I'm still in the 1000 pound club
A year ago, I wrote about how I managed to join the 1000-pound club and set myself the goal of losing 12kg while maintaining my powerlifting total. I'm proud to say that I've achieved this goal, and I feel all the better for it. I now weigh 114kg, and although my lifts have dipped slightly from their peak, I'm still hitting around 220kg in the deadlift, 170kg in the squat, and 100kg in the bench press.
I've continued with my hypertrophy programme and currently train at the gym three days a week, focusing on 1-3 muscle groups each quarter. This routine gives me a good balance—allowing me to make visible progress while also spending quality time with my family.
Before my first child arrived, I was training up to four or five days a week. However, as I started losing weight, I found this pace unsustainable. Towards the end, I would turn up at the gym feeling drained, with little energy or motivation to lift with any intensity.
That said, I've noticed significant changes in my muscularity this year. I credit much of this to the weight loss, but I believe I've gained some muscle too. I was ecstatic the first time I caught a glimpse of the beginnings of a bicep in the mirror.
Mounjaro: My Secret Weapon
In April, after nearly a decade of failed attempts at losing weight, I decided to try a weight-loss drug called Mounjaro. After researching its side effects thoroughly, I got a private prescription and have been using it ever since.
For me, the results were immediate and dramatic. I no longer obsessed over food, and often found myself skipping meals simply because I wasn't hungry—a concept that seemed unimaginable to me before, as I'd always had a ravenous appetite.
While Mounjaro has been incredibly effective, it hasn't come without its challenges. Early on, as I was still adjusting to eating less, I sometimes overate, leading to unpleasant side effects like sulphur burps and days of stomach distress. I suspect this was due to losing a large amount of weight in a short time and not giving my body the chance to adjust.
Another challenge I faced was hitting my protein targets. For years, I've aimed to consume 180g of protein a day to help build and maintain muscle. However, with my appetite so severely reduced, it was sometimes difficult to eat enough to meet that goal.
After lowering my dosage to let my body adjust, I was able to return to a more effective dose without the side effects. My current plan is to reach 110kg before coming off the drug for the festive season, giving both my body and mind a break, and reassessing my goals for 2025.
A Shift in Mindset
Until now, my fitness journey has primarily been about mental and physical health. I wanted to get fit enough to run around with my son, now seven months old, and to live a long, healthy life with my wife.
However, as my weight has dropped and I've seen a more attractive person in the mirror, I've found myself increasingly training for aesthetics as well. Interestingly, I've noticed that while most people transition from vanity-focused training to a broader focus on health as they age, I seem to be doing the reverse.
This backward progression seems to be a recurring theme in my life. As a teenager and young adult, I was very studious and ambitious, delaying my 'wild phase' until I was about 25. I put this down to my personal human condition and how I've been conditioned by the world around me.
Goals for the Year Ahead
Much like last year, my goal for the year ahead is to lose more weight, aiming to get under 100kg for the first time in over 13 years. I've lost some strength as the weight has come off, and my focus is no longer solely on my powerlifting numbers. However, if I can stay in the 1000-pound club, that would be a great bonus.
I hope I can write another engaging fitness based article for you to enjoy, this time next year.
I'd like to acknowledge my companion while creating this article, ChatGPT. While the content of this story is true to my life as I remember it, ChatGPT helped me in crafting it into an engaging text that I hope you enjoy.