I can hardly believe I’m intentionally gaining weight. Never in a million years did I ever think I would find myself in this position. Why and who would do this? A bodybuilder in training. I don’t see myself as a bodybuilder, but I’m certainly eating and training like one. In the world of bodybuilding bulking is standard practice. If you want to put on muscle mass you have to eat.
Last winter I did what I would consider a mini-bulk. I wasn’t all that comfortable with the weight gain and wasn’t ready to accept the compromise of extra weight and fat with more muscle. This time, I am heeding the weight gain no attention. When I made the decision to bulk in the late autumn, I told my coach I wanted to bulk for 8-10 weeks. Well I’m four weeks in now and I’m ready to go full throttle and see how much muscle mass I can build.
I would love to have that “perfect” body and to be lean and ripped every day of the year. Unfortunately, I have to make a compromise and be willing to accept that for me to have that body, I have to work for it. Both inside and outside the gym. Sure I might get a little uncomfortable with the weight gain, but in a few months time, I’ll strip away the layers to reveal just what I’ve been working on. I absolutely can't wait!
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1996
2007
By definition, to be on the anvil is to be in a state of discussion, formation, or preparation. On the anvil I am transforming and reshaping a rusted, neglected body into a magnificent instrument. This is my place where I will share stories of my transformation. This is my anvil.
Margie
My Journey
My weight loss adventure began in 1996, weighing in at 205 pounds. Ten years later, I lost a total of 90 pounds. Aside from a love of sweets and carbs that knew no bounds? A myriad of incidents and issues led me to using food for all the wrong reasons from an early age. Food was never just food for me. It was a way of escaping from the world; a comfort and a coping mechanism. Not an unfamiliar story for many, I’m sure. It's taken me a long time but I'm finally managing to unravel my relationship with food and develop a healthier attitude towards my body and nutrition.
Back in 1996 I'd convinced myself that chocolate was one of the five food groups. Jelly beans, and jujubes were an afternoon snack. For years I watched the scale climb and felt helpless and hopeless. Depressed, yet determined I decided it was time to lose the weight. How I used to long to just be thin. So with my newfound determination I’d embark on a new “starvation” diet and throw in a little exercise for good measure. I’d lose anywhere from 5-10 pounds and manage to keep it off until I went through my next cycle of body image/diet frustration. This yo-yo dieting went on for ten years. My so-called grand epiphany happened in August 2005 when something in me triggered and I was ready to no longer let my weight dictate everything I did with my life, or rather what I didn’t do. This is when dramatic changes in my body happened.
The secret to losing weight...
Two words. Diet. Exercise. No magic answer. The only way to lose weight is through proper nutrition and exercise. I busted my butt on the treadmill and adhered strictly to a diet that kept me in a caloric deficit to finally rid myself of the excess fat. Mind you, if I were to do it again, I’d certainly do a few things differently, but this was my method and it worked. Today, I focus on eating a fairly clean diet with loads of fruit, veggies and protein. I’m learning to enjoy food without shame or guilt and trying to live with the attitude that no food is inherently “good” or “bad”, and there is a time for everything.
I've developed a new passion along my weight loss journey. No longer will you see me running countless hours on that treadmill in the back corner. Today you’ll find me in the “guys room” as I used to call it in my fat days, lifting heavy and working hard to build a new physique.
Overall, my desire to live a healthy life has made this change a permanent one. A favourite saying of mine has been...the pain of discipline far outweighs the pain of regret. How badly do you want to reach your goal? What’s standing in your way? Food will always be there. Know that perseverance and dedication to making small changes will reap huge benefits.
"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." - Carl Bard
Back in 1996 I'd convinced myself that chocolate was one of the five food groups. Jelly beans, and jujubes were an afternoon snack. For years I watched the scale climb and felt helpless and hopeless. Depressed, yet determined I decided it was time to lose the weight. How I used to long to just be thin. So with my newfound determination I’d embark on a new “starvation” diet and throw in a little exercise for good measure. I’d lose anywhere from 5-10 pounds and manage to keep it off until I went through my next cycle of body image/diet frustration. This yo-yo dieting went on for ten years. My so-called grand epiphany happened in August 2005 when something in me triggered and I was ready to no longer let my weight dictate everything I did with my life, or rather what I didn’t do. This is when dramatic changes in my body happened.
The secret to losing weight...
Two words. Diet. Exercise. No magic answer. The only way to lose weight is through proper nutrition and exercise. I busted my butt on the treadmill and adhered strictly to a diet that kept me in a caloric deficit to finally rid myself of the excess fat. Mind you, if I were to do it again, I’d certainly do a few things differently, but this was my method and it worked. Today, I focus on eating a fairly clean diet with loads of fruit, veggies and protein. I’m learning to enjoy food without shame or guilt and trying to live with the attitude that no food is inherently “good” or “bad”, and there is a time for everything.
I've developed a new passion along my weight loss journey. No longer will you see me running countless hours on that treadmill in the back corner. Today you’ll find me in the “guys room” as I used to call it in my fat days, lifting heavy and working hard to build a new physique.
Overall, my desire to live a healthy life has made this change a permanent one. A favourite saying of mine has been...the pain of discipline far outweighs the pain of regret. How badly do you want to reach your goal? What’s standing in your way? Food will always be there. Know that perseverance and dedication to making small changes will reap huge benefits.
"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." - Carl Bard
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