If I had hair, I’d be pulling it out!!!
Ok so here is the deal: I was recently released from imprisonment (not really but it sure felt like a prison) in an Army outpost in the middle of Baghdad. I was confined to a 20’ by 20’ room for three months straight. Food was prepared and served from an Army Field Kitchen. If you have never experienced the finer dining of the military, I suggest you don’t!!! Choices are very simple, either you eat what they have made or you go without. Plus they only cooked breakfast and evening meals. Lunch came from a Meal Ready to Eat (MRE in military jargon). If we got attacked at anytime during the day, then the military chefs couldn’t prepare a meal, so back to the MRE’s. I remember going a week straight without a hot meal, and we won’t even talk about nutritious meals!!! HA HA HA!!! So much for six small meals a day. I lived off of packets of tuna and chicken.
My physical training was limited to push-ups, sit-ups and running from explosions. However bleak I am making this sound, I actually lost about 20lbs of fat during this training hiatus. I thought I had lost 35lbs but the scale at the first base camp I went to must have been broken or something because when I returned to my room (my sanctuary) and weighed myself on the scale I’ve been using to chart my progress, or lack thereof, showed only a 20lb weight loss; Which means I have only lost a total of 80lbs during the first phase of my total body transformation…..”Operation Andre…Man Candy”! This sent me into a spiral of self doubt and thoughts of failure.
This is just very discouraging to me, but I know that I am on a long and healthy road to recovery. Why, Why, Why did that scale have to lie to me and get my hopes up? Don’t get me wrong, I will never quit and I will always push forward!!! I just need a mad minute to vent, clear the mind and recharge my spirit.
Well, I’ve made it back to a decent gym and have started lifting weights and walking on the treadmill. I only have three months to reach my first hurdle to lose 100lbs. I think I can still achieve my goals. The best part, well the thing that is keeping me on track is that I have had to buy all new pants. OH YEAH, I went from a size 44 pants to a loose fitting 38. I am stoked about that. I will probably be adding some new update pictures to my gallery, but you all know how difficult that is for me. I just changed all the numbers to reflect my true weight and girth!!! Now I am working on adding quality muscle while continuing to chisel away at the fat. If that is even possible.
Thanks for letting me vent, all better now!!! HA HA HA!!!
…Andre’
January 5, 2008 at 6:34 am
Of course it is possible to add muscle and lose the fat and with your height, you would look damn hot Man Candy. It will take time for your emotions to readjust to the new number on the scale. It sucks I know, but at least you are down pants sizes. I hear that’s the real figure to go by.
Anyway, glad that you are in the land of the living! Nice to hear from you.
January 5, 2008 at 7:36 am
I say WHOO HOO for your accomplishments under such adverse conditions! 20 LBS is 20 lbs - celebrate the loss - at least you didn’t gain! WOW - you are making real progress and sometimes our goals get out of sight realistically because we don’t reach them in the time frame we want. That’s the great thing about life - every day you get to wake up and put your feet on the floor you start with a clean slate - make the most of that day and don’t beat yourself up about the one that’s behind you! You have had SO many more obstacles in your way than us cushy at home Amercians have - I commend you for your determination and thank you for being someone who is willing to give to our country for our freedoms.
January 23, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Personally, I think you are amazing. Great work under extremely adverse conditions! Keep up the good work and don’t give up no matter what…
January 27, 2008 at 11:22 am
Your thoughts and words on your blog have been my lament for the past 3 to 4 months. That *’%^#@ scale has to be lying every time I get on it. But I pass on to you what my hubby (Capt Ahab) says to me ALL the time. Don’t look at that number on the scale; look at how your body is shape-shifting and the inches that you are losing. Each person is an individual and though we all get the “normal range for a normal person” crap from the “experts”, they do not and have not factored into those numbers the conditions that each individual person goes through. For you it is that 20 x 20 room, explosions, and army food. Good grief, to lose anything in that situation is amazing because of what you are going through, STRESS (people don’t give it the full extent of what it does to our physical and mental being), poor nutrition and no proper facility to workout in. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You are making amazing gains and you have all of the inner strength that you need to achieve your goals. Just believe in your ability to make your fitness dreams come true.
January 27, 2008 at 11:31 am
Given the conditions, you had to endure , the loss is incredible and highly commendable. Its astonishing that you managed to lose anything at all , hostile conditions in a hostile land with a world watching and waiting to judge. Ready pap , that once might or might not have been chicken or tuna , outstanding weight loss. All you guys are heroes and you more so because you stayed focused on 2 goals , dealing with the conditions and losing fat. well done.