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It’s been a little over a month and I’ve lost over 25 pounds, sneaking up on 30 lbs. My pants are too loose and my shirts fit a little better (not so snug) and I can tie my shoes with a little more ease.

This is a far cry from the person I was three months ago, when my weight hit an all-time high of 245 pounds. For a former runner and cyclist, this was huge. No, it was HUGE! Never before had I felt so… awful. My sleeping habits were wonky, my general health was poor and I was gaining over a pound a month. It was time for a change.

I’ve known for a long time that I was obese. First, what a terrible word. Second, what a revelation to hear my doctor tell me point-blank that I was obese. Fat. Large. Ugh.

The problem was, when it came to weight loss I didn’t know where to start. I had all the wrong ideas about weight loss. My assumptions were incorrect, at least for my metabolism, way of life and general diet. I needed to analyze my situation, and that’s just what I did.

I geeked out.

First, I started weighing every day. Most dieters will tell you this is stupid, that it can discourage you. I wanted to see a graph of gain/loss over time and I wanted it measured in twice daily increments. Is that too much to ask?

Second, I quit drinking soda cold turkey. Talk about massive addiction: I suffered severe caffeine withdrawal for at least four days. My family must’ve hated me. This was easily the most difficult task of the losing weight plan. But it paid off. In two weeks I lost over ten pounds… Without a change in regular diet or exercise. Empty calories to be sure.

Finally, after coming off of my severe caffeine addiction, I started exercising. Not a lot, mind you, just a half-mile in the morning and a half-mile in the evening, walking. Not a fast walk, just a walk.

I’ll discuss more tactics, some successful, some failures, in the next post. Losing weight isn’t fun: It’s hard work, a constant struggle. In the end, though, it pays off, and the hard work eventually isn’t hard at all. Just routine.

Share your weight loss stories below, I’m always down for tips.