This year, for the second year in a row, I gained weight. 15 lbs, to be precise - and it's definitely not muscle. It's time for a change. I'm not interested in bulking or getting ripped. I just want to lose the fat, get lean, and tone up. I want to be healthy. To accomplish this goal, I'm completely overhauling my diet, taking cues from the Japanese (who are famously healthy and long-lived) and cutting animal flesh from my diet completely, except for seafood. I will also be controlling my portions strictly. I'm not going vegan or even vegetarian. I will continue to consume fish & shellfish, as well as egg and milk products, but I'm cutting out land animals for a variety of reasons. [b]Breakfast[/b] - Oatmeal or granola cereal with a boiled egg, fruit & 2% milk. (I can't bring myself to cut milk from my morning routine, and skim milk is disgusting, so the 2% is my compromise.) This is actually the heartiest meal of the day. [b]Lunch[/b] - This will be the most controversial item on my list. [b]NO LUNCH.[/b] I'm sure many of you are now thinking that I'm crazy to skip those mid-day calories. However, I [i]will[/i] eat a mid-day snack at lunch time consisting of vegetables with peanut butter dip, Greek yogurt, or something similar. I will also drink at least two cups of green tea in the afternoon & lots of water. [b]Dinner[/b] - Fish or (occasionally) shellfish with brown rice [b]or[/b] sushi, served with stir-fried or steamed vegetables, miso soup, and green tea. I will also experiment with rice bowl dishes that include egg and seafood. [b]Late Night Snack[/b] - Similar to my mid-day snack, but in smaller portions. I've also made the difficult choice to give up alcohol entirely, especially beer (which I suspect has been the primary contributor to my weight gain), although I might start drinking again (in moderation) once I get back to a healthier weight. I have every intention to maintain this new diet permanently. I want to live healthier overall, and a good diet regiment is a great way to start. I should note that I will, of course, be exercising more frequently as well. Diet alone cannot shed this weight. Exercise is crucial. I have a daily jogging and strength training gym plan laid out. I should also note that I will make an exception for Thanksgiving dinner, because that's a really big holiday in my family, and likely for other holidays as well, although I will still control my portions when I have those meals. So let's see how long I can keep this up. Today is the first day. I've already had breakfast, but that hasn't really changed from what I used to eat.