[Luna Sea]

I just got my copy of NROL4W last week, read through it twice, and will begin the program this Monday, July 7^th. Here are my beginning stats:

Age: 54
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 172 lbs
BMI: 26.2
Measurements:
Chest: 40”
Waist: 36.5”
Hips: 40”
Right Bicep: 12.5”
Right Quad: 23”

My goals are to build strength and lose the visceral fat around my middle. Since menopause, I’ve put on about 20 pounds in the last 3 years, all on my torso. I look like a barrel with skinny arms and legs. I have always been thin, and was one of those people that ate mass quantities of food without gaining a pound. Now it’s payback time, and I need to cut back my eating and get real busy in the gym. Although I eat a fairly clean diet, it’s the portions and the amount of fat I need to cut way back on. My cravings tend to be for fat and salt, and I love EVOO, butter, cheese and nuts. I’ve been know to eat an entire bag of Trader Joe’s dry roasted almonds while driving home from work. That’s over 2,000 calories for the large bag. I am very lucky I have no signs of heart disease or atherosclerosis (as viewed by carotid artery ultrasound) and my cholesterol is just below 200 (as of May 1^st)

I’ll put up some “Before” pictures in my profile, so I can keep track of my progress, and to keep myself honest. I had my bodyfat measured at the gym by a seven point caliper method. To my absolute horror, I am 32% blubbery fat!! The formula also enters age and gender into the equation, and my suprailiac and umbilicus(?) measurements were downright embarrassing. That’s where older people like myself carry dangerous visceral fat., and those calipers pinched into several inches of it.

According to the equation Cassandra has, I need the following amount of calories and macronutrient breakdown:

	DAILY
Fat Loss (-300 calories/day)	Calories	Carb (g)	Protein (g)	Fat (g)
No workout	1328	60	172	44
Active workout	1599	108	172	53
Strenuous work and workout	1870	155	172	62

This is a lot less than what I'm used to, but I'll give it my best shot. I'm off to plan my menu and start shopping.