I felt like a fat slob

When I first arrived in Thailand, I felt like a fat slob.

For months, my diet had been dreadful.

I wasn’t doing any cardio, and I had put on a bunch of weight.

I did a one-off Muay Thai session and saw the shredded physiques of the men around me, kicking and punching with a kind of violent fluidity.

I was impressed. But then I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

My big white belly stared back at me.

Everyone else was fit, lean, and athletic while I plodded around like a sweaty Steven Seagal—heavy, slow, and sluggish.

One of the coaches even pinched my belly in a jokey way between rounds. I laughed along, but deep down my higher self cried with disappointment.

“How could I let myself get like this?” I thought.

I used to be an MMA fighter in my late teens/early 20s. He would be so disappointed if he could see me now.

But they say when a man makes a commitment, the earth shakes and nature clears a path.

At that moment, I made a commitment.

Even if it killed me, I would be like those ripped Muay Thai fighters.

I would fight in the ring and look like I belonged there.

Four weeks ago, I started training seriously at a place called M19 Muay Thai on the island of Koh Phangan.

2 - 4 hours every day of brutal workouts in the scorching heat.

Sleeping, eating, and thinking like an athlete.

No drink. No partying. No dating.

Early mornings. Aching legs. Constant fatigue.

It was pure hell in the beginning. I was cranky, miserable, and at times, depressed.

My body couldn’t recover between sessions.

But you know that old saying, “It doesn’t get easier, you just get better”?

It’s true.

Challenge is the stone that sharpens you. It’s the chisel that chips away your fears and insecurities.

Training Muay Thai in Thailand is one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done.

It’s also one of the greatest.

Because through it, I’m watching myself become the man I always knew I could be.

Not just physically and mentally, but spiritually…

Today, after training, I watched a beautiful blue caterpillar crawl across the mats. I felt more connected to nature than I have in years.

That big white belly is slowly melting away.

I’m seeing definition and contours I haven’t seen since I was 18.

The brutal drills are becoming bearable.

The fear and self-doubt are being replaced with calm confidence.

My kicks, once clumsy, are starting to feel natural with that same stinging whip I had when I was 18.

I have 4 weeks until I step into the ring, possibly against a seasoned Thai fighter.

I’ll keep you posted on my progress. But for now, this is the lesson I’m learning from all of this:

Everything you could become lies on the other side of challenge.

Embrace it.

It will change you in all the ways you need … and most of the ways you want.

But there’s a problem.

If you don’t have a good enough reason to challenge yourself, you’ll give up before you have a chance to change.

This is why I often say that a man’s vision is his most important asset.

Without it, you will wander aimlessly pursuing pleasure.

An unfulfilling and often miserable existence.

Luckily, I created a free resource lately to help you find your vision in life.

Download it, dedicate a week to completing it … and watch your life start to change.

Click here to access it.

Big love,

OC