Let's Get Physical

Today I had my yearly physical, or what should be my yearly. I kinda slack on that.

I weighed in at 198. By means of comparison, for other visits I have had in the last several years:

• I was 205 at the previous visit a year+ ago (which makes sense, it's about where the last blog post in May of 2022 had me)
  
• I was 215 or more before that. Again, in line with what I surmised in my previous post.
  
• Apparently I'm within range of where I was in 2015

 In the last entry just a bit less than a year ago, I talked about 34s falling off.  I'm now wearing 30s* and those are falling off as well. I moved to 32s last year and before I knew it, I was buying new pants again.... and now those are way too loose. Time for a third hole punched in the belt!!

 *Basically every pair of jeans you find these days have that stretch shit in them so 30 seems charitable.

 So, essentially I weigh somewhere in the same ballpark of where I was eight years ago. That said, I know I have put on a lot more muscle than I had then.

I'm still in a state of going generally 3x a week. Next month will mark 2 years of doing so. It's become a good routine, and something to which I look forward. I'm rarely doing cardio, and I would probably lose weight even faster if I did that, but I like my pace right now.

So what about the tattoo?

I haven't thought about it much, because (while writing this post) I realize I still haven't come up with a good replacement metric for the original goal of 30lb. I've read that for every inch you lose in your waistline, it's beween 4-8 lb, so I guess total weight/fat loss is in the very wide range of 20-48lb. 

I found the instagram of a dude who works in a shop nearby and I like his work, it sorta seems along the style I'm looking for, and he seems like an overall good dude.  So I might have to make a trip over there for at least an initial consultation... I figure I will keep working on my steady progress while I get a better idea as to what i want to get. But I do think I still want to do it.

Capsaicin crisis?

Let's talk ink again.

As a reminder:

• I've been thinking about getting a tattoo for quite some time, and
• I've never really known what I've wanted until recently, and
• I have settled on trying to get something hot pepper related.

I've noted before that while, as a general concept, I like the idea of a habanero tattoo, I'm not real impressed with how the ones I've seen look. Take a look for yourself. I just feel like, compared to an iconic chile of some sort, they (habaneros) look misshappen and boring. Furthermore, I don't want to find myself constantly explaining it.

So a more traditional hot pepper it is. But... really? Just that? There are some nice ones out there, but they're small.  For a shoulder piece, I don't want some dinky little thing, and I'm not sure just a plain old hot pepper is the way to go.  Mind you, I don't want one with like a goofy face, or cartoony fire, but if I could incorporate... something into the design, I'd be a lot happier - I just haven't figured out what that could be.

Other things to consider...Someone I know with a lot more experience than me in this realm, someone whose opinions I regard and admire, has said that "arms are for stories".  In other words, the item(s) on your arms should weave together somehow -- at very least in style, if not substance. Whether I ever decide that I'll want more after a first one, I obviously don't know yet, but I do think it is certainly a worthwhile consideration, meaning whatever I do should perhaps also be easily consumable as part of a larger piece.

I guess I'm rambling a bit.  TL;DR - I feel like I need to consider some unique flair to add to the hot pepper, and I haven't been able to figure out what it should be.

So enough about fitness already...

I figured I should balance out the blog a bit from the beginning, before the fitness aspect seems all-consuming.

As I've noted before, I've been considering getting ink for quite a while now. The main thing that has held me back is that I've never really known what I've wanted.

I don't want to do anything generic for a first tattoo. No barbs, no Celtic weaves, and though I might actually have a unique perspective and idea for one, no Chinese characters!

What?

The more and more I've thought about it, the more I'm finding the idea of some sort of neat looking hot pepper to the right choice.  Anyone who knows me well knows that I'm a bit of a chilehead.  It would not go too far to think perhaps a hot pepper could be my totem.

A habanero would be ideal for myriad reasons, but I have not yet been convinced it can be done well, or at least in a manner which doesn't have to be explained time and time again.  I think a more well-recognized pepper of some sort would be better.

Where?

Probably the side of my left shoulder. I'll be honest, I've heard that's one of the least painful places, and thus probably a good location for a first tattoo.

How (big)?

I've seen some really cool pepper tattoos, and some really frightening ones as well. A lot of the cooler ones I have seen have been smaller and in less conspicuous places.  I don't want a start with a huge tattoo, but if I'm gonna get my first ink, I don't want to do something tiny.  I think I'll have the split the difference.  I'm guessing probably about the diameter of a baseball, no bigger.

Who?

This appears to be one of the trickiest parts about getting ink, from what I can tell. In short, I don't have an artist in mind yet. If I start seeing the weight come off, I will start consulting with some local artists, and move out from there.

When?

I guess it's true, I've never talked about my milestone.

I'm looking to lose around 30lb (13.6kg), or maybe more.  I'd like to be in the 160-170 range.  Also note that I'm not hard set on a number, necessarily. It's reasonable to think that putting on muscle mass may affect actually hitting the weight loss number. 

In short, if I'm to the point where I'm significantly happier with how I look, that might suffice.  But I consider myself a far way off from that, either way. I guess we'll see!

What's this blog about, anyway? (FAQ)

About Me

I'm a 40-something guy who has had on-again, off again relationships with the gym since college. More often than not, recently, it's been "off-again".  While I'm not what I'd consider significantly out of shape, I've nonetheless got some significant weight that I'd like to lose.

For a long time, I've also been pondering whether or not I want to get ink (a tattoo). One particular thing that has kept me from doing so is the simple fact that I've never known what I wanted.

Time passed, and now I'm fairly sure I have a general idea what I want to get.  Ink is an expensive proposition, however, and a commitment one doesn't take lightly (well, most don't). I figure I still have a little bit of time to research exactly what I want. More importantly, however, I feel like it is something I need to earn.

In short, I will be trying to use weight loss/fitness as a motivator to let myself get the ink I want.

Why the blog?

I figured I could use a blog to keep me accountable, and to both share with, and learn from, others interested in journeys of weight loss and fitness -- and potentially, tattoos. I guess it's a unique niche, maybe others will find it interesting.

Why "#fat2tat"?

It's a riff on things like #fat2fit, etc., I guess? In reality, I just thought the rhyme was funny.

Why something different? Yes, I have an end goal of getting into better shape. I hope it becomes evident through this blog, however, that I have dual goals. As such, I wanted something different that I could "own" (or at least originate).

Are you basically going to humblebrag about your workouts?

No. In fact, to be quite honest, I'm not following much of an orthodox diet/fitness plan, other than working out. I expect to have good days and (perhaps significantly) bad days. If anything, I think this blog will help me find what works well for me.

Contents will be probably along the lines of:

• Had a good workout today because...
• I'm frustrated because...
• These are some interesting ideas for ink...

I plan to be authentic.

Are you going to pimp supplements and shakes?

No, and god no. It is true that I am interested in trying new things, and I may talk about them.  I may (or may not) even link to various things I've tried, but I don't have much interest in the latest fad diets or supplements. 

What I will be is quite honest about what I like and don't like about things. You may or may not agree, and you may or may not have the same reaction(s). 

In short, I know what I like, and may branch out from time to time. I also may write about stuff I've used in the past. But it the aim isn't to market, it's to tell my story.

Would you blog about something that I want to let you try?  

I suppose, but see above. I will probably be brutally honest.

Are you trying to be anonymous?

No, and eventually I will link this to some of my other social media profiles, none of which are anonymous and most likely won't be directly associated with, or focused on #fat2tat.  I may crosspost stuff from time to time. I'll probably try to remember to use the hashtag.

It is true that I didn't use my Google profile for this blog. I am not sure why. But I'm not trying to hide or anything.