afternoon and tackling the kitchen or folding laundry. I enjoy escaping into books and since I rarely have time to sit down and read anymore, I can still get my fill of enjoyment from reading.  

🌿Habit #8 Reading living books to the children My boys (ages 4 and 2) are still very young and enjoy the picture books we read to them everyday. With my older daughters (10 and 8) I've gotten into the wonderful habit of reading a chapter from a living book to them each night. I can't stress enough how life-changing this has been for all of us. If you only take one tip away from this video, I hope it's this one. We started with The Wind in the Willows, then read the entire Little House on the Prairie series, The Secret Garden, and now Little Women. I look forward to reading a chapter to them each night. It is such a special bonding time and the benefits of reading living books are too numerous to count. 

🌿Habit #9 Planning (with my planner) I use both a digital and paper planner. I schedule appointments, write down deadlines, and things I need to remember for the kids. I also plan out all of my work and homeschool too. Each day I will write a to-do list that helps me stay on track. Planning properly majorly contributes to my productivity and is a beneficial habit that I do every day. I currently use The Day Designer for my main planner and love it. 

🌿Habit #10 Writing every day My writing mentor, Alan Watt, suggested that I write every day. As a writer, I agree that it is essential. If you don't write every day, you start to slip and, as soon as you know it, you haven't written in a month. Writing every day, whether it is a book, for this blog, or writing poetry, fills my creative cup and keeps me feeling alive. You might not be a writer, but you can certainly find your passion and find time to do it every day. 

News

📍I have released a new line of beautiful and affordable digital art through Teespring. Check out these beautiful Parisian Cityscapes. A 3-pack of artwork is only $2.99. Print them and frame them for easy and elegant artwork in your own home. A Parisian Monuments 3-pack is also available. 

On Instagram

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Comment of the Week

Leslie writes, "Thank you for acknowledging that there really are days we don't feel like cooking. And that doesn't make us bad homemakers."

Hello Leslie, even Madame Chic had days when she relied on prepackaged frozen foods for dinner. It wasn't often, but it definitely happened. The key is to not fret over it and just own that you're going through a burnout. I can totally relate! 

I hope you enjoyed today's video. Is there a habit I discussed today that you would like to cultivate this year? Let us know in the comments below and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog. 

NEW* Join The Chic Society on YouTube and become a member of The Daily Connoisseur.

Visit my newly designed Author Website

Shop my Amazon page for a comprehensive list of my favorite things and mentions on the blog.

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

Instagram @dailyconnoisseur

Take my affordable eCourses on the POISE *NEW course*, debt-free living, and efficiency at home

FTC: This post is sponsored by Ritual. I use affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links.