I weighed in this week at my lowest ever, 173.4lbs.

A couple years ago I did a “year in review” post talking about my journey from my birthday 2015 to 2016. In that post, I review a few things I have learned regarding my fitness journey. Some of it I still agree with, some I’m not so sure about. For example, I’ve been cutting weight and fat recently, but my strength gains are going up. I didn’t believe or think that you could do both. Evidently, something in the mix of my food plan, doing BJJ and how I work out now has helped me achieve something close to that. I’m still working that one out.

In September 2015, I weighed in at 179.2, my lightest in awhile and just walking through a highly stressful time in my life, I was understandably a few pounds lighter. Focusing on learning how to sling iron around, I gained 12.8lbs and weighed in at 192. From the pics in that article, you can tell I put on some fat and muscle. From the pics in the article, I was a bit puffier, but definitely bigger. I was just a couple months shy of hitting my squat and deadlift goals. Which, for those who have read for this long (thank you), you know those were two important goals to accomplish, given my circumstances and the fact that I was working through a lower back injury.

In March 2017 I started on the path of learning Jiu Jitsu. Since then, I’ve been tweaking my gym routines as well as working on a few lifting related injuries I accumulated through high volume pressing exercises. Mainly shoulder issues related with bicep tendinitis. With the help of people who know what they are doing (ie. professionals who, thankfully are friends too) I’ve been slowly but surely on the mend since then.

Sometimes you have to take a few steps back to continue forward, otherwise you can’t move forward at all.

That’s kind of what I guess this post is about, by virtue of the title. Throughout every little obstacle or injury, I’ve had to find a way to keep going. Modifying workouts, tweaking food choices, getting input from people who know what’s up and being patient – watching to see if the modifications and tweaks were actually making a difference – and then doing it all over again.

Secret sauce?

Not really. I’ve pretty much cut out all sugars that aren’t naturally found in the food I eat, and I rarely eat fruit. Vegetables, low if not zero processed carbs, good fats, good proteins, lots and lots of water. That’s really it when it comes to food choices.

BJJ twice to three times a week, a core workout or two during the week, two full body routines and a session of high intensity cardio, throw in a sauna session or two and that’s what my week looks like for training.

It’s taken a long time to get here, a step at a time. Nothing overnight. But much of what I do works for me and none of it is drudgery. I think that’s fairly important. Do I miss a workout? Of course, life happens. Four kids, life, drama, responsibilities… you do the math. Something will interrupt your plans, the point is to not let that one or two misses derail you.

I don’t plan on cutting any more weight, though I would like to cut out a little more fat. I have a small spot of stubborn fat that has been holding on, not giving me my desired six pack, but my core has never been in the shape it is now, so I’m not going to complain. The overall definition is good and, at 39, I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in. Besides, I know I can’t focus on a particular body part and expect the fat to disappear, part of that is how my body deals with burning and stripping fat away. It will happen in due time as I continue down the road.

So, hopefully this just helps to remind you, things take time, patience and persistence.

Keep going, results come.

In the following progress pic, the left was taken on the same date as above, 09/22/17. Forgive the grumpy face, it was first thing in the morning… The pic on the right was taken on 10/12/18 and I weighed in that day at 174.6lbs.

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