April 21st 2008 was a momentous day in my life. Walking into the operating theatre to be there for the birth of my first child, Garrett. What a special day – mommy was nervous, daddy was a wreck. She badly wanted a natural childbirth, but the little man wasn’t cooperating. I didn’t care how he came out of there, as long as he was healthy.
The hospital has a holding area; you get scrubbed up and sit down in this little area waiting to be dressed with the appropriate attire before going into the operating room. It’s a strange place – I thought the little chairs they put outside of the fitting rooms in department stores were the worst places for men to hang out, this place was way worse.
Finally a nice lady comes in to give me my hospital gown – “I’m a big guy, grab the largest thing you have.” She looks up and sheepishly hands me a gown, XXL. I try it on, and it’s not even close to fitting me. She has to get special permission from the surgeon to allow me in the room without the appropriate attire – luckily this is Asia, so I got in without having to rip the doors off or threaten anyone.
April 21st 2008 I weighed somewhere around 150kgs, or 330lbs.
150 kilos.
That day burned itself into my memory banks –
I was used to being the biggest guy in the room – I’ve always been that Oklahoma corn-fed alpha male type of guy. However, now I wasn’t an athlete anymore – I was morbidly obese and probably on the verge of having diabetes.
I didn’t know what to do – so I turned to what I knew from the American football and wrestling days – lifting heavy things. I’ve always been good at lifting heavy shit – always, still am.
I joined a globo gym near my house – knowing exactly what I was going to do. I would work the same methods as I did all through my younger, athletic years. Monday will be chest and triceps, Tuesdays back and biceps, Wednesday will be leg day (never skip leg day, kids) etc etc.
I walked into the gym and arrogantly asked for the biggest personal trainer they had. I couldn’t have some skinny Asian kid trying to spot me as I went for my one rep max. Out came a guy they called Shrek, we shook hands, talked for a few moments, and I hired him as my personal trainer – more on him later.
A few months had gone by and I was lifting big again, and it felt good. It was feeding my ego (note alpha male comment above). I liked being the guy overhead pressing two 55kg dumbbells while everyone else stared. They were dusty – because nobody had touched them since I did last week.
My body started to transform – and at the time I was pretty happy with the results. I got so convinced I had this stuff figured out, that I dropped Shrek and started training with some fellow meathead guys I’d met in the gym. Shrek wanted me to do more cardio, less heavy lifting and more reps. pffft.
Looking back now, I was clearly compensating. I was still fat – but now I’d packed all this muscle underneath the fat. At almost any time of the day, no matter where I was – I was the strongest guy in the room. At the time, that was enough for me.
I’d done nothing to change my lifestyle, I still ate like a 14 year old, and drank like a sailor – but looking back, it was the first step in a long process. If I’ve learned anything – it’s that there’s no endgame in fitness. There’s no result – it’s a constant, ever evolving process. A journey not a destination.
“Hey man, you want to go watch some banker assholes punch each other?”
Me: “Oh hell yes.”
18 months had gone by since I’d started lifting again – and I treated my corporate team to a night out to see some White Collar Boxing. We bought a table, and enjoyed course after course of food – and bottle after bottle of wine.
I’ve always had a draw to combat sports – always. Every Tyson fight, every UFC, I even liked K1 when no American could even spell it.
Ego and alcohol were in full effect as I watched these guys get in the ring and box. I kept thinking (man, I could do this – I could win this).
A few months later, while drunkenly playing poker I met a guy who had done a white collar fight the year before. I made an off the cuff comment about wanting to try it out. Not long later, the phone rang – and I got my chance.
I walked into a boxing gym to meet the promoter, who immediately asked what I weighed. I honestly didn’t know, hadn’t seen a scale in a long time that went over 120kgs. He walked me over to the scale, and it finally stopped moving up at 145kgs.
“Mate, the heavyweight limit is 120kgs, I don’t think you can fight for us – there’s no way you can lose 25kgs in the next 3 months.”
Now, I’ve never been much for losing – or being told I couldn’t do something. Without hesitation (and truthfully, without any thought) I argued back. “I can make 120 – if I make 120 you’ll give me a fight, correct?” I also do a lot of negotiating in my job, and as you can see by the structure of that question, the easiest thing for him to do is say yes.
The next day I walked into Fight G MMA Academy, and met the owner and head coach, Darren De Silva. I explained to him my situation, and he asked me to lift my shirt up so he could see my belly. “Can be done, but you must do everything I say for the next 3 months.” I did, and more. All I cared about was proving to that asshole promoter (who is a fantastic guy, but at the time it was part of my process) that I could make the weight.
I started running – I’ve always hated running. Even as far back as junior high football I’d always do anything to avoid running, I’d be late to practice to miss the distance running part. I didn’t necessarily mind the work, just hated running.
Desperation sunk in after my first run – I made it a couple of hundred meters and had to stop. The next day my feet hurt so bad I could barely walk, but I still had to go to boxing practice and skip rope. There’s no reason for a guy at that weight should be skipping rope – it isn’t a pretty sight. However Darren told me to do it, so I did it. Every day – I did it.
I started reading, started manipulating my nutrition in order to cut the weight. Get rid of carbs, that’s what all the forums say. That’s what I’ll do.
Weight started to come off – quickly. Then it slowed down and I didn’t understand why (more on this later).
However, I made it – I stepped on the scales at exactly 120kgs 3 months later at a public weigh in. I really thought I looked good then, at 265lbs.
I’d made incredible changes to my body – but the mind has an amazing way of telling you look better than you do, or worse than you do. It’s something I still deal with to this day.
I went on and fought, KO’ing my opponent early in the 2nd round. The crowd roared – and my hand was raised in victory. I haven’t felt the glory of working your ass off at something physically taxing and winning in many years. I forgot how fucking spectacular it was. At the time – there’s nothing that can top it. You are king of the mountain; you dominated someone who wanted to hurt you. You are the man.
So now that I’d found the secret sauce of weight loss, I took some time off to recover from the training and enjoy alcohol and carbs again.
Not many months later – I stepped on the scales and weighed 138kgs. From 145 to 120 back up to 138. What the fuck had I done?
I realized at that moment that the only thing that is going to keep me in shape is the concern of being punched in the face at a later date. I needed to get back into combat sports.
I went back to Fight G and met the most ridiculous human being I’ve ever met. Eduardo Bezerra. Eduardo is Brazilian, and a brown belt in Jiu Jitsu. He lives the life that most people would dream about, surfing and teaching the gentle art. He introduced me to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – and I was immediately hooked.
Years later, with plenty of ups and downs, I’m now a professional mixed martial artist, and am co-founder and CEO of Ritual. I have dozens of shiny trophies and medals to show for all my hard work in martial arts. I even have a big beautiful championship belt that I had framed; I thought I’d put it up in my office, or even in my living room. All those things sit in a storage room collecting dust, not proudly on display.
I can’t figure out why I’ve never put them up, and why I’ve lost the desire to –
What I also have to show for it is a resting heart rate of 37 beats per minute. Size 32 jeans (I was wearing 54’s at one point) and now I can take off and run 10k on a whim. I’ll be 34 this year, and I’m no longer the strongest guy in the room – but I’m almost certain my body now performs better than it did when I was 17 years old. 34 year old Brad would be able to kick the shit out of 21 year old Brad. My body is where it wants to be. I know how to tweak my nutrition and training based on my goals at the time. I move better – way better. I have ranges of motions now in my shoulders, hips and spine that I haven’t had since I was a kid. I know I am, and always have been lactose and gluten intolerant. Took me 30+ years to figure it out – even though I spent my life stuffing that shit in my face.
I carry with me a sense of thankfulness and luck. Things fell my way. I met the right people at the right time in my life. Most importantly I met Ian Tan, my strength and conditioning coach, co-founder and Program Director of Ritual, and dear friend.
I also carry with me a sense of panic. So many people in my life are metabolically broken, physically restricted, and on their way to a premature death —- just as I was.
Ritual was built because what we know shouldn’t be a fucking secret. It should be taught to you right after you learn how to do basic math in primary school.
The Ritual corporate culture summed up in one photograph.
I am not genetically superior, nor is Ian.
You are not genetically inferior.
This blog, and all of the future posts come from the purest of places I’ve ever felt. The knowledge is out there, but there’s a lot of bullshit. Ian and I have spent a great deal of our lives trying to figure it out.
We want you to live longer
We want you to move better
Play with your grandkids – run circles around them till they collapse.
We want you to figure you out.
Much love – enjoy the journey.
~BR
Where did Dr. Du go to university NN s egg turned out to be his own school.Du Heng was consulting with the villagers and saw them muttering something.
Then you can only bear it yourself. Seeing that Wei Kaida was about to argue again, Du Heng quickly winked and asked him to agree.This is because his salary is only 2,000. He spent 3,000 in two months, and Du Heng wondered if he was being too stingy.
Du Fei treated him for constipation, and he also treated him for constipation when he went to the No.Du Pei Jihua pursed his lips and said, During Labor Day, Dr.
However, he could not connect with the case in his hand.Du Heng said it seems to be very simple, and it is indeed that simple.
I see a doctor every day, either by hand for physical examination or by listening with a stethoscope.Whether it s a health center, a district hospital, or even a city or provincial hospital, they want to go to the countryside for free clinics.
He asked Du Heng weakly, Doctor Du, what should we do now Du Heng turned around and continued to look at the prescriptions.What Du Heng was holding was something he had tinkered with in the pharmacy during his free time in the past two Keto Blast Gummies Website: Exploding Your Keto Diet Potential The Best Keto Diet Recipes months, using the best materials.
Oh, I told your family members that if you don t want to use this needle, you can buy disposable acupuncture needles by yourself.Isn t this a bit too big a deal Xu Pinglin was also laughed out of anger.
This is your credit, the credit of our health center, and the credit of our entire health department in Shanghu District.Return to normal and the effect will be better. After explaining the treatment method, Du Heng stood aside quietly.
What should I do with the money Lu Zhongjiang was persistent on the money issue.Of the two nurses, Wang Lili, thinking that her home was close, stayed on duty and asked Li Nating to go back and rest.
With the relationship between the three of them, as long as the bottom line is not involved, there is basically no scruple in speaking.Liang Lihai s father made his decision, and Du Heng no longer hesitated.
Oh, it s just a bit fast. Quick Du Heng was stunned for a while, and it took him a long time to realize what Wang Zhenzhen meant.He had to get a hold of Du Heng today. This guy is such a jerk.
Okay, just listen to me on this. It won t do you any harm.Du Heng reached out and took it, She called me and said that I went home last night and could only ask you to give it to me.
How should the evil weapon be destroyed Others don t know, but you should know.It seemed to be nodding to her.Ye Shenglan didn t know why, so she nodded accordingly.
Meng Jingzhe didn t know how to describe the expressions on everyone s faces, but now that he thought about it carefully, he remembered a fairy tale.The Ah Jing you mentioned is just one of several candidates now.
It s just that she spoke a dialect, which Chu Yuanzhen couldn t understand, so she could only comprehend it.Wrinkles visible to the naked eye appeared in the space, and streaks of black lightning appeared on the surface of Xu Is Tomatoes Keto Gemini Keto Gummy: Benefits and Usage Qi an s fist, which was a phenomenon that the space was torn apart.
The giant panda directly stated the truth.Meng Jingzhe was still staring at a stone, but suddenly his eyes twisted, and then he appeared in a special space.Dongfang Wanrong and Dongfang Wanqing sisters The faces of the two changed.
Hit the yamen.Nangong Qianrou hung her saber at her waist, and when she ran up to Haoqi Building full of anxiety, she found that Wei Yuan was not in the tea room.Hi students, I m the new teacher in this class, Meng Jinghe.
All the extraordinary left.At this time Diao Chan is still on the way.Hearing what he said, Immortal Qishan made up his mind and said, Since it s Therefore, this seat wants to help you.
I chose you at the beginning not because you are a visitor from another world, not because you have half the fortune of the country.Besides powder, there are other ways.Meng Jingzhe said.
Maybe it started when I slashed at my superior for a little girl maybe it started when I shouted I m not an official for Master Zheng and the people of Chuzhou.Buddhist monks either sit cross legged to listen to scriptures, or stroll in the temples, peaceful and quiet as before.
As for Confucian magic Do ED Gummies Work? Insights and Reviews Pikcup Erectile Dysfunction Meds tools to open their mouths, Confucian instruments have their own principles, and it is more difficult to get them to speak than to destroy them.In the wedding room, Lin An was wearing thin pajamas and was playing backgammon with the maid of honor.
Meng Jingzhe carefully recalled the things about the five clans that Xiaotong had popularized.PS This book is finished in three or four days, so you don t need to vote for me this month.
But you have to find the right direction, otherwise you will go in the opposite direction and go further and further away.out, suspended in the air.A total of 108 fast copper plates, each octagonal copper plate is as big as a round table, engraved with chaotic patterns, some are like tadpoles, some have criss cross lines, and some are like flames of stick figures.
Meng Jingzhe said lightly.Since I Noxitril Male Enhancement: What Users Should Know Devices To Help Erectile Dysfunction m here, it s not that easy for me to leave Yun Xi said.Before it finds out, I must get rid of you first The evil god suddenly jumped up, and this time, he no longer had the slightest scruples, and raised his hand like a gust of wind.
It is really hard to sleep and eat without knowing what they are doing.But once he left the alchemy laboratory, he couldn t help feeling sleepy and dozing off.
At this time, Meng Xiaotian was wrapped in thousands of spider threads, and the only face exposed outside was still looking straight at the direction where Meng Jingzhe was.After you die, I will swallow you with my own mouth.
His expression was determined and his tone calm.Panic and despair.As for gathering the descendants of gods and demons, who will they send Xu Xinnian looked outside the door, He showed a strange smile Let me be my new sister in law, the Nine Tailed Sky Fox, right Xu Qi an followed Xu Nian s example and pinched the center of her brows.
Luo Yuheng raised her brows upside down, but there was nothing she could do, she was helpless, and she couldn t save her.God, can you speak Can you speak Meng Jingzhe asked.
Wei Kaida panicked and shouted quickly, Ma Shoe er, apologize to this big brother quickly.They don t work on Saturdays and Sundays. I feel so uncomfortable.
With the skill of speaking, he saw The road ahead has been overflowed by mountain water flowing down the ditch, and the entire road is covered with water and mud.But he particularly liked this young man. To be honest, he didn t like the future father in law and mother in law very much, and he had many opinions.
Now that Du Heng can be called teacher , it is truly a sign of seniority.Du Heng stood up hurriedly and waved his hands repeatedly, This won t work, this really won t work.
In fact, under normal circumstances, regardless of whether the patient is in shock or syncope, acupuncture at the Renzhong point will wake up the patient if conditions permit.After speaking, he looked at Yu Haiting and said, Dr.
You two have always been tepid and had a dinner date together last month.Look at those who are not What do you have to be afraid of if you are a 30 year old major, or even a deputy director Li Qingde waved his hand, looking heroic, You have skills, education, and you are still young.
Instead, he began to reflect on his own problems. He decided that starting from today, he would return visits to these patients who had been examined and treated, especially those who were seriously ill.By the way, aren t you going to be transferred Is it decided It s decided.
After his preliminary inspection, there was nothing wrong with Pei Jihua in front of him.New Contech and the like are relatively expensive. And the infusion guy, Du Heng, was even more speechless.
The current statistics in our country are more than 40.As a Western doctor, without instruments, he always feels that something is missing.
Auntie, apart from dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, do you have no other symptoms No, I m just sweating a lot right now.Back to your house Mi Wu s hand stroking her hair stopped for a moment, Why didn t you say it just now Wang Shuqiu glanced at Mi Wu, and then turned her eyes She put it in front of her, looking forward to seeing that warm figure on the bus that was about to pull into the station.
Then I can You re welcome, Senior Brother. Wang Shuqiu s place is very grand, and it looks like a classy place at first glance.Du Heng watched them enter the elevator, and then slowly walked back to the office with his hands behind his back.
He did not dare to bear this responsibility. Xiao Du.
I.
Lao Song began to speak incoherently and looked sad.Even if she takes out half of it every month, is it not enough for her to spend Speaking of myself, my pursuit is very simple.
But he still knows that today s doctors, whether they are Western medicine or Chinese medicine, are developing in the direction of specialists.Zhang Xi opened his eyes, but there was no sparkle in his eyes.
There was a sense of pride in Wei Kaida s tone. How can we call Dr.It is about 5 or 6 meters long. On the right side of the corridor is a relatively large bedroom, the first on the left is the kitchen, the second bathroom, and the innermost is a very small bedroom.
Uncle Long, I still have to make progress. Dong Yuezhang on the other end of the phone also laughed.
Du. I ve checked it out and it s indeed the emphysema you mentioned.Your unit is just like a 1. If you have problems and you can t solve them, just call me.
Often it s because they don t know how to treat the patient, which delays the treatment time.He has personally experienced Du Heng s level. I have been having problems for more than ten years, and I have asked Director Zhang from the first provincial level to take a look at it.
Then he turned around and shouted, Son, bring it here.You may not You El Toro Gummies for ED: Unleash Your Inner Strength Erectile Dysfunction At 32 know, I m the dean now. Du Heng was actually a little dissatisfied, but Ma Zichen was an intern after all, and his father signed the recommendation letter for him.
Du Heng had just changed clothes at the health center when Wu Buwei came in humming a song.The two teams start work at the same time, and it should be completed in three or four days.
If you follow the true dosage of medicine in your heart, the patient s condition should be shortened by two or three courses of treatment.After twenty or thirty seconds, he said, I ll still use your current prescription, but remove the tangerine peel.
Take out the red ginseng, do not add it to the soup, but break it into small pieces separately and let the patient swallow it first.
Wang Shuqiu felt the 5 Best Exercises to Lose Belly Fat Fast in Summer 2025 Keto Diet Causing Kidney Failure action of releasing the handbrake, glanced at Du Heng who was expressionless, and said with a smile, Oh, I was so excited, I forgot, you won t blame me, right Du Heng instantly felt that he had just The decision was wise, No, it s possible.He is just a little tired, but it doesn t matter. Since it is not an error in the examination, then the second point is a regularity problem, or some bad habits.
How can that be done Isn t this a joke How about this Give your aunt some clothes and bring some cigarettes and wine to your uncle.There were only six real patients in total. Moreover, when Li Qingde returned to his office, these people also went to Li Qingde s office one after another.
and we must focus on supporting and reusing young doctors.Therefore, the top priority now is to reduce the fever.
She is beautiful on the one hand, but mainly because this woman makes her feel particularly at ease, and she feels like she is getting along with her life.Li Na Ting, although we work in the same unit and have worked together for two or three years, but you To say how familiar I am with Li Na Ting, actually I am not.
If someone really said that in front of Du Heng and Wu Buwei, they would just laugh.Take your time with the pictures and don t be in a hurry.
If you have time, look for their children and ask their children to take them to the university.Looking at the patient s frowning face, Du Heng knew that the patient was not feeling well.
They are like mothers, and the two of them really do this.After An Chunhui heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief and finally didn t let himself off the hook.
I believe you will all remember it. Just follow the training instructions.On the first day of the internship, the teacher The teacher asked him to prepare things for debridement.
At least, now he can take care of himself without bothering others.I can t come to a conclusion. Let s do this. I ll teach you a method and you can try it first. After that, pick a time and ask my brother in law to come over and let me check it out.
Therefore, it is a medicine introduction that leads to the overall situation.As soon as he opened the curtain of the hall, a cold wind rushed in, and Du Heng couldn t help but shrink his neck.
Of course, many times, no one will look as carefully as Wang Zhenzhen to pick out the disharmony in the photo.He is the deputy chief physician of the Department of Gastroenterology of the province.
He was accidentally knocked down by a child, and then he sat down on the ground.It s too embarrassing for me to say no now. But it s too expensive.
Du Heng clicked his tongue twice. but did not speak.He felt that he had remembered it all, but he didn t dare.
I was used to being the biggest guy in the room – I’ve always been that Oklahoma corn-fed alpha male type of guy. However, now I wasn’t an athlete anymore – I was morbidly obese and probably on the verge of having diabetes.
