Edwin Hubbel Chapin
"I want you to eat regularly for two days, then skip a day, and repeat this for two weeks. The next time I see you, you should have lost at least five pounds."
When the elf returned, Santa couldn't believe it. The elf had lost 25 pounds.
"That's incredible !" remarked Santa. "You lost 25 pounds by following my instructions?"
"Yes, exactly as you instructed me", said the elf.
"But on the third day I thought I was going to drop dead !"
"Were you very hungy ?" asked Santa.
"No," replied the elf, "from the skipping !"