Chapter 1: The Downward Spiral

For over eight months, I let my health and fitness slide. Want to know how I managed to get back on track? Picture this: you meticulously build a giant snowman throughout winter, only for it to melt away at your feet one fateful morning. It might not be the best analogy, but it illustrates my struggle well.

I’ve never been overly muscular, but I had a decent physique and a solid routine that gave me confidence—until everything changed. This chapter of my life is what I call my "Redemption Arc."

What drives my motivation to train? It’s simple: our bodies develop muscle primarily through nutrition, not just exercise. Unlike those who hit the gym without prioritizing sleep or adequate calorie and protein intake, I refuse to work out if I haven’t had quality rest or met my nutritional goals.

I prepare healthy meals myself, because who wouldn’t prefer delicious, fresh food over overpriced fast food? For me, fast food is merely a last-minute option when I’m out with friends.

However, living with a family of five complicates things. Despite my larger appetite, my parents occupy the kitchen from afternoon till evening. Sure, they’re cooking for the entire family, which takes time. But sometimes, it feels like they’ve turned the kitchen into their personal lounge!

To navigate this, I devised a new strategy: maximizing late nights and early mornings. I took advantage of the quiet hours when everyone else was asleep. Admittedly, this approach wreaked havoc on my sleep schedule, much like social media has on our generation.

As if my erratic schedule wasn’t enough, my gym membership was also about to expire. Already struggling with time and basic nutrition, I was hesitant about renewing. This marked the beginning of my downward spiral. Without a gym membership, I lost motivation to prepare meals and, eventually, even to eat.

On average, my daily diet for months consisted of:

• A cheeseburger and small fries from McDonald's
• A ham and cheese sandwich

What was the outcome? You guessed it—significant muscle loss. I lost my once-defined chest (yes, even guys noticed), my backside weakened further, and my shoulders shrank to the size of doorknobs. The worst part? My arms looked smaller than my forearms.

You know you’ve hit rock bottom when your friends express concern about your wellbeing. Eventually, when my dad was away for a week (thankfully, he didn’t ask too many questions), I seized the opportunity to cook for a calorie surplus, which eventually led me to renew my gym membership after eight long months!

So, the only thing I needed to do was start. I soon realized that while my late-night and early-morning routine was frustrating, nothing was worse than feeling self-conscious in the heat because I looked like a flimsy stick (no offense to those who are slim, but I just couldn’t feel confident that way).

I came to understand that I had been waiting for the right moment to begin when I could have started at any time.

Chapter 2: Rising from Rock Bottom

In with the new mindset:

• Embracing my appearance
• Posing confidently in front of mirrors
• Taking pride in my looks
• Saving money by cooking fresh, nutritious meals

Are these not compelling reasons to kick-start your own journey?

I hope my story inspires you to begin lifting weights or at least pursue a healthier lifestyle. Thanks for joining me, and see you next time!