The Journey of a Million Miles Begins with but a Single Sip.

Last night, while sitting around the living room with some friends, I idly watched the clock as it inched closer to midnight. The numbers blinked to 11:58 PM and I took a bite of Papa John's Hearty Italian pizza. I chewed it slowly, savoring each flavor, enjoying the sharp tang of the pizza sauce, grinding my teeth just a little harder than necessary into the meat. At 11:59 PM, I took a deep drink of cherry soda, and it ran quickly past my tongue to sizzle and fizzle deep in my gut. I eyed the clock nervously and took another deep sip within the moment, resisting the urge to down the whole cup (though just barely). I eyed the clock.

The clock blinked over to 12:00 AM, and I set the cup down.

That pizza and soda will prove to be the last physical meal I have in a long time.

Presumably, if you're reading this you already know who I am and why I'm dieting. You were interested enough to add me in the first place, as I plan to keep this blog Private from the public eye, so why wouldn't you already know everything I'm about to write? For sanity's wistful sake, however, permit me to be a little plain.

My name's Jonathan Cordero. I'm 27 years old, Filipino and work in the billing department of Perfect World Entertainment, a video game company in Foster City, California. I have a son named Archer who is now 8 years old, and though he's constantly on my mind and the main motivation of my life, he resides with his mother in Pennsylvania. I currently live with my good friend Jody and a foreign-exchange student from China who is studying Computer Science here.

I'm also morbidly obese, and weight somewhere around 430 lbs, I think.

Which brings us to the real reason we're all here: I've spent the majority of my life at this ungainly size. This has led to a number of missed opportunities, guilty disappointments, a litany of mental conditions and a messy, sloppy life full of repressed depression and subconsciously suicidal tendencies.

Needless to say, this has to stop.

Today, I begin a shake fasting diet designed to safely carry someone on 1000 calories a day via these protein shakes that provide all of one's daily nutrients and vitamins. I've tried this before and lost about 100 lbs. in about 6 months, coupled with exercise and strict dedication. This diet includes a 100% meal replacement, meaning I will not be eating anything but these shakes and some specifically designed "safe foods" that don't lead to weight gain if eaten in moderate amounts.

Pretty drastic, eh? I don't think asking why is very necessary, but permit me to list a few reasons why I'm doing this:

1) For my health, and the ability to live longer while (hopefully) liking myself.
2) For Archer, so that I can chase him around, be there for him in case of an emergency, and just play with him without getting tired.
3) For my friends and family, so they don't have to dodge around doing certain activities or going to certain places because they know it'd be difficult for me.
4) For my career, as I hope to one day branch out into a department where I can use my charisma to its fullest via marketing or public relations. Unfortunately, with society being the way it is, we all know that presentation is half of the game.

I'm sure there are plenty more reasons, and through the many months to come I plan to delve into every single one of them. This will not be a blog that will be easy to read, as I plan to be very blunt and direct with emotions I've never really revealed to anyone, save for a few people. There will be very ugly, heavy posts wherein I try to exorcise the demons that a life of self-loathing can build.

But!

You guys know me, and know that I keep things positive. There will be plenty of motivation, inspiration, celebrating accomplishments and Spiral Power.

*Raises a shaker-tumbler full of vanilla shake.*

Cheers!