Hello everyone,

A little about me: I am 24 years old, a husband to a beautiful wife for 2.5 years, and a father to a gorgeous and very spoiled 17 month old daughter. I'm currently unemployed (voluntarily) as I finish my undergraduate studies. My family and I reside in Phoenix, AZ, but will be moving to Portland, OR this summer as I begin studies for a Master of Arts degree in Theological Studies (I desire to Pastor a church and teach at a graduate level in the future).

I am starting this diet with a weigh-in of 297 pounds. I gained a lot of my weight when I first started college out of high school (took a break because I got married and the birth of my daughter). I took a lot of night courses and found myself consistently feasting on late-night fast food meals with absolutely no exercise. I'm wanting to lose weight for myself, but more importantly my wife and daughter. My grandfather is the first male in my family-line to live past 55 years; heart disease runs in my family. I want to live to walk my daughter down the aisle, hold my grandchild, but more near-future: not be the "fat dad" when my daughter begins school and has friends over.

I'm going to strictly adhere to the diet and will be updating whoever chooses to follow this (and for my own records), what I eat in the day, how many net carbs, etc. I will also be complimenting this diet with daily exercise (weight lifting, walking, jumproping, wii fit--it's fun!). My friend, who is a competition bodybuilder, suggested I also take Animal Cuts which is a dietary supplement along with a multi-vitamin and fish oil. I will also be drinking nothing but water; ideally, I want to drink 1 gallon to 1.5 gallons a day.

I am looking forward to honoring God with my weight loss and getting healthy for my family! God bless you all!

In Him,
Ryan C.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

p.s. This is my first time dieting ever so this is what you can consider a "trial by fire."