Okay this is my first post so here goes…
In November of '22, I was in my entrepreneur peer group and the speaker mentioned a misogi, a transformative experience that will challenge you to push your limits. Something that would be hard and terrifying they said.
For those that don’t know (and I didn’t either), a misogi is a traditional Japanese term that refers to a unique and challenging practice of purification. In traditional Japanese culture, misogi involves immersing oneself in cold water or standing beneath a waterfall to purify the body and mind. But in contemporary times, misogi has taken on a new meaning. It’s a challenge that pushes you to your limits and forces you to confront your fears, doubts, weaknesses. At its core, misogi is about transformation. It’s about shedding old habits and beliefs and embracing a new, more powerful version of yourself. By pushing your physical, mental and spiritual limits, you’ll discover strength and resilience that you never knew existed.
At 46, 6’5 and 300 pounds, I decided to challenge myself to get in the best shape I can over the next year and permanently get off the “fat” treadmill. I decided that I’ll post pics, progress, and document my failures and my successes. For me, this is terrifying to post any of this (part of the misogi). Going to be hard to believe once you see the picture but I was a great athlete in high school and college, even played low level professional sports. However, I have had multiple surgeries. I have had seven total knee surgeries and a shoulder surgery. I have had 3 ACL tears and repairs. I am/was/still kinda fat and out of shape.
My wife and kids (12, 9, and 7) don’t know that I have taken this challenge. In fact, the rules of the misogi (or so they said) is that I can’t tell them. I just have to do it. To make matters worse, my wife is a smoke show who’s degree is in nutrition. She is DAILY in the gym and three babies and 16 years later is ripped with crazy muscle definition and a six pack. So that’s a lot of background, sorry about that. I realize the rules dictate I can’t tell anyone about this around me so hiring a personal trainer to whip my ass daily isn’t an option. I can’t have my wife help because it would kind of defeat the purpose of the challenge.
So I started reading and researching. I got my blood work done (I’ll attach it). I got a Dexascan (but only after I lost a bunch of weight. I was too damn embarrassed to go in at the beginning). I changed my diet, logged my food, and starting working out 4 times a week for an hour. It’s working. The picture below was taken March 12th. I was down from 300 pounds to 240 pounds. My wife took the pictures. I basically just told her I needed them for my peer group (we do some crazy shit so she doesn’t really ask questions). I am going to post my bloodwork as well.
So here is what I would ask of the T-Nation. I want to get ripped AF. I have some time constraints given my family and my job (1 hour workouts during the week is all I have time for) but I have never tried to just pack on muscle and look jacked. I want to give it f’ing hell and go for it. But I also have no f’ing CLUE how to pack on a bunch of muscle. I have taken the approach of “find a workout and go” to this point but the gremlin in my head has me questioning if my approach will work. I have come to grips that I can’t have a personal trainer but I can have a coach that can give me the program. But I have to do the work, find the motivation, and exercise the discipline to get this done. Always been super impressed with guys that have veins all over their arms. Why can’t that be me?
Here is the kicker. At the end of the year, regardless of the results, I have to post a full body shot with my face in my boxers. That’s in November. Again, that thought is EXTREMELY terrifying to me. To the outside world, I have a large successful business, money, family, etc. This IS my area of greatest insecurity. I’m out to change that…
So here is the bloodwork and the pics.
