My Journey Getting Here
Alright, let’s talk about hitting that 200 lbs mark at 6 ft tall. It wasn’t an overnight thing, that’s for sure. For the longest time, I was that tall, kinda lanky guy. Hovered around maybe 165-170 lbs for years, felt like I couldn’t gain weight no matter what I ate.
So, I decided I wanted to change that. Felt like I needed a bit more presence, you know? Just feel a bit more solid. Didn’t have a super scientific plan starting out, just knew I needed two things: more food and lifting heavy stuff.
Starting Out – The Grind
First step? Eating. Man, that was tougher than I thought. I literally had to force myself to eat more often. Started packing extra meals for work. Wasn’t always fancy stuff either.
- Breakfast got bigger – added more eggs, maybe some oatmeal.
- Started having a mid-morning snack, usually nuts or a protein bar.
- Lunch was whatever I normally had, but I’d try to add more protein, like an extra chicken breast.
- Afternoon snack was crucial – often yogurt or cottage cheese.
- Dinner was usually a big portion of protein, carbs, and some veggies.
- Sometimes, I’d even have a shake or something before bed if I felt I hadn’t eaten enough.
It felt like a chore sometimes, honestly. Just constantly thinking about the next meal.
Then there was the gym. I started going consistently, maybe 3-4 times a week. Didn’t overcomplicate it. Focused on the big basic lifts: squats, deadlifts (carefully!), bench press, overhead press, rows. I just tried to lift a little heavier or do an extra rep each week. Progress was slow, especially at first. There were days I felt weak, days I didn’t want to go. But I just kept showing up.
Hitting Plateaus and Adjusting
Naturally, I hit walls. The scale would stop moving, or I couldn’t lift heavier for a couple of weeks. That’s when I had to switch things up a bit. Sometimes it meant eating even more for a bit, maybe adding more healthy fats like avocado or using more olive oil. Other times, I’d change my workout routine slightly – maybe different exercises, or changing the number of reps and sets I was doing.
Sleep became really important too. Realized I recovered way better and felt stronger when I got decent sleep, like 7-8 hours. Wasn’t always possible, but I made it a priority.
Reaching 200 lbs
It took time. Probably a good year or two of really consistent effort to climb up steadily. I remember finally seeing that ‘200’ on the scale. It felt pretty good, not gonna lie. Wasn’t about the number itself, but more about setting a goal and actually sticking with the process to get there. I felt stronger, clothes fit differently (had to buy new ones!), and just felt more… substantial.
Maintaining it now is different. I don’t have to force-feed myself like I used to, but I still need to be mindful. Keep training, keep eating reasonably well. It’s more of a lifestyle now than a hardcore push. It’s about finding that balance where you feel good, feel strong, and can actually live your life without being obsessive. That’s the real win, I think.
