G'day everyone, I'm Nathan.
Rather than a long winded intro, here's a bit little snapshot of my life pumping iron and generall fitness...
I started lifting weights in my early 20's. I made good strength gains almost immediately and become hooked from there on. In 2001 I competed in ANB NSW State Titles and then the Australian Titles a couple of weeks later.
At my strongest, around 2006, I could do 30 strict chin ups, Bench Press 180kg for 2 reps, Squat 215kg for 2 rll think back to those days where I use to bench 100kg for 20 reps as a warm up. When I first started, I use to dream of benching 100kg and envy anyone that could..
Then life and work got in the way and I stopped going to the gym with any regularity.
A few years later, I bent to pick something up and I fully ruptured my L4/L5. 10 months in bed whacked out on Valium and Morphine stuffed me around physically and mentally. Then, Following a long over due spinal operation, I went from barely being able to walk to the letterbox, to walking 1.5km the day after being discharged from hospital.
By the 8th week, I was walking up to 60km per week. And then, as my luck would have it, my L4/L5 took an even bigger dump as I sat down one morning. Back on the drugs for another 2 months before my 2nd OP and, 18months later, I finally have the confidence to begin exercising with more regularity, purpose and motivation.
The time has now come to transform this body of mine that has become restless, sluggish and weak though long periods of inactivity and over-exposure to some seriously mind numbing medications.
I will spend very little time in the gym - some habits are hard to break and the temptation to lift heavy again is still roaring inside of me - I've already tried. For now, it will be a mix of high intensity cardio, calesthetics, kettle bells and some free weights. And from what I've seen around the traps, a bloody impressive physique can be carved out doing just that, so lets see what I can whittle out of my blank canvas...
Thanks in advance for the warm wishes.
See you round.