Hey all, trying to get back into the best shape I've been in - feel free to "friend" me

GrumpyBadger117

Hey all,

I used to be a "professional" I'd like to think. I was at that caliber of fitness, performance and health. Then I got injured and, it was "over." Doctors think I should be grateful I can even walk on my own, and I need to "take it easy." After 7 years of listening to them, more as the years progressed, I've developed chronic pain... and I've had enough.

I'd like to get back in shape again. I finally have a passion and drive to get there - German Longsword in HEMA and other groups... including if I can the absolutely brutal IMCF and ACL.

For the past 7 years, I just didn't. I couldn't think of anything that would ignite my fires like I had of old. And, deep down inside, I felt I never could do things like I saw people do in HEMA and other medieval groups.

but it's great, proper German Longswordsmanship requires good hand-eye coordination, balance, cardio and an overall excellent level of fitness. My biggest goal would be to receive the prestigious "Longpoint Triathlon" award at some point - http://www.fightlongpoint.com/longpoint-triathlon/


... then when it dawned on me just how good of shape I may get into, I thought about epic Hoplite armour and how I never was in good enough shape to wear it too... hence my avatar. For workout training, I can't think of anything better, even though cliche, than a Spartan.


so I'm looking at loosing anywhere between 45 and 55lbs now. Basically, I'm on the "final trek" of getting back in shape, and I'm at the point now where I know I'm healthy enough to really push it. Back at Christmas 2008, I weighed 275, and I now weigh according to Wal-Mart, 225.

my goal is to loose fat while getting my strength and endurance back. I'm in no rush either, just want to get back into shape and do it healthy.

I'm working out only with bodyweight exercises. Darebee.com and Pinterest have been very epic in finding me fun ways to enjoy bodyweight exercises where I live. I love the outdoors, especially where I live in Arizona, so as long as it isn't August nor January/February, I'm always outside.

I just really enjoy them. Blame the vet in me. In the Coast Guard, in basic, we used machines, but we barely even ran. They didn't want us to get hurt so it was all on these massive rows of bike and machines. We did spend time in the pool though, but you'd actually be surprised by how little I think it was. But I really enjoyed the bodyweight calisthenics, the "beatings." And after basic, I kept them up, regardless of where I was stationed or what I was doing. At my trimmest, healthy, out of bootcamp at 19 years of age, I was 165. At my fittest I was 185. According to my girl, who is an artist and daughter of a wrestling coach, my bones have grown broader and denser sense then.

I remember my first time going horizontal to the ground on a pull-up bar. It was a very euphoric experience. I want to get back to that, and even further.

so... my weight. It's an interesting thing. Even my nutritionist couldn't believe I weigh 225. She figured more about 190. I chuckled and said I wished I was 190. But that's the thing -

I'm only 5'7".

The BMI wants me very, very low. Even in my best of shape I was always "overweight." Why? My wrists, and my ankles. My bone structure. I'm built more for someone 6'4'! I swear, I lost FEET growing up somewhere! I'm the epitome of an endomorph, except my chest and shoulders are wider than my hips. But I am very big boned. My nutritionist figures I'm about 155-165lbs lean weight, and my original goal of 170 may be too low.

I'd love to get down to about 10% body fat. So, depending on my lean mass, anywhere between 170 and 180 I guess. We'll see as I get down there. Why a body fat percentage goal? I don't really know what my waist will be at that point. Right now, I have quite a pouch and spare tire working its way off. But seriously, I'm not going to hinder my core strength to get a smaller waist either.

I should be about 33-34" waist for my height... and seriously if it gets that lean again, I may be scary looking because my hips are 43 right now, and my bones show a bit, and my chest is about 46... with ribs showing.


There was an immediate killer in my plan though. And it's probably one others have had as well - my nutrition, although "fairly healthy" in the AMOUNT I ate, was atrocious. I have a 5 year old, and my lady weighs 125 lbs of lean muscle... ectomorph pita and I was very sedentary for the past 3 years, after someone claimed I'd "break in half" if I started working out again. So instead... being afraid of becoming very obese, I slowed down my metabolism by not eating a lot. To a point, on a slippery slope after discarding all sodas and not replacing those calories, I got dangerously LOW.

I don't even know how long I was that LOW. I did my first check-in here, and you'll see it - something like 700 calories. I'd have a bowl of cereal in the morning, my coffee with a bit of creamer, a PB&J for lunch, and dinner. I never knew how low that actually was - I was way off on how many calories I thought I was getting from our epic dinners of chili, Mongolian Beef, Chicken and Mushroom, etc. I had no idea they were so healthy, especially at the portions I ate.

I live in an upstairs apartment and due to injuries, I was told not to go down stairs without someone there for "just in case." So I only went out after my lady got home from work or on her days off. I'm stay-at-home Dad because of these injuries. It's in my back and my knee. So I just stayed home... playing video games, teaching the half-pint, etc.

I travelled down a very stealthy slippery slope of anorexia and never knew it. I was complaining about headaches, thinking it was my sinuses. I was complaining about my sight, thinking it was my "older age." It was my calories! I have a friend who is a registered cardiatric nurse, and yeah. She agrees, I was basically anorexic without knowing it.


What am I looking for? Just camaraderie and support. I like to workout alone, but I know a good support group is awesome. I want to get back into the best shape of my life, at 32, after being "broken and done" for literally 7 years. I don't know why I snapped. I blame John Burk, and darebee.com drawings of cool workout routines based on nerdy things. John's DI mentality was exactly what I needed to hear. And...
I have good news -

my first attempt at "Hero's Journey" on Darebee.com? http://darebee.com/programs/hero-journey.html (HJ)
solid level II, level III. Squats, burpees, high-knees. Arguably the worst it could have thrown at me was at the beginning (I thought I have terrible legs and core), and I did them... it was the most euphoric experience I have to say of my life. I can't believe I was able to push myself that hard. My head was in it. Literally after completing "Level II" and knowing it on day 2, I collapsed on the floor and my lady was just laughing.

we went out and I got a nice healthy steak and guacamole burrito to celebrate... and because of realizing just how low my calories were. I hit a brutal wall and saw a nutritionist because of my nutrition FUBAR. And on that note, I am seeing a nutritionist and going to see other specialists as well, because I can. I live close to Las Vegas. Nothing like going to the UFC capital and meeting trainers used to heavy mass people. Because I finally believe, I am worth it.

my plan right now is as follows:
2100 calories on my "easy days" - all stretching yoga and my basic swordwork
2500 calories on my "hard days" - I'm taking time off "HJ" to get myself back to the level I want. I do hard calisthenics, HIIT, and swordwork every other day.

long-term goals of working out is about 1800 calories of 6 hours of total training, including resting and slow sword work

My nutritionist figures my appetite will grow as I push myself, to a more normal level. She has faith in me being a vet and by the next "check-up" I won't let her down. She said long-term, 2750 to 3000 calories should be good. Luckily, while in the USCG I learned a thing or two about nutrition, and my girl's father is a top level high school wrestling coach. Between the three of us, and everyone else, y'all included, I feel like I have a strong corner. Also thanks to my old ways, my stomach is small, so I'm keeping it that way, and basically eating the same number of meals as the Hobbits in LotR.

my macros are as follows:
protein - 150g minimum (on 2100 days) - can go up from there to 190g (more protein, less carbs seems to work right in line with my goals)

fats - 25%

carbs - the rest - so as I workout and my caloric intake increases, I get to reward myself with more fruits and such. I LOVE Fruit and seriously, eating 8 strawberries instead of 4 really is a motivator for me to get back into shape and my
calories on track.

I'm following the basics in this - http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/new-year-start-here-7-day-beginner-trainer-day-4.html
I like that they're simple. I LOVE and know how to cook properly, and we didn't even have to "clean out the kitchen." Instead we really just needed to stock it deeper for me.

if you want to know more about me, I have a blog, knightlyhowe.blogspot.com - I promise to post once a week. After this I'm working on polishing my post for today.

and pinterest -https://www.pinterest.com/tanukidomo/ Seriously, my pinterest really does show me and all my passions and hobbies. Lots of great stuff on fitness and nutrition as well now as I improve in my knowledge too. I am on Facebook, but seriously at this point only for long-distance family. I've grown tired of the thing. MFP and Pinterest is hands down the easiest way to get ahold of me. I'm on both every day.

I'm really looking forward to this new adventure I'm on. I can't wait til my calories are consistently where they need to be, and I can start darebee.com's Hero's Journey again.

but what do y'all think? Honestly, every opinion is worth something to me. Let me know what you think, and I look forward to building relationships and a solid team of people working together to better themselves!