I’ve been at this for 81 days now – this is Week 12 – and I’m down 25 pounds on the scale. Technically, more than that, but I’ll explain why that number doesn’t tell the whole story.
I’m doing CICO, calories in and calories out, and it’s the best diet I’ve ever been on. It works because I can eat whatever I want as long as I track it honestly. And I do. I weigh my food, I write it down, and I never lie to the spreadsheet. That part is important. You’re not fooling anyone, especially not yourself.
🧮 Daily Numbers
Weight: 237.4 lbs
Calories In: 1483
🍽️ Food Log:
- Sausage McGriddle – 430
- Hash Brown – 140
- Chicken Nuggets (9 Costco, ~9 oz) – 423
- Coke – 140
- Coke – 140
- Ritz Cracker Stack – 210
🧠 What Actually Happened
I don’t usually eat breakfast, but I got hungry around 10:30 and decided to just go for it. Had a McGriddle and a hash brown, and then I got busy. Did some DoorDash deliveries, cleaned the house, and worked on writing.
By the time I stopped moving, it was late afternoon and I threw some nuggets in the air fryer. Had a Coke, did more stuff, had another Coke, and then snacked on some Ritz crackers late at night. I really wanted to eat more, but I didn’t. I just watched TV and went to bed. That’s a win.
🧾 Weekly Strategy
I aim for 1500 calories a day, but I don’t worry about it day by day. I track it weekly – 10,500 calories from Monday to Sunday. If I go over one day, I just adjust later in the week. This approach has kept me consistent without stress.
I’ve gone over my weekly target by a couple hundred calories many times. I’ve gone under a few times too. One week I only hit 1,300 calories because I had a cold. So far this week, I’m about 200 calories over. I might adjust. I might not.
⚖️ That Lying Scale
I hit 240 two weeks ago and I’ve been bouncing around 240 ever since. That used to really throw me off. But now I know better. The number on the scale isn’t the full picture. Water retention, carbs, sodium – all of that can mask real fat loss.
This morning I was at 237.4. Yesterday I was 237.7. But I know my true weight is probably 233 or 232. I could eat clean for a few days, cut out the Cokes, lower carbs and salt, and I’d get a big whoosh. Or I can just wait it out. I’m choosing to wait it out. The math doesn’t lie.
🏃♂️ NEAT Movement Is Enough
I didn’t do a formal workout, but I did DoorDash, cleaned, ran errands – all that NEAT stuff (non-exercise activity thermogenesis). It adds up. Sometimes I use my VR headset to play active games, which is a great burn. I don’t really go on scheduled walks unless I’m walking with someone.
📅 Final Thoughts
Twelve weeks in. Feeling good. The scale’s acting weird, but I’m not stressed. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll keep posting these updates. They won’t all be this long, but it felt right to get this one out as my first. Let’s see what the next few weeks bring.
🧮 Daily Numbers
Weight: 237.4 lbs
Calories In: 1483
🍽️ Food Log:
- Sausage McGriddle – 430
- Hash Brown – 140
- Chicken Nuggets (9 Costco, ~9 oz) – 423
- Coke – 140
- Coke – 140
- Ritz Cracker Stack – 210
🧠 What Actually Happened
I don’t usually eat breakfast, but I got hungry around 10:30 and decided to just go for it. Had a McGriddle and a hash brown, and then I got busy. Did some DoorDash deliveries, cleaned the house, and worked on writing.
By the time I stopped moving, it was late afternoon and I threw some nuggets in the air fryer. Had a Coke, did more stuff, had another Coke, and then snacked on some Ritz crackers late at night. I really wanted to eat more, but I didn’t. I just watched TV and went to bed. That’s a win.
🧾 Weekly Strategy
I aim for 1500 calories a day, but I don’t worry about it day by day. I track it weekly – 10,500 calories from Monday to Sunday. If I go over one day, I just adjust later in the week. This approach has kept me consistent without stress.
I’ve gone over my weekly target by a couple hundred calories many times. I’ve gone under a few times too. One week I only hit 1,300 calories because I had a cold. So far this week, I’m about 200 calories over. I might adjust. I might not.
⚖️ That Lying Scale
I hit 240 two weeks ago and I’ve been bouncing around 240 ever since. That used to really throw me off. But now I know better. The number on the scale isn’t the full picture. Water retention, carbs, sodium – all of that can mask real fat loss.
This morning I was at 237.4. Yesterday I was 237.7. But I know my true weight is probably 233 or 232. I could eat clean for a few days, cut out the Cokes, lower carbs and salt, and I’d get a big whoosh. Or I can just wait it out. I’m choosing to wait it out. The math doesn’t lie.
🏃♂️ NEAT Movement Is Enough
I didn’t do a formal workout, but I did DoorDash, cleaned, ran errands – all that NEAT stuff (non-exercise activity thermogenesis). It adds up. Sometimes I use my VR headset to play active games, which is a great burn. I don’t really go on scheduled walks unless I’m walking with someone.
📅 Final Thoughts
Twelve weeks in. Feeling good. The scale’s acting weird, but I’m not stressed. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll keep posting these updates. They won’t all be this long, but it felt right to get this one out as my first. Let’s see what the next few weeks bring.