Who is Lower Class Hero?
My name is Tony, and last year I decided to make a few changes in my life (for the better). I'm a husband and father of two awesome kids in my 30's. I am lucky enough to work a full time job that I enjoy (most days), and I have a lot of hobbies including games (of all types), working out, martial arts (since I was 4), and investing (for about 5 years). But I've been off track for a few years now.
From the time my second kid was born, I'd been stagnant in some key areas of my life. I was slowly and steadily gaining weight, I stopped doing martial arts regularly, and I let my finances coast on the consumer hamster wheel. The worst part was my lack of interest in things, even my hobbies. The stress of a second kid and all of life's other challenges at the time got the best of me.
In 2020, I did a lot of research and went down a lot of rabbit holes trying to figure out how to get back on track. There's no shortage of fitness and diet advice online, but that makes it hard to sort out the good from the bad, the scams from the truth, and the honest from the biased. Plus, I don't believe that any one thing works for everybody. We are all different and unique.
What Are My Goals?
Lose Weight
First and foremost, I wanted to get into the best shape of my life. That meant shedding the extra weight first. I do this (and the next step) primarily with weight lifting. I do cardo occasionally because it is necessary, but honestly I'm not a big fan.
Build and Sculpt Lean Muscle
After meeting my weight goal, the fun part begins: building and sculpting lean muscle. I want a certain level of muscular strength, but I also want a certain look. I'm not trying to be the world's strongest man.
Compete in Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and MMA
While working out to meet my physical goals, I am also back to practicing Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and MMA full time. I competed in those three sports as an amateur when I was younger, but never followed through with it. I'm now planning on competing in 2022 and plan to eventually compete at the pro level (at least 1 fight in each) to check that off of my bucket list.
Constantly Improve at Video Games, Board Games, and Card Games
Okay this isn't really a goal, but between my passion for games and my competitive nature, this is always on my to-do list. I've competed in tournaments for Halo 3 and Halo 4 independently. I was invited to join a team but couldn't meet the obligations at the time. I also played the DBS Card Game professionally for 2 years with Fennec Gaming, going to nationals twice and earning a world ranking.
How Am I Achieving My Goals?
The first thing I decided to do was to get off of the internet and work with real people in real life. In 2020 (pre-pandemic luckily), I turned my garage into a fully functional gym. This was great; I had the tools to succeed, but still lacked a lot of the knowledge. So, I got a gym membership and hired a personal trainer. The gym membership gave me access to specialized equipment and tools that I don't have at my home, and having a personal trainer gave me access to the knowledge I was lacking.
At the same time, I went back to doing Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and MMA 5 days a week. I'm working with world-class coaches and developing great sparring partners each and every week. As a bonus, I count this as my cardio most days so that I don't have to do it elsewhere.
But as the saying goes, you can't out-train a bad diet. The last piece of my physical health puzzle was recommended to me by my personal trainer. I downloaded apps to track both my workouts and what I eat each day. This always sounded like a chore, but with the right tools it is surprisingly easy, and feels good to be able to see your results on (digital) paper.
All that was left was gaming. I wanted to get back to playing games regularly but I didn't want to lose progress in any other area. This meant that time management was the key to this goal. I read several books and articles on time management, and plan on taking a couple courses. I also learned some really useful tricks/tools/ways to help manage my time.
"Stretch Goals"
Even with everything I've done so far and all the new tools and resources I have, I still have questions. I love learning, and I like to understand not only how to do something, but why you do it and how it works.
In Fall 2021, I'm going to school to get a degree in kinesiology, to focus on physical fitness and nutrition.
I'll also be getting certified as a personal trainer.
Once my physical goals are further along, I plan on getting back into the world of professional gaming.
Why I Started This Blog/Brand
But for right now, that's one reason why I started this blog/brand. Writing helps me sort my thoughts out and engage with what I am writing about more than just reading it. It also helps me keep accountability. With what I do to work towards my goals on the internet, I don't want to let anybody down (or be called out for not sticking to my plan).
I also really enjoy helping people. Hopefully this content will help you and others achieve your goals. Especially if they revolve around losing weight, gaining muscle, doing martial arts, or playing games. I look forward to growing and working with this community!
-Tony aka Lower Class Hero
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