“Skinny chicken”, “skin n’ bones”, “twig”, “do you even eat bro”, etc, etc, etc. I heard it all growing up when it came to my weight. It was justified. I was super skinny and I survived on one meal a day. I legit could eat one decent sized meal and then be content the rest of the day.
My fitness journey if I think about it really started at university. I was inactive, anti-social and extremely lazy. I didn’t want to make an effort to get to know people or leave my place. I was content on staying home, doing work, watching Netflix and playing League of Legends (yes, you read that right, I played League of Legends religiously) Of course, me being me, I was too stubborn to make positive changes and admit to myself that the way I was leading my life was not mentally and physically healthy. I was also battling some health issues as well at the time, so it didn’t help that I was leading an unhealthy lifestyle. I do regret my university years now that I look back. If I could re-do it, I would. So for those in university live it up because it does pass by fast. Soon after I got out of university, I had one of those “long hard look in the mirror” moments and decided enough is enough. I had enough of feeling physically weak. I had enough of feeling mentally lazy and drained. I just had enough of looking the way I looked. I wanted change but I knew change would not be easy. But we all got to start somewhere right? I got up off my butt and decided to hit the gym.
For the first year and a half, I worked out at my aunt’s condo gym. Not too many machines and equipment but a decent amount for a newbie. The first few months were the worst. The pain and soreness was torture, and after a few months I saw zero changes. I kept doubting myself, and always asked is all this worth it? Despite my doubts and the pain, I chose to ignore them and keep going. I had my mind set on the weight I wanted to be at and nothing was going to get in the way of that. When you start to doubt yourself and have your lazy days which you will get, remind yourself why you are doing this. Remember that you chose to better yourself, and the only way to do it, is to drop the excuses and just put in work. There is no ifs, ands, or buts. You have to put in CONSISTENT work to get results. It is as simple as that. I eventually reached my target weight six months in, and when I hit my first goal I can’t describe the feeling. It was relief and joy but also bitter as well, because I wanted more. That’s the thing with working out; you always want more because you are never truly satisfied. You will always find a way to look at yourself and say well I wish this muscle was bigger or I wish I had less fat in this area, and that is okay. Use that dissatisfaction as a positive and strive for more!
After I hit my first goal of 150 lbs I wanted to fast track and decided to dirty bulk. I would eat all sorts of food despite the calories and fat content until I reached 173 lbs (a year and a half in my journey) and saw that I was getting fat and bloated. I realized I went a little too far and needed to cut back. I decided to try out HIIT cardio. Within 7 weeks I dropped 5% body fat and went down to 163 lbs. As someone who dirty bulked I wouldn’t recommend it. You get big but you don’t feel that great. I decided to quit dirty bulking and to build lean muscle after I completed my HIIT training, however at this point I out grew my aunt’s gym. I had hit a peak at the gym and was not gaining any muscle due to the limitations of the gym. I was getting frustrated and decided to get a membership at Fitness Connection as I needed to expose my muscles to heavier weights, new machines and more advanced training. I went from a frail 125 lbs figure, to a heavier 173 lbs frame, and finally to a more lean 163 lbs build.
It’s been a long journey but I still have a long way to go. I have made a lot of progress and am proud of where I have reached. But I have also made a lot of mistakes. Injuries, bad dieting, bad form and following incorrect routines have all been obstacles which have set me back however, I am glad I experienced them so I know not to make the same mistake twice. I’m truly grateful to family and friends who have given me advice and have given me motivation. But ultimately, it is the research which has been the most helpful. Everyone’s body is different and everyone wants to achieve different goals. That is why research will be your best friend during your fitness journey. I can give you all the advice I have to give, I can share all the stories I have to offer, but in the end, it really comes down to what works for you. So don’t just sit on advice, but rather, pair advice with proven research and you can build the best program that works for you.
"So don’t just sit on advice, but rather, pair advice with proven research and you can build the best program that works for you."
Looking back on who I was when I was in university to who I am now, I feel completely different. I am far more social and outgoing, but most importantly I am mentally tougher. It seems within the fitness world, physical strength and how you look is valued significantly higher than other important aspects of fitness. If there is one thing that I learned in the two years that I have been working out, it is that mental strength and how you feel as opposed to how you look should be valued just as much if not more. After all, the heaviest obstacles you have to overcome are not the ones in the gym, but rather, the ones in your mind.
Have a blessed week!
Hussain
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