So this is my first journey here but I figured it was time to throw this together in case anyone had wisdom to share. So much to learn, so little time.
Backstory: I've always been on the bigger side. Sometimes fat but not usually too bad. I've come to realize that carbs and I don't get along very well. Which normally isn't a big deal but I managed to stick out 5 years in the army and they really like their carbs. At the point, I knew shit about nutrition so I ate what was around the DFAC, drank dew and beer like someone bombed the plant, and figured the PT would keep me fit.
After nearly 10 years being out, things are a bit different. With a few injuries (2 ankle reconstructions and a bit of knee work towards the end of my army time) I took some time off from the whole workout thing. I went to grad school. Got a job. Got a new job. 9 years later I still hadn't gotten back into the gym. A few months of flirting with jogging or even buying some gear for the basement just didn't cut it. Never had motivation. Eventually it just gathered dust.
Then I moved to LA for a new job. Dream job - video game AI programmer. Worked 80 hr weeks for people with no soul. Drank a bit too much. Closest I got to exercise was a little surfing. Noticed my life wasn't doing too well. I'm 5'10" and was about 265. And not in a good way. Switch jobs to a game company that was more about work life balance and started hitting the gym just before last Xmas. Which was about the most embarrassing moment of my life. Weak and out of shape.
15+ months later and I'm on a better track. My strength has returned in decent measure. I finally started cleaning up my diet bit by bit, and got cleanish this fall. I started on keto early march in an effort to really get back too it.
As with most things, it was the little stuff that help. I needed something to help supplement my poor diet so I got the Pak. Did a bit of forum looking and started cleaning things up. Which lead to Stak and Cuts. And a better workout. Oh, and a boat load of motivation.