Week 5.

Weight: 210

Waist: 42
Hips: 38 1/4"
Arms:
Left: 13.75"
Right: 14"
Legs
Left: 23"
Right: 23"

Adding a new measurement because I carry a lot of fat here:
Chest: 44 1/4"

Ok. The weight is very disappointing. I stuck to the diet this week, even started eating right after I got up since I wasn't eating an hour after waking. I guess I'll go back to my usual - more manageable for me - eating breakfast when I get to work.

The good part is that I did lose almost two inches around my chest, clothes fit better, and people are noticing.

On the workout front - worked out twice, same routine (3x25 25# kettle bell swings, back arches, and balancing.) One more week of this work out and then I'll change it up.

Week 4

Week four down. I will be changing up the diet a bit this week. Three weeks of 3-bean salad/tuna-bean salads have hit my bean salad threshold. Will find a couple of other recipes for the next three weeks to replace them.

On to the numbers:
Weight: 211!!!

Waist: 42
Hips: 39
Arms:
Left: 14"
Right: 14"
Legs
Left: 23 1/4"
Right: 23 1/4"

Adding a new measurement because I carry a lot of fat here:
Chest: 46"

I am pretty sure I suck at taking my own measurements, but as long as the scale is easy to read all is good. I was a bit down thinking I wouldn't see much advance this week, and lo and behold I lost 4 pounds. Pretty awesome. I can tell my shirts fit better and I feel better, which is what matters.

On to celebrate Cheat Day.

Week 3.

Computer was down earlier, so was unable to post at the top of cheat day. Let's get to it:

Weight: 215

Waist: 42"

Hips: 39 1/2"

Arms:
Left: 13 3/4
Right: 13 3/4

Legs
Left: 23 1/2
Right: 23 1/2

10 pounds in three weeks. Not too shabby. I started working out in earnest, followed the diet quite closely, and do allow myself 3 sugars and 2 tsp of cream daily in my coffee. So I'm good with this. The bottom line is that I feel 100% better, have more energy, and have little to no cravings for sugar, sweets, or just food.

Even today, for cheat day, I am just not that hungry. I did indulge in cheese in the morning omelete, Starbucks orange, mango, banana smoothie, and strawberry malt. And sushi. Hm ... sushi ...

Biking and working out

Tuesday diet was great. Even went out to dinner because power was out and stayed on track.

Work-out: 3 sets of 25 rep 25# barbell swings, with a set of 10 back arches and 10 flying dogs - holding each for 4 counts - between each of the swing sets.

Wednesday: food schedule got off track early on. Traffic made me late and didn't have breakfast until 10,, and I wasn't hungry by the time I left for a training session. Got out at 3:30 famished and was going on a bike ride. Cheated, grabbed two chicken wraps at McD - grilled, no cheese. Figured the 15 mile bike ride that followed combined with the lack of food would offset any damage.

Dinner picture below. Turkey tacos with beans over spinach and half an avocado. Very tasty.

Sunday

Taking Sunday as a transition day. Had brunch with friends, was good in what I ordered (omelette with tomato, spinach, bacon) but I did keep the cheese. Again—not gonna do this if it makes me feel deprived.

Afterwards went on an almost 27-mile bicycle ride. First long ride on my new bike, shooting for a 100-mile ride by end if summer. The last 5 or 6 miles were tough, very little energy. Had A Starbucks orange/mango/banana smoothie with matcha (they also add protein). I figured a power ride like this counts as strenuous exercise to allow the carbs.

Dinner was my favorite of this diet: herb-crusted salmon over braised kale and black beans.

Also prepared several meals for the week, including the super tasty bean and tuna salad and 3-bean salad.

Photo: cheat day

Proper way to end cheat day: strawberry malt at Red Robin.

Week Two.

Cheat day. I've been waiting for this day. Bread and cheese are high on the list.

First, measurements.

Weight: 218 lbs.

Waist: 43

Hip: 38 3/4

Arms:
Left: 13 7/8"
Right: 13 7/8"

Legs:
Left: 22 1/4"

Right: 22 1/2"

Ok. That's disappointing. Other than an ingredient here or there at one meal, I followed the diet regimen very close. I am also surprised at the waist. Of all the measurements, it's the one that I know I'm doing correctly, and it went up by an inch. Well, the important thing is that I feel better and some folks have already commented on my appearance. So I'll stick with it. I just hope next week has different results.

Friday

Not many updates as it turns out to be very much of the same. Experienced several challenges this week as far as sticking to the diet 100%. Wednesday had an appointment at 8:00 pm at a Starbucks. Because of late food, I wasn't hungry earlier so wound up starving while at Starbucks. Ordered a protein box for the hard boiled egg, nibbled on the cheese, a touch of bread with PB and honey ... argh! So hungry and wouldn't be home until late. Wound up tossing the rest (fruit, bread, PB) and feeling guilty for the rest of the week. Thursday was great, ate the right foods. At dinner, however, kept the feta cheese in the salad and unbeknownst to me, there were figs in it. I decided early on that I would not punish myself for little indiscretions. Today I adhered to the diet, and it was the first day I worked out, which felt great. The gym has no kettle bells, but the dumbbells they have work just fine. Did 20 practice lifts and 2-25 rep sets of the swings. In between, did 20 sets of flying dog and 20 glute activation raises. Weigh-in first thing in the morning. Let's see how this goes.

Week 2. Rough start.

Starting week 2 was tricky, but a huge lesson in planning was learned and now am back on track. Sunday I had a long audition at night. I ate properly all day, but assumed I'd be able to grab a snack before I went into the audition. Alas, I wound up running late (no big surprise) and had to resort to eating a couple of the snack bars that were provided, a little defeated I had a couple of tacos later in the evening, no cheese but did eat two tortillas. Monday was great, bought food for the whole week and was very excited. One of the side veggie bags I bought, Soycutash, had more corn than anticipated. At night I went out with a friend for tapas and was very aware of what I was ordering and completely skipped the bread. I did realize when I was almost done that one of the dishes contained yogurt. Oi! Tuesday started rushed, so I didn't get a chance to make my own breakfast. The folks at the deli downstairs were great and made me an omelet to order: 3 eggs, avocado, turkey bacon, tomato, ... and something else I'm forgetting. The rest of the meals for the week are well planned and will remain on track.

Sunday dinner

Herb-crusted salmon over greens and 3-bean salad.

Very tasty, will definitely do this again.

One week.

It has been one week since I started the 4HB program in earnest. The only issue was feeling hungry, however that went away by Wednesday. I find that I am not craving sweets or late night snacks like I usually do, and today - cheat day - I don't have this incredible urge to go out there and eat all this stuff I haven't been eating. Cheat day will be most helpful by making it easy to be at auditions all day eating whatever we are provided and going to dinner with friends.

So, how did it go.

Weight: 220 pounds

Arms
Left: 14"
Right: 13 7/8"

Waist: 42 1/2"

Hip: 38 3/4"

Legs
Left: 22 1/2"
Right: 22 1/2"

Total inches: 154 1/8"

Biggest surprise was the weight. Very happy! Even though I had the sugar in my coffee in the morning and one of my meals included corn this week, I still lost five pounds. I am not sure I'm doing the measuring right, the number is smaller so there you go.

I am inspired to continue even more diligently on week 2.