My Journey
My Spiritual Foundation
Because I believe we’re spiritual beings, I first had to strengthen my relationship with God. Without that foundation, everything else felt shaky. I started reading my Bible daily and attending church again. This eventually led to a simple podcast for three years called *Just a Guy and His Journey Back to God*. It’s still available on the major streaming platforms and can also be found via link below.
Once the spiritual foundation was solid, it was time to rebuild the physical “house.”
The Wake-Up Call
Like so many, I had my glory years — but they were long past. I had gradually allowed myself to slip from young and healthy to “mature” and struggling. At my heaviest I was pushing 270 lbs despite being 6'5" tall. That was an unhealthy weight for me. As a result, old injuries that were once minor annoyances became chronic pains. My back (especially the L5/S1 area) ached constantly, joints creaked, and I didn’t like the trajectory I was on for the next 30 years.
Around age 59 I started seriously researching what I could do to reverse the damage and set myself up for a stronger second half. The “Longevity” industry was full of gym bros, doctors, and influencers selling crazy supplements for every issue. Even when I found good, science-backed information, there were so many topics and options that it took forever to wade through it all.
Diet First: Tackling Inflammation
With a chronic back issue and joints that ached and creaked, I focused first on reducing inflammation through diet. This led me to Keto, then to the Carnivore diet. Please know — I’m not here to sell any diet. You have to find what works for you. One fact is written in stone: **You can’t out-exercise a bad diet.**
These diets helped my hands and joints feel noticeably better, and I lost some weight. But I still had significant issues with my back and overall health.
In 2025, at 270 lbs, I was struggling to stand for more than 15 minutes at a time without severe, shooting pain in my back. My blood panels were concerning, and I was drinking too much at night to dull the pain.
Throughout the year I tried many different options — supplements, going to the gym, cold plunging, and more — but they just didn’t move the needle enough.
The Turning Point
In November 2025, I discovered peptides. They weren’t — and aren’t — a “magic pill,” but like most helpful tools, they became powerful when combined with the right foundation.
The foundation for any real physical transformation must start with these three non-negotiables:
1. Sleep— Quality, consistent sleep every night
2. Diet— Anti-inflammatory and nutrient-dense (Carnivore works best for me)
3. Exercise — Consistent resistance training plus some cardio
On December 29, 2025, I made a full commitment: I would do whatever was required (legal and within my budget) to fix my health. On that day I weighed 268 lbs, was at 25.8% body fat, and had 185.4 lbs of muscle mass. For reference, I’m 6'5" tall and was 60 years old at the time.
My Results So Far
Body Composition Comparison
*Note: I started 2025 pushing ~270 lbs. The muscle maintenance while losing over 43 lbs of fat is the real win — this is body recomposition done right.*
Bloodwork Improvements (January 2026 → June 24, 2026)
As a result of this focused approach, I can now workout 5 or 6 days a week, lift hard enough to make real physical improvements, and even run 3 miles when I feel like it (though I’d rather lift most days!).