Measurements One Month (With Photos)

Ok, so it has been one month today since I started the diet, and I wanted to do pictures every month so here they are, before on left and after on right:

Front:

Side:

Back:

And the measurements(before and after):

Weight - 182 <> 175

Body Fat % - 22.4 <> 17.5

Total Inches - 144 <> 143

A few observations:

• I was farther away from the camera in the second shots, so it makes me appear smaller. Even taking that into consideration, I do appear to have lost a little weight, especially in the side shot.
• The large drop in Body Fat % was due to my getting a new scale. I was starting to suspect the old one, so I upgraded. The new one is giving me 4% less body fat than the old one. Does this mean I've lost 5% body fat since I started? I don't think so. The other measurements do seem to indicate I have lost some fat, however, especially when you look at the tape measure. Next month I'll have a more solid body fat benchmark.
• I've mentioned before that I think I am allowing some error to creep into my tape measurements, especially the thigh, which change depending upon how high up the thigh I take the measure. However, I have lost nearly two inches off my waist, and added at least some mass to my thighs, so I think I can trust that my body fat % has improved.
• If you want to sell scales, make one that lies to you. I am extremely satisfied with my new scale simply because the readings are better.
• Great diet so far! I only cheated once last month, so it's very easy to stay on the program. I haven't been hungry after the first week, and the things I thought I would miss I haven't.
• On to month two!

The Healer's Wife Part 4 of 7

She had discovered the truth five years ago, the terrifying truth of the price he paid for the use of his gift. The clues had always been there. Afterward, she was amazed she had failed to see them earlier. He had always been a quiet man, not one to talk or dwell on the past. She now knew why.

"You must stop," she said. "You must stop immediately."

"How can I?" he replied. "How can I turn people away knowing I can help them?"

"What of yourself? What of us?"

He turned his face from her, and she balled her hands into fists and beat them upon his chest, beat until her gasping sobs sapped her strength. He held her then, held her until her crying abated, until she had the strength to push herself away and look at him. His face was no longer turned.

"I will never give you up," he said.

"Never?" She hugged him close, whispered in his ear. "But you will. One day you will."

He drew her away, raised her chin with gentle fingers. "Promise me," she said before he could speak. "Promise me, and I'll believe you."

"I promise," he said, and there in his arms she allowed herself to believe.

The Healer's Wife Part 3 of 7

The man stood in the sunlight hugging his daughter to his chest. He had not attempted to climb the steps, nor had he tried to speak to her again. Why did he not just go away? Fear began to rise in her chest, a small bird beating its wings against her ribs. He was waiting for her husband. He would be home soon.

She was not a cruel woman, but panic drover her to her feet. "You must leave," she said. "You cannot remain here." The father ignored her, did not turn to face her. "Leave now, or I shall call the constable."

He turned then and she saw in his eyes that he would not leave. Of course he wouldn't. His daughter was dying.

"There's need of a constable?"

Both turned to the sound of the new voice. Her husband was approaching from the street, walking in his long, comfortable strides. The man rushed to his side.

"Please, sir. My daughter. You must help her. She's..."

Her husband lifted a hand to silence the man, then drew back the blanket that covered the child's face. For long moments he stood studying her before lowering the blanket. "Bring her inside," he said.

The man hurried to comply, bounding up the steps and passing through the open doorway. Her husband moved to follow, but before he could pass she grabbed his elbow and pulled him aside. He winced at the strength of her grip, and she smoothed the cloth of his shirtsleeve. "You promised," she whispered. "Remember your word."

He reached over and patted her hand, allowing his to rest momentarily upon hers. It was warm and comforting. "It does no harm to examine her. It may be that she is beyond my care."

She turned her hand and gripped his fingers. "Then why look?" she asked.

He smiled at her, and in that smile she saw his decision, the life they shared coming to a close. He withdrew his hand and wiped a tear from her cheek. He kissed her then, lightly, before passing through the doorway, his form swallowed by the shadows of the house.

The Healer's Wife Part 2 of 7

They had known each other since childhood, he the son of a stonecutter, she the daughter of a local merchant. She had always known they would marry, but had been forced to wait many years before he finally came to the same conclusion. During that time, he struggled as a stonecutter's apprentice, showing little aptitude for the shaping of stone, for the cutting of cornices or the splitting of rock. She feared they would starve, or worse, be forced to live on her father's dowry, until one day he discovered his talent. Much to her father's dissatisfaction, her husband proved to be a wizard, one adept in the healing arts.

They were married, and moved into a house on the poorer side of town. As word spread, people brought their sick and he healed them. He never set a price, choosing rather to accept whatever was offered. They made enough to feed themselves and their newborn son, but they were never in danger of growing wealthy. It made her angry. The established wizards uptown lived comfortable lives in expensive homes. Why could they not live as those wizards? One day she asked him.

"These people cannot afford to pay the other wizards," he explained. "They have nowhere else to turn but to us." It was the end of the argument. She never brought it up again.

Though they were poor, they were happy, and would have gladly lived their lives in that place had not word of mouth brought the attention of the established wizards. Although her husband only served those who could not afford to pay their fees, they saw him as a danger to their monopoly, and so the threats began. When it became apparent that threats wouldn't suffice, their son fell ill to a mysterious affliction and the message was understood. They moved to the coast, away from the city and the corruption it fostered. The boy recovered, and world spread throughout the coastal towns of the healer moved into their midst. They settled and raised a family. Their child grew into a young man, married, and moved away to start a family of his own. Life fell into a pattern. They grew old together.

The Healer's Wife Part 1 of 7

She was on the porch when he arrived, a sick child in his arms. She didn't recognize the man. He was not of the town, nor was he one of the regular migrant workers who passed by seasonally trailing family behind them as they chased the cycles of harvest up and down the coastline. No, she'd never seen this man before, but she knew why he approached, knew what he carried in his arms, recognize the tight, frightened look on his face.

"He's not here," she said as the man drew close, halting him before he could place foot upon the low step.

He squinted in the sun, gazing up to where she sat in the cool shade. Fine dirt clung to his pants and work boots. It settled like powdered cinnamon upon his face and shoulders, dusted the dark bundle he held in his arms. "She's sick," he said, "my daughter." He held her forward as if to offer proof. Two small feet hung limp below the blanket, gray toes in the morning sunlight. "I was told--"

"It doesn't matter what you were told," said the woman. "He's not here."

The man took a step forward, desperation creeping into his voice. "But he must look. She's sick! She will die!"

The woman sat unmoving in her chair. "I'm sorry. My husband's retired. You must leave."

Diet Measurements Week 3

Considering all I ate yesterday, this isn't too bad. The pants are fitting a little looser.

Weight - 176.6

Body Fat % - 21.5

Total Inches - 142.25

Ah Saturday!

Saturday is my free day. I have no diet restrictions on Saturday, no workout, no job responsibilities(usually), no agenda. If I want to eat a gallon of Hagan Daz and drink a barrel of beer, sugar coma and alcohol poisoning here I come! I can even sleep in if I want, although my dog has made my alarm clock obsolete. Anyone who says you can't feel a stare has never had a Labrador retriever using mind control on you from the corner of the bed.

Get up. Get up. Feed me. Feed me. Get up. Get up.

So anyway, Saturday has become a shining beacon on a hill, a place I strive to reach during the week. When I feel weak, I stare at my beans and vegetables and think about the pizza and chocolate ice cream I have squirreled away in the freezer. Just get to Saturday. Just make it to Saturday. Saturday will make everything better. Saturday. Saturday. Saturday...

Sunday it's back to the grind, but shhhh, don't think of that now. For now, baby, for today, it's just you and me. Just you and me, Saturday. Just you and me.

And ice cream.