My name is Tim Parisi. I began training in martial arts in 1995. I hold a 3rd degree black belt in Taekwondo, a 1st degree black belt in Hapkido, was a state wrestler in high school, and have trained in boxing, grappling, and mixed martial arts. I have trained under 3 Taekwondo World Champions, and 1 Olympic Bronze Medalist. I have helped hundreds of students to reach their goals in physical, mental, and emotional mastery. What does this mean for you? Not much until you find out how I did stray from my path at one time.
In high school, I was always tall, thin, and lanky. I always wanted to be bigger and built more like a Greek God. When I went to college, I weighed 150 pounds and was sick of being skinny, so I started gorging myself with food (and recreational beverages) trying to bulk up. I gained the freshman 15... twice! When I came home for summer, the first thing my Master told me was "You've gained weight!" and it wasn't the good kind. After college I went to work, 60 hours a week. I told myself I had no time to work out or cook healthy meals. I was making excuses and gaining more weight.
By the end I was up to 205 and a bodyweight of 30%. I had gained 55 pounds, and I was physically weaker at the age of 24 than I was at age 14. I got winded walking up the stairs. I had injuries, aches, and pains in my joints. I looked at my life and realized I was miserable. I was supposed to be in my prime, but I didn't recognize the mess that I saw in the mirror. I know I could have been in worse condition, but I didn't want it to get to that point.
I enrolled back at the martial arts school where I started as a child. I started training hard. More importantly, I trained smart. When i wasn't getting the results I wanted, I adapted. I changed, and tailored my training to get the most out of my body. I developed a training regimen that really worked. I've finally attained the body that I've always wanted. I'm down to 185, with single digit body fat, and I'm leaner, faster, and stronger than ever before.
I'll tell you how I didn't get there:
- Wasting hours on long slow cardio equipment. (I hate treadmills!)
- Eating so called "Health foods" that are just as bad as deep fried ice cream.
- Jumping on a bandwagon diet that made my weight jump up and down.
- Starve myself for weeks on a atkins or caloric deficit diet.
- Wasting time on dietary supplements or magic pills that would destroy my liver
- Reading fitness magazines, and training like a body-builder.
- Using a ridiculous ab machine, chair, belt, or gadget
- Worrying about the scale
Number 8 is the key. I didn't want to go back to 150. I was skinny and frail. I wanted a stronger body, and I wanted to look stronger. I wanted a six pack, and a pair of guns for arms. I couldn't do that with fat on me, but I also couldn't do that without muscle. I didn't care what I weighed, I cared how I looked.
The mirror is always greater than the scale. If you want to be concerned with numbers, use your body fat percentage. That is the greatest indication of a HEALTHY weight. Too much concern with weight results in eating disorders which can be even more destructive, and more deadly than stomach fat. It is important to find a healthy balance in your body and in your life. That is what I have dedicated myself to. I am always striving to maintain that balance while maintaining growth. That is what I help others with. What are your goals? Do you have a plan to meet them in a balanced manner? Share them with me and let's see if we can make a plan.
