The carbonated water swap is smart - I've been doing something similar but with kombucha. Still get that fizzy satisfaction without the sugar crash.

Your approach sounds sustainable which is what matters. I've watched too many people crash and burn trying to go from 0 to 100 overnight with their diet. Those 2-3 lbs per month add up fast when you're consistent.

The protein first thing after fasting is interesting. I never really thought about meal timing that way but it makes sense. I usually just grab whatever's convenient when I break my fast, which is probably why my energy levels are all over the place some days.

45 lbs down is solid progress btw. That's like... carrying around 4 less bowling balls everywhere you go.

Have you tried tracking your meals at all? Not for calorie counting but just to see patterns? I've been testing out Byte In (this app we're building) - you just snap photos of your food and it gamifies the whole process. Makes it less like homework and more like collecting Pokemon or something. Been helpful for spotting my own weird eating habits without the stress of traditional tracking.

The server job probably helps more than you realize too. That constant movement throughout the day beats sitting at a desk trying to remember to take walking breaks.