Background information: 5’9”, 160 lbs (give or take...probably a bit heavier at the moment).
I’ve owned the book SS:BBT for a year now, and SS is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Two years ago, in a vain quest for rippling abs, I went from about 150 lbs to 132 lbs in two months. Call it an eating disorder, call it negative self-image – whatever your diagnosis is, I was quite unhealthy. Before this I was in pretty decent shape.
Fast forward to another half-year later. I had gained the weight back, but I was in much worse physical shape than before I had lost all that weight. I tried some weight-training stuff, which helped a little, but it was mostly bodybuilding garbage. Through research I found out about SS (or “Rippetoe’s”, as the bodybuilding forums called it), and decided to buy the book after realizing that there was no way I could learn how to do the movements properly from the shitty online descriptions. Got the book around this time last year. I tried doing the program without gaining weight, and I predictably didn’t progress very far.
I joined my school’s rowing team this September, and have gotten into decent shape from that. The season ended in November, and since then SS has been creeping forwards from the back of my mind.
Today I was out jogging, and about a mile and a half in I just stopped and said to myself “This sucks. This just fucking sucks. I hate running, and I couldn’t give a fuck how many miles I can run. I’ve known about SS for a year, and yet I’m still a weak piece of shit. I want to be big and strong, and I’m wasting my time.” I walked home.
That’s my story. I’m on vacation right now, so I can’t start today – but come Jan 2nd I’ll be at it full force. This unfortunately comes with a price. I've been rowing as a ightweight (<160lbs), and I obviously won't be able to compete in this category if I gain any bodyweight. Rowing tends to favor long-limbed individuals, and being a heavyweight at 5'9" might put an end to my short-lived rowing career. This is not ideal, but I can live with it. When it comes down to it, I'd much rather be really strong than be a good rower.
Also, I’m going to have to have a chat with my parents about this. I’m 20, and I don’t live with them, but they do pay my college tuition. And my mom freaks out if I gain any weight...which isn't helped by the fact that my dad weighs 210lbs and is quite overweight (and if I'm not mistaken, I should be aiming to end up at around 210 lbs). I doubt it’ll go over well. But I’ll try. The thing is, I’ve been putting this off for a long time, and I don’t want to waste any more time dreaming of being strong and not doing anything about it. Fuck all the people who tell me that I’m just going to be a fat lard at the end. Fuck all the people who are holding me back. I’m doing this. Finally.