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From Fatman to Ironman

Writer: The Useless RunnerThe Useless Runner
Jan 16, 20213 min read

Updated: Jan 31, 2021

fat ~ [adjective]

"Having a lot of flesh on the body."


fat ~ [noun]

"The substance under the skin of humans and animals that stores energy and keeps them warm."


I am going to summarize this in the best way possible.


I was fat, then I wasn't. I was fat again, then I wasn't. And again, and again, and again ........ you get the picture.


The above resumes my entire life until 4+ years ago. If you fancy a quick read about that, you can read about my dear old friend Pete here.


Acceptance was something I pretty much assumed was going to be my life when it came to me being obese. That yo-yo effect I put myself in trying to fix my metabolically damaged self, took me to extremes I never really stopped to think about. Hardcore diets which did not put into context the underlying problems I was facing.


It was this fat-man mentality that led me to that never ending spiral.


What did it take?. A hell lot.


Let me elaborate. Being fat is of course a physical consequence of something. And when I say something, I mean anything.


Is not a consequence of just eating too much all the time.

Is not a consequence of just too many carbs.

Is not a consequence of just too much stress.

Is not a consequence of just being lazy.

Is not a consequence of just not moving more and eating less.

Is not a consequence of just eating too much fat (The KETO community would disagree on this one. Still true for me).


I never played the pitiful game of blaming others. All of this was my choice. For whatever bad nutrition I had all my life, this is the place I ended up in, and this was the hole I dug myself into. I never played the victim. You can say that I was 'OK' with being extremely obese.


The journey to fix myself took many marginal changes. Changes so minuscule you would not think in the spectrum of things they would matter. But they did to me. Things as simple as drinking water with lemon juice in the mornings.


I bet at this point you want to know the fix?. You want to know that one thing to help you get out of that spiral?. You want to know once and for all the solution to being overweight?.


I am sorry, I don't have the answer. This is a very complex topic. But if you are willing to take a couple of tips on how to try and improve, I can help with that.


I walked.

Then I went for a run.

Then I went for a swim.

Then I rode my bike.

Then I read the science, a lot of it.

I cooked breakfast before starting work.

I put my plans in writing.

I visualized my goals.

I listened to music.

I said good bye to Pete.

I learned to breathe.

I read some more, I wanted to understand what happens to macronutrients once ingested.

I learned to manage my energy levels.

I learned to use carbohydrate as fuel, not a quick fix.

I stopped being scared of fat.

I logged my routines.

I started working with an awesome trainer.

I learned to apply technique to my workouts.

I surrounted myself with friends who brought the best in me.

I learned to control my stress (This is probably the one thing you must do).

I learned to say no.

I learned to talk about how I feel.

I learned to cry.

I learned to push myself.

I learned that social pressure is real.

I learned to enjoy the process.

I signed up for races.

I trained hard.

I became an Ironman.


Even after all that, I continue to learn every day.


I did not become an Ironman because I raced in one. I felt like an Ironman way before that, with my habits, with the discipline I built up, with the simple fact of drinking water with lemon juice in the mornings.


I became an Ironman because of the journey.


Don't delay it. Be your own Ironman. For that, you don't need a medal.


Thanks for reading.





 
 
 

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