That was the first question I asked my wife when I put on one of my favorite T-shirts and it didn't quite fit right. It felt shorter, tighter in my arm pits, it just didn't really fit like it used too. Being completely oblivious to what was really going on, I assumed my wife simply shrunk it when she did the laundry.
"I didn't do anything differently this time I washed it," my wife said in a matter-of-fact manner. So I thought to myself, "What the crap is going on? My favorite shirt doesn't fit right, my church pants don't fit right, my jeans don't fit right...oh...shiz...I'm getting fat!" The realization hit hard. My whole life, I took for granted my high metabolism. However, time caught up with me and was begging to exact revenge on my "glory days."
Being a Chaffin, I come from genes that blessed me with an immaculately high metabolism rate so I could consume ridiculous amounts of junk food and not notice a difference and an athletic body frame that allowed me to have chiseled muscle features (just not a tall frame).
The epitome of my physique was stated by a high school football teammate of mine the summer going into our senior year. He said, "Damn, Chaffin, how many sit-ups a day you have to do in order to get that six pack?"
"Sit-ups?" I said condescendingly, "I don't do sit-ups, I simply come equipped with this wash board."
Yes, my vanity does disgust me in retrospect...a little.
Fast forward 10 years ahead. I'm married with two little ones, work in a cubicle, drink inordinate amounts of Dr. Pepper and eat seriously questionable amounts of Skittles and Mambas. Im out of shape, out of energy, out of focus, and out of clothes that fit decently. The time had come for an intervention.
This intervention came in the form of me starring down at a scale with my jaw detached from my head in shock of the number I was reading on the scale...193!!!
I had a physical therapist tell me that with my back issues, I should never be over 165 lbs unless I was in superior shape and that extra weight was muscle. Believe me, there is little muscle in that almost 30 lbs extra I have right now.
So here I am, pretty much 30 lbs overweight, tired and not really happy with where I am at. Part of me wants to take my car and run over myself time and time again for letting myself get this way. The other part understands that life happens and I let my nutrition and overall health get away from me. However, that part of me still wants to use the car to run over me as well!
However, I know there is hope. Not all is lost and it can certainly be regained, or rather, re-lost! I simply need to hold myself accountable and have others help me out along the way. I also need a way to express my frustrations and triumphs. I enjoy writing, while not really that great at it, I've found it quite cathartic for me. So here we go! I am going to write everyday about my adventure to get back in shape and back into my clothes I've been able to fit in for years.
Here's the game Plan:
Goals:
- Get down to 175 by the end of November
- Fit back into my church clothes and regular clothes!
- Increase all of my max lifts in Crossfit by 10% by the end of November
- Decrease all of my MetCom workout times by 30 seconds by the end of November.
- Start eating right.
- NO MORE DR. PEPPER...what the crap am I doing to myself!!!
- NO MORE CANDY!!! Time to find another comfort food!
- No more eating after 9pm. Ice cream at midnight is out the window!
- Healthy snacks at work. Boring. Severely.
- Drink water all of the time!!!
- Start resting right!
- No more "Walking Dead" marathons till 4am in the morning!
- Get on a consistent sleeping schedule
- Crossfit, Baby!
- Consistent attendance at Crossfit. This stuff kicks my trash. I love it! I just have to be consistent in going.
- Have others challenge me
- I have to have others hold me accountable. If I could hold myself accountable right now, I wouldn't be 30 lbs over weight!
In my mind, the formula is actually pretty simple. However, its in the execution where success will be found.
I hope it goes well. I know there will be ups and downs, but hey, it will be fun!
