My Shirt Got Tighter
This morning I climbed Rib Mountain before sunrise. The weather was perfect. About 55 degrees. Clear skies. The city lights were still glowing below as the sun started coming up over the horizon.
A few months ago, I probably would not have been standing there. Not because I could not make the climb physically. Because I was not making my health a priority.
This morning was different.
When I got home, I grabbed the tape measure and checked my waist. 37.8 inches. That number stopped me for a second. Not because it is perfect. It is not. But because it is moving in the right direction.
What surprised me even more was something I noticed while getting dressed. My shirts are getting tighter.
Before you think that is a bad thing, hear me out.
For years, I did what a lot of guys do when they start carrying extra weight. I bought bigger shirts. Baggier shirts. Looser clothes. Part of it was comfort. Part of it was hiding.
When you have got a belly and a little extra chest fat, baggy clothes feel safe. They hide what you do not want people to see.
But something funny happens when your body starts changing. You stop trying to hide. The man boobs start shrinking. Your waist gets smaller. Your shoulders and chest become more noticeable. Suddenly you are buying shirts that actually fit. Not because you are trying to impress anyone. Because you are finally comfortable in your own skin again.
That is a feeling I have not had in a long time. And honestly, I did not expect it.
Most men think longevity is about living longer. I am starting to think it is also about living better. Having enough energy to climb a mountain before sunrise. Feeling confident when someone takes your picture. Sleeping better. Moving easier. Feeling stronger. Those things matter. A lot.
One thing I have learned over the past several weeks is that small improvements start stacking on top of each other. My ankles are not swelling the way they used to. My mountain climbs are getting easier. My heart rate at the top of the climb is lower than it was just a few weeks ago. I am sleeping well. My waist is shrinking.
None of those things happened overnight. They happened because of hundreds of small decisions. A better breakfast. A walk. Going to bed on time. Taking the stairs. Climbing the mountain when I did not feel like it.
The mountain has not changed. I have.
One of the biggest changes has been my diet. I have been eating strict carnivore for the last two months, with only one slip: an 18-inch pizza and a couple drinks. The results have been noticeable. My energy is steadier. My waist continues to improve. And I have learned something important. If I eat sugar and carbs, my joints start to hurt right away. That feedback is loud and clear. Carnivore keeps the inflammation down and my body feeling better overall.
And maybe that is the lesson this week. We are all getting older. That is unavoidable. But we have more influence over how we age than most people realize.
One new data point I added recently: I did a comprehensive blood test through SiPhox (one of the testing services I am affiliated with). Getting actual biomarker data has been eye-opening. It takes the guesswork out and shows exactly where to focus next. If you are serious about optimizing, I highly recommend getting baseline bloodwork done. It is one of the highest leverage things you can do.
Number of the Week:
3
Three. That is how many mornings each week I climb Rib Mountain before sunrise. Not because it is easy. Not because I always feel like it. Because it has become part of who I am trying to become.
Everyone needs a mountain. Maybe yours is not an actual mountain. Maybe it is a morning walk. Maybe it is riding a bike. Maybe it is 45 minutes of brisk walking around your neighborhood. The activity does not matter. What matters is getting outside, moving your body, and doing it consistently.
Find your mountain.
This Week’s Challenge
Measure your waist. Not your weight. Your waist. Use a tape measure at your belly button first thing in the morning. Write the number down. Then check it again in 30 days. You may be surprised by what changes.
While you are at it, consider a blood test and tracking how certain foods affect how you feel. The data does not lie.
Quote of the Week
“You can’t choose whether you get older. You can choose how you age.”
Final Thought
As I was standing on top of Rib Mountain this morning looking out over the city, I found myself thinking about how different I feel compared to just a few months ago. The interesting thing is that no single change was dramatic. There wasn’t one workout, one meal, or one breakthrough moment that suddenly transformed everything. It was simply a series of small decisions repeated over and over again.
A better breakfast. A walk when I didn’t feel like walking. Going to bed a little earlier. Climbing the mountain when it would have been easier to stay home. None of those choices seemed important by themselves, but together they’ve started changing the direction I’m heading.
That’s probably the biggest lesson I’ve learned so far. Most people think getting healthier requires some massive life change. In my experience, it usually starts with one small decision that you repeat long enough for it to become part of who you are.
A few months ago I was buying baggy shirts and carrying around more weight than I wanted. Today I’m climbing mountains before sunrise, my waist is shrinking, and I feel more comfortable in my own skin than I have in years. In fact, I tucked my shirt in my pants today for church; I don't think I have ever done that without wearing a suit coat over it.
I still have a long way to go, but I’m encouraged by the progress.
We’re all getting older. The question is whether we’re getting stronger or weaker along the way.
Choose how you age.
Stay strong,
Gene