Joining the Club — A Weight Gain Journey
Reflections on crossing 200 lbs.
***This article was originally written in September 2022. I didn’t dare to share publicly at the time. I can’t go back in time, but I can share it now.***
February 11th, 2022.
I looked in the mirror and smiled. It was day 34 of my 75 hard challenge, and my body looked the best it had since early high school. My chest and shoulders had gotten noticeably larger, and I’d shed most of my belly fat, allowing a subtle outline of my abdominal muscles to appear.
Two workouts a day, a diet high in protein, and eight hours of sleep a night had completely changed my physical appearance. Additionally, I’d cut out booze, fast food, and staying up past 10:00pm. My face also slimmed down, and my jawline became more defined — an unexpected physical change but one that was welcomed.
With half of the challenge left, I was excited to see the progress I would make in the coming weeks. I’d been making gains in the gym and pushing more weight than ever.
It was the first time I’d committed to the gym and begun seeing the fruits of my labor.
I sat at 167 lbs.
