Week 5 Report - Entering the Home Stretch

Week 5 is over and done with, and I've found myself dropping back into a more typical Low-Carb lifestyle. The weight loss has all but stopped this week, but looking at the chart, you'll see that key measurements have dropped again. This is empirical evidence that my body is reshaping itself, even as the numbers on the scale haven't changed much.

	Start	Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5	Week 6
*Weight and Body fat taken on a Tanita Body Fat Monitor immediately upon waking.
Weight (lbs)*	216.4	211.0	208.0	205.4	201.4	201.0
Body Fat % *	32.0	31.4	31.0	29.7	28.8	28.5
Waist (inches)	46.5625	45.875	45.75	43.375	45.5	43.875
Hips (inches)	45.875	44.0	43.5	43.6875	43.4375	42.25
Chest (inches)	44.0	43.50	43.0	43.5	43.6875	41.75
SAD (Standing)	12.0	12.0	11.875	11.75	12.0	11.375
SAD (lying down)	11.375	10.25	9.875	10.125	10.5	10.0
Neck (inches)	-	-	15.75	15.75	15.5	15.25

A note about the body fat percentage above... As mentioned at the bottom of
the chart, I use a Tanita Body Fat Monitor I bought more than than ten years ago (only on its third set of batteries, incidentally). It is notorious for over-estimating body fat when you're dehydrated, which of course you are first thing in the morning. I've read that the percentage can swing as much as 4% throughout the day. However, the nice thing about estimating high is that you know it's a worst-case scenario.

Assuming the 28.5% number is valid, it puts my lean body mass at roughly 144 lbs. Using 15% as the maximum healthy body fat for an adult male and solving for weight, my target body weight comes out to approximately 170 lbs. At the beginning of 2009, I was 231, so I'm halfway to my goal.

I bought a new belt this week and am about to move to another notch. My last too-small dress shirt once again fits perfectly, but I have another wardrobe problem. My suit jackets and sport coats are all too big. I guess I'll have to call Jos. A Bank and see how much it'll cost to tailor them.

On a positive note, I do have two pair of Levi shorts that have been too tight for a long time. They fit now, and will be the staple of my wardrobe for next week's family trip to Walt Disney World.

This is also the week I'm supposed to get my blood work done. I've signed up for a complete lipid panel. Hopefully the results will be here before I leave next Thursday.

One last thing, concerning the upcoming WDW trip. We're going during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival and will be staying at the new Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort. I have already decided that during this trip I will eat just about anything and everything offered to me, and that includes every dessert I can get my hands on. I'm looking forward to all of good eats that WDW has to offer: cheddar soup at the Canada pavilion; Tutto Italia's cinnamon cheesecake; Germany's apple strudel with vanilla cream sauce; Mickey Waffles at Ohana; and definitely the all-you-can-eat Canyon Skillet at Whispering Canyon.

I fully expect to come back heavier than I am now, and will report upon my return. On the other hand, it is estimated that people walk anywhere from 5-10 miles per day there, so maybe most of it will burn off. We'll see. Wish me well.