What is 180to80?

TL;DR

On my drive over to the gym (in the wee hours of the morning when it’s still pretty dark out), I get ample time to think over my short and long term transformation plans.

180to80 is an attempt to structure, organize and better present these thoughts.

Introduction

Hello you! I think the best way to kickstart this blog would be by answering the whats and the whys around the genesis of this blog. Or at least make an honest attempt to do the same.

Well, I was 182.6kgs (402.5lbs) as on 8th Oct 2023, and thought let’s give this transformation thing one final push.

If I’m being honest, I’ve given many final pushes all through the past 6 years of my struggle with food addiction and each time, addition has got one over me.

Through this blog I want to capture various facets of the journey I undertake this time and maybe come back to it whenever necessary to reflect, reminisce and ponder. Who knows? I might unlock a key insight or two.

The target audience for this blog therefore, as much I’d like it to be other folks, for now - is probably just (future) ME.

What’s changed this time?

Good question. Nothing in particular. Addiction’s still the same Goliath and I’m still the same run-of-the-mill David.

However, many different bits around me has settled down/ evolved. For example -

1. I’m living at my own place. So no big fixed expense every month in the form of rent.
2. I’ve a small financial runway to last me at least a year on a tight rope. Or two, if squeezed real hard.
3. I have no one with direct influence over my life. I have NO immediate family to attend to. (single child with no parents)
4. I’ve managed to weed out every single non-urgent, non-important relationships in my life over the last couple of years.
5. Super limited social commitments. I have a few friends - they’re all SOLID af.
6. My current job allows me the freedom to buy the nicer things in life. (think organic eggs instead of regular kind, not Lambos lined up in a garage kind)

I’ll keep updating this list as and when I stumble on more things that I’ve missed quoting here. Because I do feel these things make a substantial difference.

So whilst the environment is as ideal as it ever has been in the last 6 years. I think my efforts over the last 3 months have helped me gain some momentum towards a possibly rewarding future.

Present Situation

Well, I’ve been going to the gym very consistently since the turn of the year. However I can’t discount the inertial shift I underwent on 9th Oct 2023. (What happened that day? I can’t really recall, if I do, will update here with a link to the post)

Here’s some numbers -

I’ve started diligently tracking my macros in the last two weeks and as I write this (4th Feb, 2024) - my current weight is 169.3kgs (373.2lbs).

Goals for this blog

Few things really -

1. Create an unofficial documentation around my sustainable transformation.
2. Do a This Week In Review blog every Sunday to discuss what went right and what could be improved upon.
3. Do a few pieces focused on the mental aspect of transformation.
4. Write book/ article/ YT video reviews around what I’m reading/ watching to curate my ongoing nutrition and training plans.
5. If and as I get more time. I’d love to add some tools here like BMR calculator etc. which I’m using myself during the transformation.
6. Add chart and streak sections where I can showcase few key metrics like my weight trend, major health markers and possibly workouts. (needs a lot of thought)
7. At some point I’d also like to share progress pictures. However, I’d want to do that in a meaningful/ tasteful manner. Inherently we’re all very different. 80 kgs looks a lot different from one person to another, let alone 180+ kilos. (So still debating the best way to do this)

As you can see there are still a lot of rough edges to smoothen out. However, I didn’t want to wait around until I had everything figured out to begin (this blog).

This blog shall grow as I shrink! 😇

Until next time. Ciao!

— MM.