Well, Week 1 of Fit by 50 is officially in the books.
It sucked.
Not the “fun challenge” kind of suck. The “why am I even doing this, I’m exhausted and bloated and feel like shit” kind of suck.
Let’s get brutally honest about it.
📉 The Numbers (Because They Sure Didn’t Feel Like Wins)
- Weight: 208.2 lbs (–0.2 lbs)
- Body Fat %: 28.54% (–0.08%)
- Waist: 39.38″ (–0.09”)
- Neck: 14.15″ (–0.04”)
Despite dragging myself through workouts, keeping calories mostly in check (at least in total, if not in balance), walking the dogs, steaming, stretching, flossing, and getting back in the gym—I got tiny changes. Microscopic. Practically invisible.
🏋️ Training
The lifting sessions were solid on paper: bilateral leg/shoulder day, chest/triceps, and back/biceps. I hit my scheduled workouts, bike intervals, mobility, and even added GMB and core training.
But the recovery?
Brutal.
Soreness stuck around like a bad house guest. My chest was so tender after Tuesday’s session I could’ve starred in a meat tenderizer commercial. Sleep was erratic. I was constantly thirsty. And my brain? Fogged up like the inside of the damn steam room I kept missing because of broken equipment or poor planning.
🍽️ Nutrition
My macros were wrecked. High protein, low carb, low fat—nearly every day.
Somehow, even with large meals, I was under-fueled. I’d crash mid-morning. Mood swings. Cramps. Dizziness. Vertigo. No rhythm. No clarity.
Trying to pre-fuel and recover better is now my focus going into Week 2. I’ve got Huel, protein snacks, pre-run rice cakes, and a few fallback options lined up. Hopefully my gut and brain can come to an agreement soon.
💤 Sleep
Oh, sleep. One night it’s 8 hours with beautiful deep sleep. The next? Dogs puking, brain wired, and wake-ups every 90 minutes.
My average sleep was technically “enough.” But recovery quality wasn’t. Some nights I woke up more exhausted than when I went to bed.
It’s clear now: until my nervous system calms down and my sleep stabilizes, fat loss and strength gains are going to crawl.
💀 Mental State
This week was a slap in the face.
I did almost everything right, and felt worse by the day. I looked for signs of progress, but found frustration, inflammation, and disappointment.
But here’s the truth: this is what the first week of a real transformation looks like.
- Not Instagram PRs.
- Not shredded abs.
- Just surviving, logging, adapting, and staying the course when it feels like nothing is working.
🧭 The Road Ahead
I’m not quitting.
Not after one week, one pound, or one sleepless night.
Next week I’ll get the macros dialed in. I’ll experiment with light pre-workout fuel. I’ll show up to the gym, steam, and foam roll. I’ll deal with the soreness. And I’ll keep logging every inch, pound, step, and drop of sweat until this body gives me what I came for.
Still lifting.
Still losing.
Still showing up.
Usually.
– Martin
#FitBy50
The Recomp Chronicles 
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