January 1 felt clean and simple, and I woke up early, stepped on the scale, and told myself this was the start I had been waiting for. After the numbers settled, reality stared back at me with 277.8 pounds and 37.2% body fat, which hurt to see but felt honest for the first time in a while. Fasting carried me through the day with focus and clarity, and readiness settled in as I went to bed believing momentum had finally arrived.
Then January 2 showed up without warning, and something felt off from the moment I opened my eyes. By nightfall, cold chills, a deep chest cough, and a pounding headache had taken over, pushing me into bed far earlier than planned. One night turned into a full week, the week led to medication, and recovery stretched longer than I wanted to admit.
Without workouts, structure, or routine, my days blurred together while I lay sick and frustrated, watching January quietly slip away. This moment is the one nobody posts online, the one where plans fall apart before they ever get traction. Shame shows up here and whispers that the year is already lost and February is a safer place to restart.
Now it is January 21, and I am standing back up anyway. This is not a comeback story built on hype or urgency, because this is simply a restart.
The Data
January 1
- Weight: 277.8 lbs
- Body fat: 37.2%
January 21
- Weight: 261.4 lbs
- Body fat: 33.9%
That is a big drop. And I need to say this clearly. Most of that loss came from being sick, not disciplined.
What sickness showed me is how fast the body can change when stress hits. It also reminded me how weak my foundation was. No routine means no anchor when life hits.
Strength and Fitness Data
I am starting from where I am, not where I wish I was.
Bodyweight movements
- Push-ups: 10
- Pull-ups: 0
- Bodyweight squats: 25
Strength numbers (estimated 1RM)
- Bench press: 135 x 10 = ~180 lbs
- Shoulder press: 65 x 12 = ~91 lbs
- Back squat: 135 x 6 = ~157 lbs
- Bent-over row: 95 x 12 = ~133 lbs
- Deadlift: 145 x 10 = ~195 lbs
Cardio
- 1 mile treadmill run: 20 minutes 18 seconds
These numbers are not impressive. They are real. They give me something solid to build from.
Body Measurements
- Shoulders: 53 in
- Chest: 47 in
- Waist: 48 in
- Hips: 45 in
- Butt: 51 in
- Legs: 31 in / 31 in
- Arms: 16 in / 16 in
Additional health markers
- BMI: ~34.5 (obese range)
- Waist-to-hip ratio: ~1.07
That ratio matters. It tells me my weight sits where it causes the most risk.
The Delay Taught Me…
Being forced to slow down showed me how much I still try to control everything, because sickness removed my ability to push harder, train through it, or outwork the problem. Rest became mandatory, and in that stillness I saw how fragile my routine really was when life applied pressure. Control slipped away, but something deeper was exposed in the process. Identity cannot be built on momentum, because momentum disappears the moment circumstances change.
Scripture became a quiet anchor instead of a loud motivator, and the truth of 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminded me that being made new in Christ does not depend on perfect weeks or flawless starts. Strength and courage are not loud traits, and obedience rarely feels dramatic when it matters most. Restarting without fanfare required more courage than quitting would have. Shame thrives in delay and whispers that starting late equals failure, but faith answers by standing back up and moving forward anyway.
The 40-Day Plan
For the next 40 days, my only goal is to reestablish rhythm.
Daily movement
- 40 minutes every day
- Strength training, walking, assault bike, or boxing
- The goal is movement, not perfection
- Strength Traing i will be following the ARK Blueprint
Bible reading
- 20 minutes in the morning – New Testament
- 20 minutes at night – Old Testament
- I will take notes as I read
Inputs over scrolling
- Less mindless scrolling
- More books
- More podcasts
- More sermons
What I consume shapes how I think. What I think shapes what I do.
Summary
January did not unfold the way I planned, but the month still did its work by showing me what needed to change. Progress does not require a perfect start, and obedience does not wait for ideal conditions. Starting from where I am matters more than pretending I am further along than I am. Tracking the numbers, rebuilding routine, and showing up daily are the only responsibilities in front of me right now.
Faith is not proven by intensity but by consistency, and strength is built through repeated, quiet choices that rarely look impressive in the moment. Moving forward without hiding, excuses, or theatrics is the commitment I am making for the weeks ahead. This journey continues one day at a time, grounded in truth, discipline, and the decision to keep going.
FOLLOW ALONG
If you want to walk this out with me, follow along on Instagram and YouTube. I will keep posting the updates, the setbacks, and the progress as it happens.