It's been 11 months since I embarked on the journey to better physical shape. When I look back, the progress is noticeable. I currently hover around 160-165 lbs depending on the time of day. I managed to go to the gym twice a week thanks to the perk offered at work. It helps when I don't have to pay for a gym membership.
I combined working out at the gym with dietary changes. Instead of snacking and eating as much as I used to, I opted to eat less each meal but made sure I satiated the hunger. That doesn't mean I don't indulge here and there. It just means I don't abuse my body the way I could back in my 20s.
The picture above is where I am on the pec fly machine. At the beginning of this journey, I had to start low at 85 lbs. I usually do three sets of ten per session. Of course, this is part of my exercise routine when I go to the gym. I'm not the type of guy that skips leg days or subscribes to uneven workouts. To me, 130 lbs are not even my peak. While in university, I was doing 145 lbs at one point. The good news is that I am getting closer.
For those of you who don't know what I'm referring to, I am talking about a machine similar to this picture:
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Despite the progress I've made, it got me thinking. Am I progressing? Technically, I am trying to restore, or climb back, into my former shape. That train of thought certainly dampens the accomplishment of the past 11 months. Perhaps I am too hard on myself?
Philosophical debates aside, the most important thing is that I feel healthier compared to when I started last March. Becoming healthier has also given me more energy to pursue other endeavors. So really, even as I head into my mid-30s, I feel more confident heading into the future than I did in my younger days.
