afganibob
November 10th, 2007, 08:48 AM
It starts today. Some of you may know that today is the Marine Corps Birthday, November 10th. I have decided that I am sick and tired of being sick and tired and have chosen today to be reborn (again). I am actually quite upset with myself, as I introduce myself it will become apparent why.
So here goes nothing. I am a 30 year old male with no wife or children. I am a risk taker type of person, hence my profession. I drive convoys in and around Kabul, Afghanistan for a living as a Security Officer for a major Corporation in Afghanistan and Iraq. I have been over here in Afghanistan for over 15 months now and I am looking forward to my next R&R, December 7th. I have a wonderful trip for the girlfriend planned to Cancun. Okay so Cancun means beaches, there is one of the many reasons for what I am doing, starting today. At 30 years old I have spent 4 years in the Marines and was in pretty good shape during that time. After getting out in 1998 I got married, divorced and engaged and split up. So my last harsh break up put me into a bit of depression for a little while, that led to my OCD kicking in, but for a good thing in the end. I was at a disgusting 185 around the middle of December of 2004 when the break up happened and I started a diet and workout regimen that lasted until August of 2005 when I caught the flu and suspected a hernia. When August 2005 rolled around, 8 months after I had started I was down to 155 pounds and fitting into 30-31 waist jeans. I was eating roughly 6-7 times a day and taking in around 2000-2500 calories. I prepared all of my own meals and was spending 2 hours a night in the gym that I had built up in my apartment. I was doing anywhere between 30-45 minutes of cardio a night and running around 4 times a week. I was religious in my routine. I was in love with what I had accomplished. A far cry from the stretched out 36’s lying in the closet.
So from August until July of 2007 I had gone right back up to around 180 and the body fat just kept climbing. Now I am in Afghanistan working 12 hour plus days and 7 days a week. In fact today is the first day that I have had off in over 110 days straight. The base that I am on has a great gym, a track that is .5 miles once around and food prepared around the clock. The food all though is high in protein and carbohydrates; you can still choose wisely and eat a balanced meal. The other side is the temptation to eat poorly. My job requires me to have some odd hours and it causes me to have to miss breakfast sometimes. On top of the hours is the stress level, I spend countless hours a day on the most deadly road in Afghanistan. You can imagine that my adrenaline goes up and down like a roller coaster on a daily basis. Hey I told you that I was a risk taker.
Here I am on my second birthday of this year (Marine Corp Birthday) and I have decided to get back the body that I had the summer of 2005. The body that allowed me to lay out by the pool on the weekends and not be ashamed. The body that allowed me to wear clothes that fit well, to tuck my shirt in and not be worried about my stomach. The body that gave me tons of energy and stamina. The body that made me feel good about myself. I am getting that body back.
In the tradition of JSF I will go ahead and post a beginning picture, front and side. I am also going to include a goal picture (July 11th, 2005 at 155lbs). I am a little apprehensive of posting my naked self (with boxers) on the internet but here it goes. Today, November 10, 2007 at 182lbs.
23473
23474
23475Goal Picture taken July 2005
So here goes nothing. I am a 30 year old male with no wife or children. I am a risk taker type of person, hence my profession. I drive convoys in and around Kabul, Afghanistan for a living as a Security Officer for a major Corporation in Afghanistan and Iraq. I have been over here in Afghanistan for over 15 months now and I am looking forward to my next R&R, December 7th. I have a wonderful trip for the girlfriend planned to Cancun. Okay so Cancun means beaches, there is one of the many reasons for what I am doing, starting today. At 30 years old I have spent 4 years in the Marines and was in pretty good shape during that time. After getting out in 1998 I got married, divorced and engaged and split up. So my last harsh break up put me into a bit of depression for a little while, that led to my OCD kicking in, but for a good thing in the end. I was at a disgusting 185 around the middle of December of 2004 when the break up happened and I started a diet and workout regimen that lasted until August of 2005 when I caught the flu and suspected a hernia. When August 2005 rolled around, 8 months after I had started I was down to 155 pounds and fitting into 30-31 waist jeans. I was eating roughly 6-7 times a day and taking in around 2000-2500 calories. I prepared all of my own meals and was spending 2 hours a night in the gym that I had built up in my apartment. I was doing anywhere between 30-45 minutes of cardio a night and running around 4 times a week. I was religious in my routine. I was in love with what I had accomplished. A far cry from the stretched out 36’s lying in the closet.
So from August until July of 2007 I had gone right back up to around 180 and the body fat just kept climbing. Now I am in Afghanistan working 12 hour plus days and 7 days a week. In fact today is the first day that I have had off in over 110 days straight. The base that I am on has a great gym, a track that is .5 miles once around and food prepared around the clock. The food all though is high in protein and carbohydrates; you can still choose wisely and eat a balanced meal. The other side is the temptation to eat poorly. My job requires me to have some odd hours and it causes me to have to miss breakfast sometimes. On top of the hours is the stress level, I spend countless hours a day on the most deadly road in Afghanistan. You can imagine that my adrenaline goes up and down like a roller coaster on a daily basis. Hey I told you that I was a risk taker.
Here I am on my second birthday of this year (Marine Corp Birthday) and I have decided to get back the body that I had the summer of 2005. The body that allowed me to lay out by the pool on the weekends and not be ashamed. The body that allowed me to wear clothes that fit well, to tuck my shirt in and not be worried about my stomach. The body that gave me tons of energy and stamina. The body that made me feel good about myself. I am getting that body back.
In the tradition of JSF I will go ahead and post a beginning picture, front and side. I am also going to include a goal picture (July 11th, 2005 at 155lbs). I am a little apprehensive of posting my naked self (with boxers) on the internet but here it goes. Today, November 10, 2007 at 182lbs.
23473
23474
23475Goal Picture taken July 2005