Staying in shape is hard work.
For pilots to fly airplanes, they must pass a medical evaluation at least once a year for pilots like me but as soon as I turn 40, its every 6 months. If you don't pass this medical exam, you aren't allowed to fly. This is one of the biggest fears for many pilots and one of my biggest fears.
I am 5'10" and my weight has fluctuated between 220 at my highest and 181 at my lowest.
My metabolism used to be a raging, white-hot inferno, that rivaled the hottest parts of hell. Today, it's more like a frozen tundra that could easily inhabit polar bears.
When I started flight training, it was my main focus and while working a full time job, training full time, and having a wife and 3 kids, working out was on the back burner. I ate as healthy as I could during all this time which kept me in decent shape but I was always heavier than I wanted to be.
In the 3 years of flight training, each year when it was time to get my medical, my blood pressure crept up a little each time, along with my weight.
Fast forward to when I started my job with the airlines in March of this year. I was 206 and feeling terrible about myself. When I started airline training, I decided it was time to get myself under control. My wife, Karen, and I decided to see who could be in better shape by the time I got back from training. Training was going to be roughly 10 weeks long. It was time to get started.
I'm both lucky and cursed that my wife is a personal trainer and regional head coach for OrangeTheory. Blessed because she is crazy hot. Cursed because she has the advantage when it comes to staying in shape.
I used an app called Renaissance Periodization (or #RP ) which helps you know what to eat, how much of it, and it keeps you accountable for every meal. The app is amazing! I also used their workout templates for lifting along with numerous OrangeTheory Fitness workouts. I love #OrangeTheory!
I also talked to pilot friends of mine who I know stay in real good shape and picked their brain as to how they make it happen while on the road so much.
I have really enjoyed going to different OrangeTheory studios all over the country.
When I got home from training, I was down to 183 and feeling a lot better about myself. I suppose the stress of flight training didn't hurt my weight loss but I was close to where I wanted to be.
I'm doing pretty well maintaining the loss at 186. I'm not sure I will ever be completely happy but we're all just a work in progress.
This how I did it with only a microwave and refrigerator, living in a hotel room for 10 weeks:
You will need a food scale, measuring spoons, and measuring cups. This will help you with portion control.
This omelette maker was soooo helpful to make breakfast every morning.
I had to buy pre-cooked chicken strips, egg whites, pre-cooked beef, lunch meat and other stuff. It wasn't ideal and wasn't as healthy as making chicken breasts yourself and cooking your own lean meats but it worked. You can find most of that stuff in the freezer section. There is also the rice you can buy in bags that you throw in the microwave and that will also save you. The last piece is the buying "riced" veggies in steam in bags.
The way to make it so your food isn't boring all day long is to buy sauces that are different so you can switch it up and flavor it different daily. I used salsas and anything that was low calorie that can be used to make it interesting everyday.
Now that I have to be on the road a lot more, the secret is meal prepping. I use my app to decide what meals I need for the time I will be away. Each meal goes in a zip lock bag and then I keep one glass tray to eat out of. I eat when I can but for the most part, when I am putting in the effort, it keeps me pretty on track.
That's all for today! Have a great day and do something good for yourself.
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