My Health and Fitness Reboot

For those who have gotten to know me, through my content; especially those who have discovered my mails in the LISTNERDS that I submit and my @actifit posts, almost everyday and it mostly surrounds either my high intensity interval training sessions or my participation in running events.

To say the least, I rarely miss a workout unless it's my designated rest day; which is crucial in any type of fitness training. I probably don't take enough rest days; but that's for another topic.

A quick background, for those who may have never read anything of mine. I began my health and fitness journey in my late forties and pretty much disrespected my body before that with beer, cigarettes, fast food and party substances. I just partied my ass off when I was younger and when I got older and settled down, became too comfortable with just did a lot of overeating, continued smoking and although not much partying - I still drank my share of beer.

Back in the day, I don't remember posing for any photo without some type of alcoholic beverage in my hand. What's crazy about the picture above. I had started working out, so I actually was more overweight than that.

A couple of moments in my life came into focus and the partying subsided and treating my body like a temple, became a huge part of my life. Life changing part of my life, to be exact.

When I was younger and I'm sure many of us have gone through the same thing, I was always slim. I could eat 2 huge burgers in one sitting, fries and a soda and not gain a pound.

Then when I was younger, but an adult, I maintained being skinny, because I partied A LOT. When you are abusing your body without eating much and your whole existence was based on feeling nice and breaking night, you can whittle away pretty quickly.

The moment I decided to change and get out of the neighborhood I was in, then things became better for me and eventually I met my ex-wife. Great lady, she was an important part of me staying on the straight and narrow and although I had some moments of what may be considered relapses; she stuck by me and overall, I kept it together. I did well for myself and for us.

I'm not with her anymore, but she was there with me; when I decided to go all in on my health and fitness.

Throughout our 15 year relationship from dating through marriage there were some instances that we did some diets and worked out here and there, but I was in a different level of thinking at this point of my life. I had the eye of the tiger and despite that, I ever never ever never was anywhere near an athlete, but I started doing athletic things.

I was doing things at 50 that I couldn't do at 25 or wouldn't even bother doing when I was younger, unless there was party stuff involved.

I fell in love with working out and the decision to take care of my body, meant that cigarettes had to go, potato chips, soda and fast food.

Cigarettes and Soda were two of the most critical removals from my life. Deciding to stop putting those poisonous things in my body, that was the beginning of a whole new life for me. Then deciding on eliminating as many fast food meals, as possible and not having greasy potato chips with all that saturated fat.

I went into this whole new life, of eating healthier and working on my fitness at 216 pounds (mostly gut) and got down to a 155 pounds a couple of times during the journey.

That is where things start getting back to the reality of things.

A couple of times I took a few steps back. The workouts never stopped, but the eating part has slipped multiple times. Not drastic mode. I still stood away from most of the crap, but perhaps a few extra sweet potatoes and cheat Saturday becoming Cheat Weekend; just becomes more prevalent.

Not to mention holidays and summers when we go away.

That is part of the journey and I've accepted that and have been able to get back on track and crush it without any stumbling blocks.

Well, March 2020 rolled around and now my soon to be wife; Tiffany and I were riding high on crushing our health and fitness lifestyle. When I met Tiffany, we were friends and one of the things that we related on; was how much weight both of us had lost. Tiffany, had lost a ton of weight. Her story blew me away, because she did all of it from home including the workouts. So I was in awe of her.

Because of Tiffany, I'm open to more healthier options that I've never would have tried before meeting her. I mean, I eat plant based meals, more vegetables, more ethnic meal options outside of my Dominican and Puerto Rican Latino heritage.

Admittedly, Tiffa and I are foodies and love to try new restaurants and recipes and we do always try to find healthier options; but I still love my pizza and she still loves Mexican food. So hence, cheat day Saturdays.

Then came March 2020 and the pandemic came along and fucked shit up.

The good news? Yes, there was good news. We had work out at home options and we continued to eat right and more importantly, everything was shut down; so we were kind of forced to abide by our routines when it came to meal prep and knowing, Tiffa and I; had plenty of healthy stuff in the house.

So, the first year of the pandemic and lockdown; we manage to kick major ass and was actually more fit than ever:

So, the two pictures above span about 8 years plus and the road had been smooth towards my/our goals until March 2021, when Tiffany and I caught COVID and shit when downhill from there.

Getting sick, more and new injuries and a slew of other mental shit that came along with it; had made us slip on our eating habits.

Don't get me wrong, I'm nowhere near that first picture; but I can't say I'm at the second picture either.

One year can make a hell of a difference.

So over the weekend, we kind of went nuts and probably pushed our limits a bit; but it was for good reason. We knew that, it was time; to stop letting the COVID ordeal continue being an excuse and that whatever injuries we have incurred the last few months; perhaps getting back to basics, will minimize those too.

Our food shopping included a lot more fruits, vegetables, healthy yogurt, nut butter, healthy grain products and sea food.

I also have a gallon bottle of water right by me to drink daily, as even that had been laxed.

Here's the thing, it's not that we haven't been buying that stuff lately; it's just that it wasn't dominating our shopping cart and why that stuff has to also dominate our plates again.

We have 2 by the beach stays coming up as well as Tiffany and I eloping in Vegas in a few months, so we need to make sure that we are keeping nice and fit for these occasions; because it's a proven fact, that you cannot simply workout your way to a fit body without a healthy diet. NO way No how.

The road to health and fitness takes a lot of work and it's not perfect for most of us, but to say that it's not possible; then we would be lying to ourselves.

Thankfully, Tiffa and I have kept our exercise regiment going on; regardless of the pitfalls, since the COVID ordeal and we have made tremendous strides from the struggles trying to get back to our past workout metrics.

Since we kept the workouts going, it will allow us to lose some pounds pretty quickly in a health way and then get back into a nice groove and then losing a few more; until we get back to what we personally feel is best.

*HIVE Divider Courtesy of @doze

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