"My Old Physique Is Holding Me Back"
Tue Feb 03 2026
Today, I’m speaking with Jon. He’s a Brit who used to be ripped at 50. — That was when he lived in Australia.
But for the past 7 years, he’s been back in the UK, and his fitness has gone downhill.
He’s heavier than ever, and coming off a knee replacement, a fused foot, and months of disrupted training. The gap between what he remembers and what he sees in the mirror is messing with his head.
In this episode, we unpack a problem I see all the time in experienced trainees:
When your past best physique becomes your worst comparison point.
Jon’s notunfit. He’s disciplined, consistent, and still training hard. But clinging to the idea that he should look the same at 55 as he did at 50 has sapped his motivation.
We talk through how to reset expectations without lowering standards, why rushing to get his abs back is the wrong move, and how leaning out first will make everything else easier — from joint health to cardio to long-term consistency.
Links mentioned:
https://www.strongerbyscience.com/research-spotlight-metabolic-rate/
https://rippedbody.com/diet-progress-tracking
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Since 2011, we’ve helped 2,000+ busy men get lean, strong, and in control — without supplements, gimmicks, or sacrificing their lives to the gym.
👉 Get our Free 15-Day Transformation Kickstart Bundle (https://rippedbody.com/)
(Training program, nutrition guide, and 15-step course to help you avoid the most common mistakes.)
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Today, I’m speaking with Jon. He’s a Brit who used to be ripped at 50. — That was when he lived in Australia. But for the past 7 years, he’s been back in the UK, and his fitness has gone downhill. He’s heavier than ever, and coming off a knee replacement, a fused foot, and months of disrupted training. The gap between what he remembers and what he sees in the mirror is messing with his head. In this episode, we unpack a problem I see all the time in experienced trainees: When your past best physique becomes your worst comparison point. Jon’s notunfit. He’s disciplined, consistent, and still training hard. But clinging to the idea that he should look the same at 55 as he did at 50 has sapped his motivation. We talk through how to reset expectations without lowering standards, why rushing to get his abs back is the wrong move, and how leaning out first will make everything else easier — from joint health to cardio to long-term consistency. Links mentioned: https://www.strongerbyscience.com/research-spotlight-metabolic-rate/ https://rippedbody.com/diet-progress-tracking ------------ Since 2011, we’ve helped 2,000+ busy men get lean, strong, and in control — without supplements, gimmicks, or sacrificing their lives to the gym. 👉 Get our Free 15-Day Transformation Kickstart Bundle (https://rippedbody.com/) (Training program, nutrition guide, and 15-step course to help you avoid the most common mistakes.)