So Close....

Today I weight 149.5 pounds.

That's a pound less than I ever got to on Atkins eating cottage cheese and almonds and guacamole and eggs.

Now I realize I can eat one of those small size bagels with light cream cheese. That's about 180 calories. That plus an apple or coffee and skim milk is 250 calories. It's got some protein and fiber but is really not as filling as a piece of fruit and a bowl of oatmeal.

So I've lost 14.5 pounds since January 6--in under a month.

I should easily get to 15 pounds in a month.

I weighed 143 in graduate school--after I started lifting weights and eating Big Macs afterwards.

That was the first time anyone ever said I had a 'tummy'--even though he meant it in a nice way.

Before that 138 was my normal-skinny weight.

I don't know if I'll get there in the next few months. That's a 25-pound weight loss.

But it would be nice.

Basically, I'm eating about 1500 calories a day. I'll see how far that takes me.

It's not complicated.

• Drink water.
• Eat fruits and vegetables first. (These first two could be called "First, do no harm.")
• Prefer low-fat protein in limited quantities.
• Strictly limit fat and highly-refined or -processed foods.
• Eat regularly (three meals plus three snacks), but eat reasonable portions.
• Don't simply eat when you're hungry. Accept that human beings are almost always hungry, and it's not the end of the world.
• Know how many calories in what you're eating.
• Allow yourself small treats, but limit their size and balance them with healthier choices.
  

These are in order of importance, so you can always start with the easy stuff and see how far that gets you.

Try it. It works. But so does any common sense plan.

--E. R. O'Neill