This picture is unrelated.

I have completed my first month on Tim Ferriss‘ Slow-Carb Diet. For the past month I’ve been eating nothing but beans, meat and veggies – with a cheat day once a week. I’ve done my best to adhere to the program as rigidly as possible. In the first two weeks I had to forgo a cheat day for two cheat meals spread out between 15 days. The first was 5 days in and the second was three days after that. The only other times I intentionally deviated from the plan were when my friend wanted me to try the beer we brewed together (I had about six ounces) and when I had about 5 pieces of popcorn. In combination with the diet, I’ve been taking cold showers every day and putting an ice pack on my back for 30-60 minutes about 4 or 5 nights a week. I have also been following the training schedule I designed a few weeks ago (I just finished week 7 – though the plan has been modified a bit again).

In the past month, I lost 9.5 lbs Technically, I lost 11.5 lbs of fat and gained 2.1 lbs. of muscle (or according to a different body fat measurement calculation, I lost 9.6 lbs of fat and gained .2 lbs of muscle). All I know is, my clothes are much looser and I’m comfortably on the last notch in my belt. By comfortably, I mean I put my belt on that notch and not even think about it. I don’t have to suck it in to get there. Oh, and my wife keeps looking at me and telling me I look good, so I’ve got her vote (and what other vote do I need?).

Today, my official weigh in for the week was 182.4 lbs. This is only 0.2 lbs less than last week, but I’m not too worried. Yesterday I weighed in at 179.4 lbs after a 7 mile run. I was doing great last week until yesterday afternoon, where I went to an all-you-can-eat Indian buffet and ate all-I-could-eat. Then I stayed up until 3:30 in the morning, and got up about 9:30 this morning. I knew it wasn’t going to be a great weigh in today, but that just means my losses this week will be even greater.

Today was a beast of a cheat day. Even before I had breakfast I had some candy, then I had a burger and fries for lunch, and then my wife and I hosted an Oscar party, where we ate our fill and then ate some more. This is definitely one of those cheat days that make you not want to eat crappy food for awhile. I’ll be happy to hit up some eggs, kraut and beans tomorrow morning.

My plan was to try out this diet for one month and follow it as closely as possible. Having done so, I weigh less now than I have in the last 4 years – maybe more. I always thought 185 lbs was where my body plateaued, but now I’m 182 and dropping. And the times I got to 185, I worked out six days a week for about two months straight. This time I got there in two weeks.

This diet definitely works for me, and I like following it. I do miss options, and I’m still trying to feel less awkward when people want to meet for dinner or drinks on my regular days, but I’m working it out pretty well. I am going to add beer back into the diet (Tim allows a glass of wine or two a night) but this isn’t something that will be every day, more like when I’m out with friends or unwinding after a long day.

See also: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3