Getting back to health, take 27, aaaand ... Action!

mastickles

It really is somewhere around my 25th-30th attempt at getting back in shape after 30+ years being out of shape. The problem I've had is that so far, everything I've tried has worked, but nothing was sustainable. Atkins, Macrobiotics, Protein Power, South Beach, The Zone, Blood Type Diet, Volumetrics, Body for Life, Body Code, and many more - I've tried 'em all, lost fat on 'em all, failed to stick with 'em all, and regained the weight with interest after 'em all.

The last time I was in half-decent shape (I've never been truly "fit") was my freshman year of college, 1980-81. I weighed 148 lbs at 5'9", about 18% body fat, strength (except for leg press) and aerobic capacity below average but not abysmal. By the time I graduated in 1985, I was 185 lbs and about 35% body fat. Over the last 30 years, I've cycled my way up as high as 245 lbs (currently 238.5), though my body fat has never reached 35% again; my lean mass has been increasing along with the fat, probably from all the exercise as well as the effort needed to haul around the increased bulk. I've certainly never looked as fat over those years as I did in my college graduation photos.

My goal right now is to return to 18% body fat. I don't see 148 lbs as feasible; most likely I'll hit my target somewhere between 175-200 lbs, depending on how much lean mass I lose (I expect to lose some despite the exercise, since there won't be as much "me" for it to support). At that point I'll re-evaluate to see if I want to go further.