The Roman Weight Loss Program leaves room for a few slices. [Photograph: Robyn Lee]

Yup, it's true. I was in Rome for ten days and lost two pounds. How did I do this? Believe it or not there was method to the madness.

Here were my five Roman Rules:

I never ordered more than two savory courses at a restaurant. So no antipasti, primi, and secondi for me, serious eaters. Sometimes I would have dessert, but more often than not it was a dish of wild strawberries, sometimes with panna (whipped cream) that I usually ate two spoonfuls of.

I always left something on my plate, no matter how good it was (and believe me, a lot of it was really, really good).

When I would go out food foraging or exploring I always made sure it replaced a meal, most often times lunch.

Whenever we were served bad bread (and there is a lot of bad bread in Rome) I resisted eating it.

We walked and we walked and we walked and we walked. Rome is a great walking city (there is something impossibly beautiful around every corner), so we resolved to walk so much we didn't need to exercise (though we brought our exercise gear). I did get blisters on both my feet, but they were a small price to pay not to gain weight.

Believe it or not, my biggest eating challenges for the week came after I returned.

I had elaborate business dinners on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, one at Maialino, the other at Gramercy Tavern. Both meals were filled with insane amounts of seriously delicious food, but I managed to just taste everything put before me.

So when I weighed myself the day before I left, I weighed 229. When I got back I got back on the scale and was surprised to see 227 come up. I just weighed myself again this morning after all those serious meals and I am still at 227.

Maybe I am back in step, caloric journey-wise. I'd like to get back under 220. That's my immediate goal. I will fill you in occasionally at various points along the way.