Let's talk about health now
Over the years I never really talked about health and fitness, to anyone. For a student, health is kind of secondary. We will always come to a time where we really have to put health aside for all of our responsibilities.
Sleep became a metric of unproductivity. Food became a beacon of pleasure as we chop through long lectures. Exercise? Physical exertion could help you freshen up and jumpstart your mind to the lectures, but for me it basically meant I will be too tired to do anything. I lacked the moderation needed for these things. Not enough sleep, too much food, too little exercise.
Now... I do not think I'm unhealthy. With sheer luck, I was able to match my caloric needs without thinking about it. I may go over by a bit, I may be below but for the long run I was able to maintain this slightly round but not fat physique, and that's pretty cool. It's enough fat that your parents won't worry about you not eating, if you get what I mean.
Last September, I bought a bicycle. I don't even know how to ride a bicycle when I bought it. It was a cute 20 inch bike. My reasoning is...
In 3 days I learned how to ride straight. The physical strain is insane. For someone that just rode a bike, I sweat so much and I lose so much power on my legs even on short rides. In 7 days, I have reached the distances I want, very tiring but I can do it.
This went on for months. After work, I'll chase the sunlight I have left to ride my bicycle around my town. My usual distance raised to 12 kilometers. After a few months this 12 kilometer trip became insufficient. Maybe because of the low elevation change I tend to be less tired after every trip. I wanted more.
By some regarded idea, I wanted to push it to the max. 40 kilometers to SM City Batangas. In context, the 12 kilometer rides I do are not sane at all. My family won't even go to the places I've been even with the car. In their eyes, I'm making feats of sheer will and strength. So I knew this 40 kilometer mission has to be kept secret and not even brought up in any discussion.
It was 3pm, there was only me in the house and I'm getting bored. It's time. I packed water bottles and rode out. It was pretty chill to be honest. But the look of a 20 inch bike trekking 40 kms was funny. I giggled my way, thinking how dumb a person would be to use their 20 inch bike to go to the nearest SM. But I did it anyway. It's a big achievement sure, but I just went home and slept just like any other day.
I felt the high of the long rides, now I want a bigger bike. 27.5 inch bike to be precise. By the end of December I bought one.
I've been enjoying my time with the bike. Most I've done now is to visit the church at Taal, 50 kilometer trip. I am fighting with time now more than anything. I bought lights to stretch out my ride time. But since I've been only going out at 4pm due to the heat, I can only ride at most 4 hours before everyone gets worried at home. I hope I can do a full day's ride soon, but I don't think I have the endurance yet.
To bike in a day isn't even an argument for me anymore. I basically have two questions in my mind.
No-Yes? Then I'm off to bike yet another 30-40 kilometers. This biking habit is even stronger than playing video games. It's insane! For the first time in my life I have taken a habit in a physical activity. I have dabbled with workouts before, but this is something else.
I've definitely became more fit. My parents can see that. The less roundness of my face, my developing legs, there have been improvements in my physique. But with the increased appetite of doing such long rides, I have basically adjusted my caloric needs to be higher and I'm matching that. Belly fat could have decreased but I can never be sure. I don't track my weight, so I don't even know if I lost weight.
I can use this habit now to change myself. I have to. It would be a real damn shame if I can't drive this discipline towards a goal.
I'll be running my caloric intake to the freaking ground. I'll make a caloric deficit so big that there is no way I won't be losing weight. My plan right now is to not change my diet, but just eat less. I can't track the calories I eat, but If I make a caloric deficit big enough, I might just hit a good ratio maybe 20-30% deficit. I'll do my usual rides and check my energies. If I start to bonk at the rides I usually do, then I know I'm on a deficit. I'll adjust my caloric intake so that I can just barely do the rides I do right now.
All I'll be doing is a caloric deficit. No diet changes, no extra exercise. I'll be living my life with just a lower amount of food. Extra changes can come later, I just want to ease myself to this looksmaxxing process.
I will look forward to the point where I start learning more about dieting practices. I will have to see my body's reaction right now and not just dive right into protein shakes and vegetable breakfasts. CHILL, just chill and feel the waters for now.
But yeah, maybe when my wrist fully heals (mountain biking fiasco) I'll also try resistance training for my upper body.