It's been five full days on the diet, and I am feeling very good. In a couple of ways, I have it easier than Medina. I am working at home these days, so that means that I am not around other people or other people's food. That eliminates what I can imagine is a very powerful source of temptation. I can sit at home, and with the exception of food commercials on TV, avoid seeing the kind of food I can't have.

Working at home also means that I can easily schedule time to exercise during the day. I enjoy bike riding, and it is my favorite way to burn extra calories. I'm averaging about an hour of riding and between 10 and 13 miles per day. Hopefully the weather will stay nice and that will remain an option, because it is a lot more fun that walking on the treadmill at the gym.

This first week of dieting has been better than I could have hoped. The food we are eating is fantastic. Also, I can eat as much of the approved food as I want. Those things make it very easy to fight off any cravings that pop into my head. If I start to feel hungry, I eat. If I have a hardcore craving, I try to think about one of the things I can have. That has gotten me through so far.

Perhaps the best part of these first five days has been the noticeable difference on the scale. On the day of the first meeting, I weighed 319 lbs. on our scale at home. This morning, I weighed 305. Even if that scale is not accurate (which is a real possibility) I am losing weight faster than I ever have. That is the best motivation to stick with the diet. My goal is to get to 220. If I can keep up this pace, I'll be there before I know it.