Today is Thursday, and it is going to be a fast day.  No headache today, so we'll see what it's really like.

I started out with my Mystic Monk coffee, 1 TBS of heavy cream, and a packet of Splenda.  I'll follow the same plan for lunch--2 hard boiled eggs, and an apple, maybe spread out just a bit (and a diet Pepsi).  For dinner, might try the Taco Bell plan--that's an easy 300+ calories for 2 tacos or a bean burrito.

My weight today on the official scale is 230.  That seems high.  My eating last last 2 feast days has been pretty "normal"--nothing outrageous.  The best apples to apples number will be next Monday a.m., especially after a weekend of normal eating.

Ok, the first day was hell, but not because of the fast.  For some reason I got one of my migraine/sinus headaches, probably made worse by the hunger but not really related.  (Probably caused by chinese dinner  night before.)   But I made it through.  Menu was:
--coffee w/1 TBS heavy cream, splenda
--2 hard boiled eggs, 1 apple
--2 Taco Bell crunchy tacos

myfitnesspal shows 595 calories.

Today's weight:  228.5 lbs and I feel great.

I'm planning to fast either Thursday or Friday--I fry fish at a church fish fry on Friday, so that could either be good or bad.  Might try Thursday.

Starting today with fast day.  Trying to plan my meals ahead of time to get to 600 calories, and I've used the app myfitnesspal in the past to track calories.  It's kind of an interesting program--you tell it how much weight you want to lose in a certain amount of time, and it tells you how many calories you have to eat each day to get there.  And it keeps track of the calories you eat as you input them each day.  I tried it a few years ago and the whole "game" of it wears off after awhile.  But its calorie counting feature is cool because it's loaded with just about every food in the universe.  Really makes you think, "are those calories worth it?"

So I started the day off with coffee (Mystic Monk, from the Carmelites in Wyoming) with a TBS of cream (not a big slug) and some splenda.  My plan is 2 hard boiled eggs mid morning, then an apple about lunch time.  For dinner, I've got lots of running to do with kids, so it will have to be something fast food and I need about 300 calories to make my 600.  So a bean burrito from Taco Bell or some Chicken McNuggets will fit that bill.  That's my plan.

Right off the bat I feel pretty yucky.  Headache and light headed.  The coffee wasn't enough to make my body happy.  So I'm going to drink plenty of water, say a lot of Hail Marys, and get through to my hard boiled eggs--which are sounding pretty good right about now.

The official freight scale says 230.5.  So that's where I'm starting the journey.  Destination:  199.

The beginning

So this is where it starts.  I weight 232 pounds on the freight scale at work with shoes on, no iphone, keys or wallet.  I want to weigh less than 200.  If I can get there, I'm buying myself a Porsche or a Bertram 28 fishing boat.  Though given the state of the economy it might have to be a scale model of either.

I am not a dieter.  About 10 years ago I went from 255 to 206 in about 90 days with Atkins.  So in 10 years I've gained about half back--not bad, but I'll be 49 this year and with all the uncertainty about health care for the next 30 years I figure the best way to beat the system is to stay healthy.  I originally lost weight to drop my cholesterol count and bring down my blood pressure.  Those numbers are still decent (though the drug companies are now starting to circle me, getting ready for my mandatory dose of drugs).  But I know for a fact that losing weight is the best way to keep those important numbers in the black zone.

We all need a strategy.  Face it, the food and drug companies know their customers, are hungry for our money and are likely in cahoots.  I read in the Wall Street Journal this week that food companies have crews of scientists and chemists studying how to include addictive compounds in our foods.  Money is king.  In a sense, we are sort of powerless against them, especially if you're like me--proud victim of the Pringles generation.

Think there might be some mind altering, more-addictive-than-crack P & G compounds in those crunchy slices of heaven?

So is the 5-2 a gimmick?  I'm thinking not.  It's a strategy.  To beat the bastards.  So let's see if it works.  Tomorrow is the first fast day.