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I've been here in FS since summer 2020, right around the time my company transitioned me to remote work. It's been quite the journey: I experienced soaring highs (like when I lost 25 lbs that first few months) and crushing defeats (like when I got injured and had to stop working out, regaining about 30 lbs).
That said, I've also learned a lot and with all of your encouragement, I started bouncing back, albeit slowly at first. I've recently been watching a lot of those 12-month body transformation videos -- you know the ones, where the person starts off all overweight, soft and unathletic and transforms themselves into a ripped, absolute beefcake in 12 months.
So it got me thinking: why can't I do one of those? So I did it. I started the process. It's been about a month and TBH, it's been a real challenge because I've always been obsessed with "losing weight" as opposed to getting stronger and building muscle. I was on Noom for a while consuming 1500 to 1700 calories a day as a 6'1" 220 lb man. No wonder I was starving and bingeing all the time. My poor body was screaming for nourishment! "FEED ME SEYMOUR!"
As an aside, it took a real quantum shift in my mindset before I got comfortable with the idea of building my body, getting stronger and increasing muscular stamina, as opposed to vaguely and generally "losing weight." Plus, the fact that I only do straight cardio 2x a week (for about 20 minutes at a time to boot) was another one I'm still struggling with a little.
I redid my TDEE and it turns out that I should be at about 2500 cal. per day. My biggest concern was "can I afford to buy all this food?" I cook meals for both myself and my wife and it was a concern for me, being on a budget. I think that was part of the reason I wasn't eating more. I just kept thinking "I just can't afford it."
Long story short, that was just a story I was telling myself because with a little creativity, I was able to start getting not just more food, but a larger variety, so now I don't get bored as often. Also, I eat so much, I sometimes I can't even eat all my meals for the day, though I try my best. Sometimes I have to sneak in that last protein shake before bedtime.
I want to say a huge thanks to all of you for the support, but I especially want to shout out Diablo360x for the advice he gave me to prioritize protein and let the other macros fall where they may (within reason). That's probably the best fitness I've ever gotten aside from "gets lots of rest." Right now I try to stick to a 40/30/30 split, which I hit on some days, but I usually end up with a split that looks more like 35/32/33, with protein at about 188-200 g per day. Just a month ago, that concept would have left my brain in a pool of its own tears rocking back and forth in a corner. I just couldn't reconcile with the idea that I needed to eat more instead of less food.
You know how you hear the same advice from different people or places over and over and for whatever reason, it just doesn't hit you until that one person says it to you JUST the right way and all of a sudden, BOOM. It turns something on. Well, he did that for me so thanks bro.
It's only been a month and I swear if the scale is to be believed, I only lost about a pound and a half.
Legitimately, I think 95% of my wins are going to be non-scale victories because that weight is moving slower than that mosquito in the chunk of amber in Jurassic Park. On the plus side, I AM getting more cut, and my body shape is changing.
I don't say this to show off or anything, but to encourage someone out there. Even if it looks like not a damn thing is happening, it is. TRUST ME IT IS. If you continue doing the right things more than the wrong things, you will absolutely see changes in your body. I didn't believe anything was happening for a month but it was, slowly and in the background.
I know I'm talking to a lot of seasoned veterans here but to anyone else who doesn't already know this: REAL, LASTING change takes a lot longer than you think it will. Take your most aspirational timeline and multiply it by 3. At least X-D That sounds bleak, and it might be, but it's also realistic as hell. I gave myself 12 months to go from dad bod to "Daddy." You ladies know what I'm talking about. That in itself might not even be enough time but the great thing is, that's just the start of it all.
Lastly, now that you all know that's what I'm working on, I've given myself no out from this commitment and I think that's what I need: someone over my shoulder telling me to get my shit together and don't screw it up. I wasn't going to say anything but I'm glad I did.
Again, I want to thank you all for the help and support you've given me this past year and I hope you'll be there cheering me on along this journey.
Month 2 of the Beefcake Transformation begins. See ya.
View Diet Calendar, 13 September 2021:
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2267 kcal
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Fat: 94.84g | Prot: 202.27g | Carbs: 161.75g.
Breakfast: Great Value 100% Liquid Egg Whites, Baking Powder (Sodium Aluminum Sulfate, Double Acting), 100% Whole Wheat Bread, Bowl & Basket Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Chips, Bananas, Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa Powder, Quest Chocolate Milkshake Protein Powder, Egg, Silk Ultra Protein Unsweet. Lunch: Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Albertsons Pineapple Slices in Natural Juice, Arnold 100% Whole Wheat Flax & Fiber Sandwich Thins, Philly-Gourmet Meat Company 100% Pure Beef Homestyle Patties. Dinner: Roasted Broiled or Baked Chicken Thigh (Skin Eaten), Mashed Potato made with Milk and Fat (from Fresh), Roasted Broiled or Baked Chicken Thigh (Skin Eaten), Kirkland Signature Rotisserie Chicken Breast Meat. Snacks/Other: Quest Cookies & Cream Protein Powder, Upstate Farms Greek Plain Nonfat Yogurt, Quest Cookies & Cream Protein Powder, Bell Plantation PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter, Silk Ultra Protein Unsweet. more...
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