Okay, so this is not exactly diet and exercise-related, but I have to share with you that my first novel -- a western titled A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S GUNFIGHT -- is coming out this summer! I have written I don't know how many words in my half century of roaming this planet, I have published hoards of short stories and been included in a number of collections and anthologies, but this feel big.

My first published novel.

There is an interesting little tie-in to the true point of this blog. When I moved to Nashville a quarter century ago, I had reached the ever-elusive "goal weight" of 200 pounds (198 to be exact). When I hit town, lean and mean, everything seemed to fall into place. Withing a month, I had gotten into the top music publishers, I had been the subject of an Associated Press story about the next up-and-coming songwriter, I had purchased my first cowboy boots -- from Garth Brooks -- and I had arrived.

So let me be clear: I do not believe nor support the thinking that "once I get to my perfect weight, my life, too, will be perfect." But for me, being at my healthy weight made me feel better. Physically and psychologically. My blood pressure went down, my cholesterol went down, I had more energy, I slept more soundly.

To quote Martha Stewart, it was a good thing.

So now, as my first novel is about to get published, I am once again approaching my healthy weight. My highest has been 282. For years now, I have gone up and down between 275 and 260. Now I am in the low 240s and will soon see the 230s for the first time in 5 years. Even that was short-lived, though. The last time I was in the 230s for any significant length of time was back around the time Josh was born. And he is now 16.

So I will continue to slowly but surely get healthier...just in time to promote my FIRST PUBLISHED NOVEL, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S GUNFIGHT!

Okay, let's be real: no, that is not my arm. But let's not be disparaging. The guy in the picture is obviously working hard, and if he keeps it up, someday his arm will undoubtedly be as large as mine.

My thigh, that is.

I am shooting for 245 by May 30. I am about five pounds away. My more astute readers will realize this means I haven't really lost anything since the conclusion of my LAST bet. Not true! I have lost the five pounds I immediately gained back since the conclusion of my last bet and the commencement of this one.

Enough math. The burning questions is this: how am I going to pull off losing five pounds in four days?

First, let's discuss the buffer. I learned from the last bet that if I throw on the sweats and do one hour on the eliptical in the cardio zone I can sweat off four pounds. But I have also learned that a crisis at work can easily prevent me from getting to the gym in the morning, so I can't bank on that. I need a legitimate strategy.

Here are the "silver" bullets:

• Write everything down 
• Eat only 39 WW points
• Drink, drink, drink -- water, not wine
• Move, move, move -- walk, cut the yard, go up and down the stairs
• Play ultimate with the kids
• Hit the speedbag

I think I need to plan to rev the metabolism every two hours (on the even hours) for at least 10 minutes. And drink one cup of water or tea.. Okay, then, two more bullets:

Every two hours (on the even hours):

• Do 10 minutes brisk activity
• Drink 8 ounces of water or tea

Okay, so that sounds like a plan, then. I'll update this -- probably, maybe -- throughout the weekend to keep you posted.

Major Milestone: I am down to 1/8 of a ton

I haven't blogged on Back to the Well, in...well, ten months. But that doesn't mean I haven't been busy.

For the first time in five years I am back down to 250 pounds. How did I do it? Writing down everything I eat and tracking Weight Watcher points. Like Charles Barkley. Also walking and doing the eliptical.

What's next? First, 240. Then 230. After that, 220. Then 210. My ultimate goal is 208, the highest weight allowed by the Marine Corps for a man of my height and age. Why 208? That's a long story. I'll save it for another time.

So here's the plan:

• Write everything in the food journal
• Have 38 points a day
• Walk, run, lift with high reps

I'll write something more entertaining next time. For now, get ready to go out and buy my new novel, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S GUNFIGHT, coming out in May. I'll write more about that too.