Whatsup my dudes? Thought I'd check in as it marks 3 years since my first snapshot which is unfortunately a few months after i started and had the initial big weight loss. I normally post my update in the Gym rats thread but I'll instead post here and link it as the success story is so much more to me than just a new body.
At age 28 I hated my job which didn't pay the bills, had just come out of a toxic relationship and had a fair bit of weight on me. Skip forward three years after i picked up weights for the first time and stumbled through the new lifestyle and I have a great relationship, literately my dream job (I work in food innovation with some of the best chefs) and have a body of a guy most 20 year old's would wish for but in my 30s.
The gym taught me that there was no shortcuts, no stupid fads, no ego that could help me. It taught me how to develop a proper positive attitude and work ethic that bled into other parts of my life and owe all my success to it as a result. There's a lot of fads and oversimplifications that can lead people astray. I'm forever learning, each year i prove my old valuable knowledge to be just a simplification and build on it. For example. initially i got hung up on calories in vs calories out but now I've seen just what a difference nailing that last bit can make when trying to push yourself to the next level - hitting perfect macros against the day's activities, hitting those meal timings, varying intensity - sure that stuff is a lot of effort but its that momentum you gain from knowing you've nailed that last 5-10% of your plan that motivates you to get yourself out there on the hard days and enjoy it.
Honestly, it is surprising what you can achieve naturally with mediocre genetics, no experience and poor confidence so long as you are driven and are willing to embarrass yourself a little. Next year i am hoping to compete on stage for Physique not because I want to win but because I deserve to try.
What is in the way becomes the way. No gyms? Back garden. Raining outside? Get wet. No time to go for the pre-work run? get up earlier. If you can nail it on the bad days, you'll start to enjoy them to the point where every day is your best day