The Four Hour Body: Another update

Hi there,

Some time ago I posted on The Four Hour Body book by Tim Ferriss. Apart from reviewing the book itself, I reported losing a few kg in the first month after starting his Slow Carb diet.

I can now report that I have managed to keep losing weight, and am presently 12 kg lighter than when I first started the diet a little over 4 months ago now. The most rapid weight loss was certainly over the first few weeks, but even though the measured weight loss slowed down after that, my measurements continued to change, so that clothes I had "grown out of" are now fitting again. I am so grateful that I didn't throw out some of my business shirts that had become too tight for me! My newish suit however is starting to look a little baggy.

Apart from the way the diet works, I think the weight loss has also slowed down due to the fact that I am now doing some weight training with a kettle bell, which is resulting in me gaining body weight through muscle mass while I am still losing on my waist line. The key areas of improvement for me have been a substantial reduction in the spare tire around my waist, much less prominent man boobs (thank goodness) and the puffiness that was developing around my neck and face are gone.

What's even better though are the great comments I get from people at work and amongst my friends. Nothing like some positive feedback to keep you on your path to better fitness.

I really can't rave about the diet enough. For someone like me who has been used to a lower carb diet generally, it isn't that hard, and the one day off a week to go completely nuts on the things you can't have but still crave, makes it easy to stay on track the rest of the time.

I took a break from the diet over Easter as we were away with friends surrounded by good food, wine and beer down in the Margaret River region of Western Australia. Shock horror, I put on just under 2 kg in about 5 days. Within less than a week of being back on the diet at home? It's gone again.

I suspect I will also sometimes gain a little when I travel on business, because it is harder to maintain control over what you are eating, particularly when clients insist on taking you out overseas to try their local cuisine. I am confident though that I will be able to claw this back when I return home each time, based on the recent Easter experience.

There is still technically another 5 kg for me to lose before I am at the upper end of my ideal weight according to the standard BMI tables. As Tim Ferriss says though, the BMI tables are flawed because they don't allow for muscle mass, and while I am not overly muscular at the moment, everyone I talk to doesn't think I have another 5 kg I want to lose, unless I wish to start looking too gaunt.

Let's see how it goes. I must say though, I am very comfortable with how I am looking now compared to late last year!

Later.