Day Zero: Fat(ish), Flat-Footed, and Fired Up

Welcome to The Recomp Chronicles.

This blog marks the official start of a long-overdue transformation. I’m a 49-year-old desk jockey who’s been skinny, strong, soft, and sore—but never truly fit. That’s about to change.

This isn’t a guru blog. I’m not here to sell you on magic routines or “one weird trick” that’ll melt your gut in 10 days. I’m doing this the slow, hard, honest way: lifting, running, recovering, and trying not to burn out—or disappear again—when life gets messy.


🔎 The Baseline: Fitness Test Week

Here’s where I’m starting as of June 2, 2025:

📊 Stats:

  • Weight: 204.6 lbs
  • Body Fat: 27.08%
  • Neck: 14.08 in
  • Waist: 38.34 in
  • Goal: 175 lbs, 14–15% body fat, 32” waist

🧠 Mobility & Posture

  • ❌ Can’t touch toes
  • ❌ Can’t do a wall slide without major hip arch

🧱 Core & Control

  • Plank: 60s (mild psoas pain early)
  • Step-downs: 20 reps each leg (solid control)

🦵 Lower Body

  • Wall Sit: 45s (shoes slipping)
  • Bodyweight Squats (1 min): 29 reps (full depth)

💪 Upper Body

  • Dead Hang: 45s (grip holding, elbows sore)
  • Pull-Ups: 5 strict, no assist
  • Push-Ups: 15 (elbow pain)
  • Dips: 8 (no pain)

🏃 Cardio

  • 1-Mile Run: 10:34
  • Avg HR: 149 BPM
  • Notes: Psoas pain early, faded after a few blocks

🎒 What’s Next?

I’ll be heading to Michigan for a couple of weeks, so the full training program won’t launch until mid-July. But I’m not vanishing. I’ll be walking, hitting mobility, and doing what I can not to come back packing a bunch of vacation fluff.

Until then, I’ll be using this space to post updates, log some workouts, maybe upload a couple of fitness trackers or mobility sheets, and start getting Lean Leroy—the stick-figure version of my alter ego—warmed up.


Whether you’re just here to lurk or laugh at my attempts, welcome. This blog is for guys like me: mid-life, tired of the yo-yo, and ready to finish what we’ve started a dozen times before.


Still lifting.
Still losing.
Still showing up. Usually.

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