Well, here’s my update for August 2, 2025. I went way over my 1500-calorie target yesterday. It was a high-calorie day, no question. But here’s the thing — it wasn’t even in my top five highest days since I started this 12 weeks ago.
I tracked everything honestly. I even recorded a video while eating out at lunch. The food was good, the numbers were real, and I moved on. That’s what matters. Also, if you see a fluffy orange tail in the video, that’s my cat keeping me company. He just needed a little attention today.
📉 Daily Recap
Weight: 236.9 lbs (down 0.5 lbs from yesterday)
Calories In: 2625
Activity: NEAT activity from errands and cleaning
Medication: Prednisone (final day)
🍽️ Food Highlights (Not Exact, But Accounted For)
- Smashburger
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Bread with Butter
- Soup with Cheese
- 2 Cokes
- Chicken Nuggets
- Gelato Sandwich
I didn’t burn fat yesterday. I was close to maintenance. But overall, it’s balanced out. The half-pound drop this morning probably came from shedding a little water weight, not actual fat loss. Still, a downward move is welcome.
🧠 Analysis From ChatGPT
I ran a two-week analysis covering July 21 to August 2.
- Starting weight: 239.3
- Ending weight: 236.9
- Loss: 2.4 lbs over 13 days
- Average daily intake: 1500 calories
- Highest day: August 1 at 2625
- Lowest day: July 21 at 1200
Considering I’ve been on prednisone and still averaged 2.2 pounds per week, that’s excellent. The prednisone clouds the scale and causes water retention, so the real fat loss is likely higher.
🧪 What’s Stalling the Scale?
- Multiple low-calorie days
- Still drinking regular Coke daily (at least 12 oz)
- A few indulgent meals with sodium and carbs
- Fluid retention from medication
It’s not a plateau. I didn’t stop burning fat. I’m still in a deficit. My portions are moderate, my food quality varies, and the math still works. It’s just a stall — not a stop.
🔮 7-Day Projection
ChatGPT predicts that if I stick to 1500 calories per day, I’ll be down another 2 to 2.5 pounds by next Saturday, August 9. That sounds right, but I think it may be more. I’ve been holding onto extra weight, and when that clears, I expect a decent drop.
📊 Full 12-Week Highlights
- Start date: May 12, 2025
- Start weight: 263.0
- Current weight: 236.9
- Total lost: 26.1 lbs
- Weekly average loss: 2.2 lbs
Key Milestones:
- First 10 pounds lost by June 5
- 20 pounds down by July 1
- Hit the 230s on July 13
- Big drop the week of June 23
- Recent bumps from prednisone and restaurant food
📈 Weight Chart
You can see the overall trend is solid. There are bumps, of course. June 1 had a spike after my anniversary dinner. Another one around June 18. That’s all normal. The key is to zoom out. The trend is moving down, and that’s what counts.
💬 Final Thoughts
I’m not chasing perfection. I’m aiming for consistency and honesty. If I eat more one day, I eat a little less another. That’s the balance. I expect to hit 232 sometime next week. When that happens, I’ll know it’s real. For now, I’m just sticking with the plan.
If you’re thinking about trying this, it works. I’ve tried everything. This is the first one I can actually live with. I get to eat what I want, as long as I own the numbers.
We’re heading toward 185. I’ve got a way to go, but we’re trending in the right direction.
Thanks for checking in. See you tomorrow.