A 500-word synopsis of my 20-year health and fitness journey
I’ve been interested in health and fitness for over two decades.
Reflecting on my journey, it’s remarkable how my views and understanding of the subject matter have changed.
Here’s a synopsis from my teens to early 40s.
To learn from my mistakes, pay attention toward the end.
Age 19: I’m a skinny weakling. I want to get ripped, so I’ll start going to the gym with my friends. Health? If you’re ripped, you’re automatically healthy, right?
Age 20: I’m making gains in the gym. Yay! I need protein to maximize my gains. Wendy’s Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers have protein, so I’ll eat more of those.
Age 24: I’ve put on some muscle, but also let myself go. If I want to look better, I guess I’ll need to lose some weight.
Age 25: Learned how to lose weight. Turns out calories matter. Lost 30 lbs. Also learned there is no such thing as “lean muscle.” There is getting lean and gaining muscle. Two separate things (that are difficult to do at the same time after you’ve exhausted newbie gains).
Age 27: Intermittent fasting helps me stay lean while eating whatever I want regularly. Me like. Bring on the Olive Garden Never Ending Pasta Bowl and Red Lobster Endless Shrimp.
Age 29: Paleo is all the rage. I’m convinced low-carb is the optimal diet for everyone. Started tracking my carbs using MyFitnessPal. Still lifting after 10 years. Pats self on back.
Age 30: Deep into the calorie-counting rabbit hole. Learned about macros and got sucked into IIFYM cult-like behavior.
Age 31: Got married. Went on lots of vacations. Kind of let myself go again, but not as bad as the first time. Maybe I need to reign it in. I guess more fruits and veggies are better than fewer.
Age 32: Got my shit together and got lean again. Started prioritizing fruits and veggies. This single decision may have saved my life. Blood tests? Aren’t those just for old people?
Age 33: Got comprehensive blood work done for the first time. Learned about things like triglycerides and HbA1c.
Age 34: Cholesterol and blood sugar aren’t great. Started taking health more seriously. Started tracking steps.
Age 36: Lost my dad (prematurely to a heart attack) and became a dad myself. These two events completely changed my outlook on health from a nice-to-have to a must-have. Started tracking sleep with Oura Ring.
Age 37: Hired a personal trainer. Became obsessed with longevity and optimizing biomarkers and biological age through lifestyle. Learned about the importance of things like HRV and zone 2 cardio.
Age 38: Hired a health coach (
). Began to appreciate the complexity and holistic nature of health. Started paying closer attention to food quality, hydration, sleep hygiene, light, supplementation, and toxins. Blood test biomarkers have improved significantly.Age 40: Hired a gut health coach (
) and made big improvements to my microbiome and immune health. Also, still lifting after 20 years. Pats self on back again.Age 41 and beyond: Working on solidifying habits to incorporate everything I’ve learned. Awareness of health and optimism is at an all-time high, but there is no room for complacency.
The more I learn, the more questions I have than answers. I am only certain about one thing:
This will be something I dedicate myself to for the rest of my life.
If you take one thing away from my journey, I hope it’s this:
When it comes to something as important as your health, it’s okay to get obsessed.
Never stop learning.
Never stop improving.
And don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Thanks for sharing! Quite the journey. The death of your father and the birth of your child so close together are two big emotional events and that can have great impacts on your stress, habits and heath! Grief is a hell of a thing.