[Story] I've surpassed myself!!

Submitted by RedditUser000aaa t3_10u81lf in GetMotivated

This requires a bit of context, but I'll keep it short and sweet. I'm a 27 year old male, on early pension due to mental unwellness and some neurological issues. I also had a scare last year when my back was aching so bad I could barely move.

My routine was empty, I was either playing videogames or watching YouTube videos night and day, until the beginning of last december. The moment it happened I was watching YouTube and eating junk food, when a thought popped into my head:

"This is what you'll do for the rest of your days? You'll just play videogames and watch YouTube until the day you die on your couch."

When that thought popped into my head, I had a moment of clarity. I thought I'd start exercising to at least keep my legs functional.

The first steps were the most painful. When I started this, it was exhausting to even walk. After a while my body was getting used to walking, So I walked even more. I did get careless and overworked my body to the point I needed to stop walking for a while.

When my legs got better I started walking again, this time a bit less, making sure I wouldn't overwork my body.

I bought a dumbbell set, started working with them, but I noticed I was overworking my body with dumbbells too, so I toned down the lifting as well. Next I changed my eating habits, a bit restrictive, but I allow myself to fail, not enough to become a problem, but enough to keep cravings in check.

With everything combined I developed a routine right for me. I get enough sleep, I eat enough and while I allow myself to indulge on treats it's not often enough that I start gaining fat again.

I started my journey 10 weeks ago and with a bit of trial and error I went from over 99 kilograms to 88.5 kilograms.

I've noticed that I am a lot more confident, have more energy, I don't get irritated as much and my mental health has improved a lot.

This all started because a single wayward thought popped into my head and I couldn't be happier for what I've accomplished. I still have a long way to go, but I've got motivation to keep going, nothing is going to keep me down anymore!

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Ambitious-Spinach339 t1_j7b9fak wrote

Super awesome story! Keep this thread going and keep us posted pls. This is quite motivating.

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RedditUser000aaa OP t1_j7beke5 wrote

Sure thing! Will update this thread once I hit my next goal.

EDIT: Fixed the wording a bit.

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Inflaav26 t1_j7agskj wrote

Well done! Keep up the good work!

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RedditUser000aaa OP t1_j7ans92 wrote

Thank you! Now that I know what I am capable of, I can't be stopped. I'll keep going until I see the goalpost and beyond the goalpost.

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SuicideSnake t1_j7daxes wrote

This is just the beginning. Consistency is the key.

Build that wall with one brick each day, then 2 bricks, then 5 bricks.

Keep going and you will surprise yourself with what you can achieve.

Well done.

Keep us posted.

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RedditUser000aaa OP t1_j7eaz0a wrote

Will do! I'll share more on my thoughts and successes when I meet the next goal.

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BestLifeAhead t1_j7cgs0t wrote

Great job! Keep up the good work and feel free to share more of your successes with us.

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The_Banana_Republic t1_j7cx57a wrote

Congratulations! Love hearing stories of people who are honest enough to admit that the road to your goals is neither smooth nor straight. Keep up the the great work!!

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RedditUser000aaa OP t1_j7ean05 wrote

Thank you! Yeah self-improvement is hard on many aspects, no shame in admitting that. I'm sure I still do some techniques wrong with dumbbells, but as long as I get the exercise from it, I don't care.

For the longest time I was too self-concious to do any kind of training, because people seemed to have the "perfect" technique in doing everything to get the most out of their exercises.

What I didn't realise is that different people have different ideas about what the perfect way is to do something, so I started doing my own thing with no pressure about doing something wrong.

It will be a long journey for sure, but I'll get there my way.

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bravopapa99 t1_j7d5jnw wrote

Fucking A dude. I need that myself. I've let myself go too far the wrong side of comfortable. Keep it up. I will think of you tomorrow as I try to begin my redemption again.

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RedditUser000aaa OP t1_j7e7mij wrote

The beginning is the worst as the body is hurting and the mind just tells you to get back into the comfort zone.

At first I started walking for half an hour each day and work myself up from there, slowly.

You can redeem yourself for as long as you live. Allow yourself to fail and at the start keep the workload light and experiment with what your body can and can't do.

It doesn't matter how much you do or how often you do, all that matters is that you do.

Don't be too harsh on yourself either, it took me 17 years to even begin this path, if we count from the moment where I started facing hardships in my life to the point I became mentally unfit.

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bravopapa99 t1_j7hnrxm wrote

I better get a f* move on though, I've had cancer twice since 2020, it feels like it's got me in its crosshairs. In March 2020 I had 50cm of my ass removed (bowel cancer, no colon left at all, which as a software developer makes me laugh at the irony of not having a colon) and then it came back and last Sep (2022) I had 70% of my liver cut out as there was a 5cm, tumour in it, lucky for me it was in the lobe and they took the fecking lot out. Lucky to not be shitting in a bag, I told the surgeon not to bother waking me up if that's what they were gong to do, I meant it as well.

My biggest problem is I am always harsh on myself. All my life I have always set myself hhuge goals because then I know I can fail and tell myself it wasn't doable anyway. I am mentally mental I think. I often wonder if I'd pass 'a normal' test.

Thanks u/RedditUser000aaa, strangers can sometimes give each other some hope when our closest ones try but annoy us!

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RedditUser000aaa OP t1_j7j34im wrote

Man, cancer is the absolute worst. In the past I was overly critical and self-concious about myself all the time. Even worse I felt that because the world was being harsh on me that I felt entitled to relationships and wealth, while being jealous of others on facebook.

You can imagine how well trying to date with depression went, never again. I thought a girlfriend would be an instant fix for my issues.

Mental issues are extremely hard to tackle on, it's doable but annoying to try and find the source. The biggest source for my issues was the constant insecurity in finances, but not the only one, otherwise I would have started this path the moment my financial situation became okay.

My advice for you is to set a goal you cannot absolutely fail and see if you can slowly work yourself up from there. Even 10 minutes of walking outside would be a huge victory.

As for the colon thing, yeah whose bright idea was it to name a symbol after part of the digestive tract?

And lastly, this is the one thing I've discovered about myself:

I am the master of my body and the mind, they respond to my will and my command!

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empleat t1_j7dfp99 wrote

Whaaaaaaaaaaat we have it similar in many aspects... Except my step 1 took like 7 years xDDD because chronic pain... I Am chronic procrastinator (still this is my main struggle), I have ADHD my brain gets no dopamine... Even to exist is like work in mine every day... I don't even know how i am doing myself currently, because there is just so much and it can change instantly...

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RedditUser000aaa OP t1_j7e9bys wrote

I understand it is even harder for someone with ADHD and chronic pain. Slow and steady wins the race. Every little bit you do in life to improve is already a victory.

People always like to say that failure is the worst thing in the world and to that I say no. Putting too much pressure on self with the fear of failing is bound to lead to a failure, so if in a particularly bad day it's hard or impossible to do something I say, accept the failure and then continue on another day where a day is better.

There are endless paths to self-improvement and it takes time to find the path most suitable for you, but when you do find it, you're on a long journey towards personal victory.

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fewtradesjack t1_j7ecggn wrote

Love reading stories like this, and well done! What's next for you?

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RedditUser000aaa OP t1_j7eecpu wrote

For now, the long term plan is to lose weight until I am once more at healthy weight. After that I want to try a little bit of bodybuilding.

Basically lose the fat, gain the muscle. I don't want too much muscle, I want to be both agile and strong.

I suppose that while I'm doing all of this a little bit of socializing wouldn't hurt. I'm a sucker for boardgames and I found a nice boardgame club near me that I'll join sooner or later.

Once I know I am functional and well I might even try and study again and maybe wiggle waggle back into worklife.

If not I suppose I can always try and educate myself and become a freelancer of sorts. Possibilities are endless.

The studying, self-education and returning to worklife are big maybes in my life and completely dependent on how well I am feeling after I have achieved my personal goals.

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fewtradesjack t1_j8bnr6o wrote

Awesome—the possibilities really are endless. Keep it up!

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[deleted] t1_j7el5er wrote

[removed]

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RedditUser000aaa OP t1_j7eq72n wrote

Thank you so much! I'm glad my experiences have given you a boost! Remember that it doesn't matter how much you do or when you do, just that you do.

Every time you do something that counts as self-improvement you've already won! Even if it is little.

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hiricinee t1_j7enoav wrote

People have no idea how much lifting helps. You skipped right to the hard part that helps the most.

My tip is to focus on the big muscle group exercises- squats, deadlifts, and bench/floor presses for your chest. If your goal is the mental health and general health benefits, and you're not doing a rigorous routine where you're focusing on every muscle group, your goal is to lift as much volume of weight as you can in as short of a time as you can.

Very good work though, you're a motivational inspiration.

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RedditUser000aaa OP t1_j7evo07 wrote

Interesting points! Tbh there are times where I'd absolutely love to ignore the dumbbells, but I'd rather work my entire body so I can function better.

Thank you for the tips and for the support! I appreciate it.

EDIT:

Forgot to mention that while for now my goal is to lose weight and to keep myself mentally and physically healthy, I'm going to try and get into bodybuilding after I've reached my first goal.

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hiricinee t1_j7f8azp wrote

Even if you make absolutely zero gains and look like shit, you feel great after getting into at training regimen and usually sleep better. Nothing has done better for my mental health-- though I've also gotten quite a bit of gains.

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RedditUser000aaa OP t1_j7fa5kr wrote

I don't mind getting some gains, that'd be a bonus in my current state, but even if I don't I still feel proud from working out.

Also very nice to hear you've gotten gains, that's a lot of effort and that's something to be proud of.

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hiricinee t1_j7fe2y7 wrote

It helps but if I had to pick between that and sleeping well/being motivated/ being less anxious I'd pick the mental benefits.

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FireTech2 t1_j7l9mhx wrote

I feel ya on the overdoing it. The body does have limits, and they can be overcome, but not too fast. Small steps lead to huge success. You did it, keep climbing!

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Haderade25 t1_j7m4mmy wrote

I know how hard it is to be hurt but still have to take care of yourself physically and mentally. Its hard, but good job on sticking to your goals!

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RedditUser000aaa OP t1_j7nv7nf wrote

It's a slow journey, but I've read or heard this quote somewhere: "The journey is the destination."

This is the first time I've stuck with something for this long as well. Sure I may slightly deviate from the path I've laid out for myself, but I'll get right back on track.

The mental blocks were definitely hardest to overcome, had it not been for that single thought I might still be lazing around doing nothing.

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tramadolic t1_j7al0kc wrote

Do more than you should, less than what you want. Stop doing stuff 100% , split tasks into manageable realistic things so you don't break down and can't move.

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RedditUser000aaa OP t1_j7anqlw wrote

Absolutely! Attempting to run a marathon or trying to lift more than what you are capable of will just be begging for an injury or a burnout. Same with eating. Too much restriction and the cravings will just become stronger until the mind just gives in and goes completely overboard.

Very wise words!

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boogeywookiie t1_j7alf39 wrote

000aaa this is such a good thing you have done for yourself. From my own experience I know that walking is one of the simplest ways to keep your lower back strong and healthy. I commend your efforts and hope you keep your balanced approach to remaining healthy.

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RedditUser000aaa OP t1_j7ank26 wrote

I will, absolutely! There had been times where I wanted to exercise to lose weight and to eat more healthy, but every time I tried, I got so confused on where to start, because people had different things to say about nutrition and moving.

I think at this point, I just stopped caring what others had written and said and decided to just use my legs instead of reading about using my legs and that was the first push needed to propel me forward to what I do now.

Of course this is a lifestyle change. As I said failures are allowed, but I must not slip back into my old self, because I know the weight and everything else will come back.

Lastly: Thank you for your encouragement internet stranger! I truly appreciate it!

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Professional-Page103 t1_j8rfv6l wrote

That’s amazing to hear! I would be impressed by myself if a single thought could motivate me to actually take action

I’m a student, but sometimes when I procrastinate on work I can realize it and have a thought but still continue with my procrastination regardless

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