The Speculist

No big news to add after the excitement earlier this week. My weight is holding steady at 246 pounds for a total weight less of 51 pounds!

Stephen requested a recap of my methodology and progress.

I started out in January following a strict point system formula based on the Weight Watchers program. This was highly effective, although I quickly found calculating points to be needlessly complex and time-consuming. I switched over to counting calories in February and, over a period of weeks, came upon roughly 2200 calories per day as the optimual trade-off between amount of food consumed and continuing to lose weight. Slowly. In April, I quit counting calories in a formal way and simply tried to match my eating patterns to what had provided success up to that point.

In January, I also started walking on a treadmill every day or riding my bike when weather permitted. I would go a couple or three miles on the treadmill. Since spring, I have put the treadmill in the garage and now spend a lot more time on the bike. I go for one to two hours -- anywhere from 10 to 25 miles depending on the terrain. It's a mountain bike. I prefer the unpaved trials -- which means I don't go as fast (or far) as some.

Additionally, in March I began working on developing a new workout routine based on an older one I did a few years ago using a sledge hammer and, initially, a couple of chairs -- but I now use footstools at my wife's urging. I do intend to disclose the details on it fully at some future date. It promises to have a huge impact on the world.

Here's a visual representation of the first 25 weeks of the program: