Just wanna share a little bit of my day with you guys. Went to Marshalls to look for some shorts with 7" inseam and discounted well, didn't find that but picked up some Kappa apparel which didn't fit so is up on ebay. Did get another quality, stretchy dress shirt for under $20 as well as some socks I needed. Last time I was there I was in dire need of shirts. I used to be a small, but from the last 10 months of lifting I've been promoted to a large. Before the shopping trip I only had 1 shirt that was a medium and 0 larges. I'd workout and go out in public in these awkwardly fitting smalls or a tank top which lowered my SMV on specific occasions (like the bars). Now I got many large sized shirts with decent logos and that fit well, and a selection of dress shirts.
Today I bought 3 pairs of skate shoes and snagged some gel inserts from Walmart. I used to have some plantar fasciitis when I was a kid so I was wearing running shoes almost exclusively. That went away eventually, and it was observed I was flat footed. So had to continue to wear arch support (running shoes plus orthotics) which I believe fucked up the strength of my ankles and the connecting tissue there. I believe my condition gradually worsened which is why at 18 I was diagnosed with Posterior Tibial Tendonitis. Collapsing ankles and constant pain, but was advised to keep up the arch support. My pain was chronic, and couple that with the inability to do much of anything physically lead to depression.
It's a long rehabilitation journey and I wasn't making progress. During the start and middle of my rehabilitation I was mostly sitting due the ankles and gaming for entertainment. I would use a wheel chair to get around the house and sometimes crutches (age 19-21). I could walk, but I limited myself to very short and quick intervals, so I started getting back into lifting. It was painful, but I got a high pain tolerance and threshold so I endured, it was good for me. For whatever reason, I couldn't bring myself to bring my wheel chair in with me to the gym. I didn't want to be seen that way, it would weaken me. Social life was also nonexistent living in rural south and all social attempts I made weren't reciprocated. It wasn't ideal, but there was probably something off with me, and my SMV was a solid 3.5.
In the months following that I continued to play video games and lift. But then a perspective change was starting to take place in the following weeks. I call it my "coming to senses" moment. It's as if red pill truth was slowly dripping into my mind and saturating it. I think that change can be largely attributed to me hating my shitty life, and escaping with video games wasn't cutting it. So then I resumed watching Rollo Tomassi's videos to reeducate myself on TRP, while also trying to figure out why my ankles and low leg muscles were dysfunctional.
In October (2021) my family and I went to Branson, MI. I had to spend most of my time around the town in crutches or a wheel chair. I hated my life, "Never again" I told myself as in when I return I won't be needing a crutch. In December of 2021 I found my answer to why I wasn't healing. So started that and then resumed physical therapy. I was finally seeing results and thus regaining strength. I've basically rehabilitated myself from my tendinopathy, but am still doing exercises to rebuild my arches. All that arch support just gradually weakened my foot muscles to the point where my tendon was lifting a load it couldn't handle. Try putting your arm in a cast to support it next time you get a bruise and watch it atrophy. So I'm permanently out with the running shoes and dedicated arch support now.
My feet can handle my weight now. Also I was a bit of an unusual case because I had another soft tissue condition that affected my progress re-strengthening everything. My aunt is full of connective tissue and soft tissue problems, so there may be a genetic component to it. I even got calcified scar tissue building on the bottom of my foot which I combat with a metal instrument that looks like brass knuckles to break it down, and it's working lol! So really it has been one thing after another with my health (from 18-22). That saying is true: health is wealth.
So there's the back story. 0 pain relief, 0 social life, 0 income, 0 sexual validation. Hopefully you see now why I get excited about skate shoes and gel inserts, it's signifies progress and will be healthier for my feet. They're stylish and won't ruin my outfit unlike bulky, out of place support shoes. These same feet are going to be able to take me place now. My legs will blow up fast since I'm restarting leg day (it's been years). Tomorrow it's off to Kohls or Levis for standard fit jeans / pants and some shorts. Slim fit jeans aren't made for us lifters. Gonna grab a fresh haircut too. Today was my community college's orientation, I'll make a post about it tomorrow.
Going to finish reading Deep Work by Cal Newport within the next couple days, timing it just right for school.
It takes a village to raise a child. I'm red pilled, but young. You guys are the mentors, thank you so much.
NeoSpartan 1y ago
If you have a good physique you are not gonna be well served by going from small to large shirts. Best thing you can do is find an athletic cut (most american shirts are wider at the middle because everyone is a fat fuck) and go medium at max.
imtranscending 1y ago
I would say my physique is barely good.
I'm not a fat nor am I chubby, but my homeostasis has been that of a higher body fat %. I think it's genetic to a degree and I take after my dad, we just got some extra fat on our stomach but it's enough to cover all abs. I say genetics because I've never gotten my abs to show no mater how hard I've dieted, nor my activity. The leanest I ever got was around 12% and that was swimming 1 mile daily. More evidence suggesting genetics is my examining my brother, who evidently takes after my moms metabolism. He's 3 inches taller than me and has always been rail thin his whole life. Single digit BF% and always sporting abs with good chest and shoulder insertions. Yet he continues to say that I "have a better frame".
He's so clueless, and has been eating unhealthy meals and junk food almost daily the past few years. Lots of sugar (lemonades recently) and fried food in there and he still doesn't exercise yet he's still under 10% body fat. He isn't anorexic looking either, you can see his muscle insertions and everything, it's all just so puny because he doesn't lit. I lift daily and don't eat any of that, yet still got the chubs over my belly (for years I was drinking tons of milk). I recently stopped because I read it's estrogenic. I'm not shitting on him when I write all this. I've been jealous of him for quite some time, but this is why I think it's genetic. We could be eating the same food while having the same level of activity and he'll always be that 6-7% leaner. If he just lifted and took better care of his health, he'd absolutely be an alpha because he also has a borderline model looking face. Girls still fuck him, and I wonder if he'd be lifting and improving himself if that weren't the case. If he got 0 pussy, do you think he'd be lifting?
I'm somewhere between 16-19% right now. I don't believe what my family continues to tell me "you're big now" and "you're above average" despite them believing it. I understand abs are so fucking important but I can't get any, just yet. I've fully embraced cold therapy into my life to help burn all this blubber.
NeoSpartan 1y ago
I her ya man, I got a slow metabolism too. Sucks but, way I figure it, I'd rather have sex with hot girls than eat fast food or w/e. Still eat it sometimes, but the core of my diet is based on nutritional profiles.
Never heard of cold therapy, my guess is it's probably not very effective though. The physiology behind weight loss is pretty simple, less calories in than out. A high protein diet is great for a lot of reasons. Amino acids in proteins are required for muscling building, protein takes the most energy by far for your body to metabolize and it is the most satiating macro.
Vermillion-Rx Admin 1y ago
Considering you've had all these tendon issues (in most of the post) has a doctor actually told you if you can do leg day or not?
Would hate to see the main theme of your post you overcame come back to haunt you
youre welcome
You should be!
imtranscending 1y ago
Doctor hasn't cleared me for this, a physical therapist would have more competence for that sort of thing. I haven't seen mine in months so I've saved thousands of dollars, but I have an adept understanding of therapy and my own body. All the indicators suggest I'm healthily recovered from my tendinopathy.
That would truly be 12 repeated kicks in the balls, but I don't think that'll happen. I would pass all the strength benchmarks, and I'm extreme slow to reintroducing activity in my life right now. I appreciate the concern
Was this post too long? Should I have made a separate post for the back story? I just got carried along writing about my health history because that has been severely limiting.
Vermillion-Rx Admin 1y ago
You should absolutely get this cleared first, there is no reason to set yourself 12 steps back if something goes wrong/ body isn't ready for it
No one is the judge of backstory posts. That's up to you. Almost all of the post was backstory, so that's a personal decision . Men can vent their life out on here
Had you inserted Numerous questions in it as well I'd say yeah or make them separate, but no, type as long of a backstory/vent as you need
Terra 1y ago
There r 2 approaches.
Buy tight fitting clothes if there is something to.show.
Develop recognisable style that fits your lifestyle and stick to is strong without mixing styles, on top of that add something that stranger can stop you and ask where did.you get it / what is.it/ thats interesting / thats childish
whytehorse2021 1y ago
You're Unbroken. I love stories like this. Please, for the love of God and all that is holy, DO NOT wear skinny jeans. They are women's pants and look ridiculous on men. If you want to show off some muscle go get athletic clothes from sporting goods stores. If you want to save money you can find those same clothes at Good Will for 95% off. I spend about $30/yr on all my clothes and I wear Reebok, Nike, Adidas, Swiss, etc. It takes a little more work to find them and get one that fits but go in once a month and see what you can find. I usually hit up 3-4 stores on the regular.
imtranscending 1y ago
Thank you so much for the warming comment man. :)
I agree and would also like to add "slim fit". Firstly they already emphasize the fact I have skinny legs, and any weight or size gain down there will turn them into skinny jeans. Sorry mom, I wish we both knew this would happen.
whytehorse2021 1y ago
I love red pill forums because I get to see people transforming in real time. It wasn't that long ago that @IBelieveInTheFallen was some beta cuck and now he's cranking babies into hotties. I feel like we're building a community of real men and it's nothing I've ever had in my life before.
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whytehorse2021 1y ago
Reminds me of when I landed in Bangkok. You almost feel like you're getting away with something illegal. Or that all the guys are gay. The Thai chicks would call me a butterfly... just visiting all the flowers and then flying off.