1 Year later

Remember this guy?

It's hard to believe that was me. I mean, I guess it's not. I struggled with weight all the way up through high school, until I went off to college and put that weight to good use. But after I hung up the pads, I dropped 100 lbs and promised I'd never be north of 300 again. Then life happened, ya know? Divorce, Covid, and an extremely stressful job on top of getting older and dealing with the physical fallout of being an offensive lineman set me down the path of lease resistance. But one year ago today my little girl was born, and as I stared down the barrel of a six week paternity leave I knew I had to make a change. So I did.

That's me in the same shirt just one year later. And those are some numbers in a table - probably better now but I can't find the batteries for my scale because I have two monkeys who can't stay out of my bathroom. As I reflect on the past 12 months in my #fitfromhome journey, here is what I found worked for me. Emphasis on the "for me." That's the thing with fitness journeys - everyone's will be different. But FOR ME, here is what I found to work:

1. Strength training: Tonal was absolutely fundamental to my approach. With three littles and living out in the buttcrack of north Texas, I needed a way to hit the gym without hitting the gym. I've put up over 4 million lbs in the past 12 months, all from the comforts of my own home. I can not tell you how amazing this thing is. I know it's expensive, but what isn't? The opportunity cost savings of this thing far outweigh the hit to the budget.
2. HIIT cardio: I'm a big dude, so distance running aint gon fly. I implemented the Crossrope for the perfect short burst cardiovascular training and I love it.
3. Stretching: Sitting at the desk for hours is probably the worst thing that has ever happened to the human physique. I would usually throw my back out once a quarter, erasing any gains/losses I might have had, all because of this stupid chair I'm sitting in right now. Once I started stretching my hamstrings regularly, the pain in my back has all but diminished. Now I can deadlift - heck even sneeze - without the fear of my back shutting me down.
4. Diet: This part is probably controversial (though it shouldn't be), but I eat meat, eggs, butter, and cheese. For every meal. I've done a lot of research on the carnivore diet, and based on some genetic testing it just made sense to give it a go. And I will never look back. I can't tell you the difference it has made. When I was doing more regular updates, I mentioned how I could look at diary and have a physical reaction, the most violent offender being butter. Now I cook everything in butter and eat hunks of parmesan reggiano at every meal and I just. feel. good. I also only eat twice a day now - not because I'm starving myself but because I only eat when I'm hungry now, and it's around noon and 6pm. As I said above, everyone is different so no angry comments - I'm just doing what the genetic testing told me to.
5. Supplements: Rate my drip - Ashwaghanda, beef liver pills, Based Nutrition Shilajit (as my son says "it smells like a basketball" and tastes like the bottom of a shoe, so I chase it with Revive Essential Oils Immunity Boost), and Glanbia Performance Nutrition (GPN) 's Isopure protein.
6. Sleeeeeeeeep: Who knew? I make it a point to get at least 7 hours a day. No real trick here, other than Natural Vitality? 's Calm magnesium supplement, which does double duty as the carnivore diet is naturally low in some electrolytes. But things compound, and working out, stretching and eating right all feed into my sleep which has been restful and restorative.
7. No-ish alcohol: I just don't need the carbs, and it gives me killer headaches now.
8. STOP WEIGHING: I weigh myself maybe once every couple of weeks. That's not important to me. Being healthy is, and I don't put much stock into the inevitable ups and downs.

So yeah. In case any of y'all were wondering how ol' Nate was doing one year later, glad I could scratch that itch for you. If you are going through your own fitness journey, or are on the verge of starting one, just get out there and do it. Any movement, no matter how small, changes trajectories over time. If an old man like me can do it, you can do it.