On December 31, 2005, Charlie Schroeder stood in front of ten fellow drunken revelers and declared that he would finally join the gym, lose 25 pounds and get into shape. Eleven months later, he hadn't even joined the gym. But on December 1 he renewed his vow to complete his 2006 New Year's resolution. In one month. We listen to an audio diary of his progress, and while he may not lose the whole 25 pounds, he'll sure try.

Watch the Weight Loss

Excerpts from Charlie's workout diary, December 2006

Day 1

While shopping at "Linens and Things" I ended up in the aisle that sells scales. I removed one of the old-fashioned scales (needle, numbers in plain sight) and put it down on the floor. I slowly placed my right foot on it, applying a little bit of pressure. "Wow!" I exclaimed. I weighed 14 pounds. But then I placed more pressure on it and the needle started moving higher and higher: 35, 56, 89...142. I managed to hit these numbers with my left foot still on the floor. Finally I went whole hog and placed both feet on the scale. I took a deep breath and looked down. "Oh my God." I'd tacked on another ten pounds in under a year. It was time to join the gym.

Day 5

Can't move my arms. DAMN YOU BODY BOOTCAMP!

Day 6

Ditto.

Day 9

Today, I swam. I'm the first to admit I don't look good in a Speedo. But I look better swimming in one than being rescued in one.

Day 12

Today I met with Gill Boyd, a nutritional chef. Despite being ten years my senior, Boyd looks about half my age. I asked him how he managed to stay fit. "A good diet and lots of skateboarding," he said. He told me to kick the sugars to the curb and lead a "more balanced life." By this I think he means I should cut out the soda and Ben and Jerry's. I say I'll try. But I don't care if it's the fountain of youth, I am not getting on a skateboard.

Day 16

"I like to be set on fire," Chris Lacentra says to me. The two of us are seated across from each other in the Burbank YMCA office. Lacentra is a personal trainer, served in the Army and Navy, and is a fledgling stuntman.

"I've been hit over the head with a baseball bat, been shot, and fallen out of a three story window," he tells me when I ask him about his stunt work. "If you wanted, I could train you and you'd feel so much lactic acid that you wouldn't be able to move your arms," he said when I told him I wanted to get in shape. "If you want to feel pain, I'll make you feel pain."

Days 17-19

Can't move.

Day 20

Belly-dancing is the new black. Tonight my wife Wendy and I took a belly dancing class and I think I've finally found my true calling. On the way home, I roll my stomach and shimmy for her.

Day 23

I continue to watch what I eat. Last night we had Chinese, this afternoon I chose a $3 protein drink over a $1 soda. Can I write this off somehow?

Day 31

Final weigh in day. After my workout, I headed into the locker room where I asked a guy named Roy to verify my weight. I weighed just under 165 pounds or Super Middleweight, should I ever decide to become a professional boxer. I was a little disappointed that I didn't lose more, but Roy put everything in perspective. "That's pretty good," he said. Then he went on to tell me that he'd once lost ten pounds in a week.
"How'd you do that?" I asked.
"I just stopped eating."
"Really?"
"Yeah, after awhile your body just gets used to it.
But you know what? I put it all back on in one month."

I hope to keep mine off for at least two.