After the first month of my diet and having weighed in, I can report that I have lost 15 pounds!

To fully appreciate the significance of this first weight-loss report, it is important to understand that there are guidelines for the successful weight-loss program when it comes to "weighing in."

Like anything that is ultimately successful, careful and strategic planning is essential.

Planning, for example, for the periodic weigh-ins during the course of a weight-loss diet begins with the very first trip to the scales, prior to the start of the diet.

I wore shirt, tie, sports jacket, wing-tip shoes, clean socks (the importance of which will be dealt with later), and my pockets were filled with wallet, change, pens, checkbook, pocket calendar, etc.

(Can you see the careful planning already?)

All this becomes very important because throughout the weight-loss process a dieter is bound to, on more than one occasion hit what experts and veteran dieters call a "plateau."

This is when, after adhering with the strictest of discipline to the diet and exercise program, a dieter may go a week or two and not lose a single pound.

However, by careful planning, one can still see measurable results.

Here is how it works:

The very next time you hit a plateau, calmly step off and remove your jacket, sports coat or windbreaker.

The next time you may want to remove a shoe. Don’t be in too big a hurry to remove both shoes, you may need to do that next week.

If anyone says anything, just say, "Ahhh, I’m not sure I have a clean sock on this foot." (Indicate the one with the remaining shoe). That should take care of it.

If, however, removing one shoe is not enough, just say, "Oh yeah, I remember now, I did put clean socks on both feet," and go ahead and remove the other shoe and step back on the scales. That should do it!

Eventually, you may want to make sure the scales are in a somewhat secluded place. Depending on how long the diet goes, you may end up … well, "neck-id."

By my home bathroom scales, I am down 18 pounds. By the scales in Topalov’s office, I am down 15 pounds. The difference is that I don’t carry $23 worth of change coming out of the shower!

(Besides the careful planning, remember, I need the quarters to pay the fines I am levied by Mike Becker at Kiwanis!)

So, at the conclusion of the first month of my diet, I am down (officially) 15 pounds. This means that if I continue at this pace, I will be at my target weight on July Fourth. My plan, however, is to allow a full year to get to my target weight. (Remember the plateaus?)