As I've alluded to in previous posts I've had my weight yoyo back and forth for quite a while now. I don't open up much about my issues but since this forum has been such a help for me with the vast amount of information I felt like opening up to all of you strangers haha
In Jr. High I floated around the low 200's at 6'... my mom fed me very well haha
Once I entered high school I started lifting in PE (we had regular and fitness/lifting PE, I went for the later) and shed a ton of the fat.
(yes, I looked like a douche)
Unfortunately, I still ate garbage...
When I joined the Military as an MP I was a good 180lbs (with fluff around the edges) but half way through basic we contracted the Norwalk virus (imagine the worst food poisoning of your life and multiply it...) and by the time I resumed training I was around 140lbs of skin and bones.
From that point on I've struggled for years to build back up. I would let my long hours and poor dietary choices deter me from sticking to my goals (anyone who has ate a military dining facility knows about the only stuff that seems half edible is the unhealthy crap they offer).
During a deployment I was able to refocus my goals and actually start getting back in shape. The fact that all you really can do is work, eat and hit the gym tends to help haha
Fast forward to 2012, I was extremely stressed, diagnosed with anxiety and depression (linked to an injury I sustained in training compounded by some nasty calls I responded to) and had dropped to 140lbs. I was barely able to eat without nausea.
As a result I lost so much muscle mass I soon began failing my fitness assessments and subsequently was put on the list for early separation last year. With no exit plan established and a wife who was pregnant I fell deeper into depression. We lost our house as I couldn't find work. The day after packing up everything and moving cross country to live with family my wife gave birth to our second son. This fired me back up and re-motivated me like nothing else. It took a while but I finally found work again (overseas contractor).
In the mean time though I started eatting pure garbage again... fast food constantly as money was tight and that junk is cheap and filling. Prior to heading over for my contract I was 180+ with a high body fat (couldn't begin to tell you what I was at...). I passed my fitness assessment by the skin of my teeth (while a couple 50-60 year olds blew past me during it.).
With the heat of the middle east, free gym and the access to cheap healthy food choices again I've made some great progress in the past couple months... at least I'd like to say. Then again I still have a long way to go. This honestly has been the first time in my life I've enough noticed any difference in my chest... I've always had an easy time building my legs/back, decent arms but my chest has always been pitiful... well it still is but it's atleast something.
I just want to say from the bottom of my heart, thanks to all of you for the great posts and knowledge you've shared. It's truly made a huge difference in my life.
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Originally Posted by manstrom
