Last year, between the months of September and December, I managed to shed nearly 40 lbs of useless weight. Casual acquaintences at work asked me how I did it, and I responded flippantly that I ate less and moved more. This is mostly true, but I did change the things I ate as well. Sure, I still had the occasional hamburger and fries, but I could measure the number of times I ate a hamburger on one hand during that three month period. I ate more leafy green stuff, and ate half the portion sizes that I used to eat. The bottom line was that I had reached 187 lbs at my lowest point, and had managed to fit into a size 34 waist pair of Old Navy pants. This is a remarkable improvement from a size 40.

Unfortunately, the tide has been reversing itself since January. I’ve been working out less, and most days I eat out, or eat fast food, or buy Pop-Tarts from the company vending machine (like sodas, they’re only 25¢!). As such, I am not shocked to find that I am pushing the 200 lb mark again, and the size 36 jeans I had bought last year are becoming dangerously snug. Worse, since I’m no longer working out, the weight is all fat.

I would love to blame working long hours, but that’s a crock. After all, I’m the only person who puts food into my mouth; the mere fact that I’m working more is no reason to let my eating and living habits go to pot. I’ve decided to change immediately. Skip the Friday morning Krispy Kreme doughnut (or four). Curtail the lunch runs to Bojangles greaseChicken and Biscuits. Make time to get to the gym. Walk more. Park further away from the office/gym/restaurant. Have fun. What happened to the dream of getting in good enough shape to participate in a 5, or even 10K run for charity?

It is in this frame of mind that I finally encountered and read this week’s issue of The War Against Silence, in which glenn takes a break from writing about music to share his suggestions on how to go about losing weight. I highly recommend that you go and read it now, even if you don’t have a weight issue. Yes, his nine-point manifesto will sound eerily familiar, but this is only because you already know what to do to change yourself. At any rate, reading about a real person’s struggle with weight is much better than reading the bleating “testimony” of some body builder cum entrepeneur.

So, my goal is to be back in shape by the end of the summer. 160 lbs, and more muscle than fat. It will happen.