Body Transformation: Chuck Young Staged A Competitive Comeback At 49!

Vital Stats

Name: Chuck Young
Email: cryoung@Rochester.rr.com
BodySpace: cryoung
Location: Rochester, New York

Why I decided to transform

I knew I was in trouble when I got winded walking up stairs. I also didn’t like what I saw in the mirror. I was frankly disgusted with the sedentary lifestyle I was living and had to do something.

I had been running for 5-6 years and quit smoking a few years earlier. The running itself wasn’t enough because I ate whatever I wanted and didn’t lift weights. I looked at myself and others my age and realized we were old, fat, and out of shape. Something clicked that told me that was no way to live.

I also had a carotid dissection (stroke) a few years prior. Although it was caused by an accident and not by my diet, I needed to make sure I was in better health. If I didn’t, and the remaining carotid had an issue, I was a dead man.

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How I accomplished my goals

I knew it would be a long-term journey that required a lifestyle change. I made small changes over a long period of time to build slowly and adopt better habits so I wouldn’t become frustrated.

Before I made changes, I tracked everything I ate and looked at the results. My nephew, Ethan Grossman, helped train me and created my diet. The diet started with a 500-calorie deficit per day and I tracked everything I ate to make sure I stayed on track. After a few months, when I knew what I needed to eat, I stopped tracking.

There was a point in the middle of my transformation that I nearly quit when I found out that I had a double hernia and needed a new joint in my toe. The two operations slowed me down and recovery was tougher than I planned. I put on weight, got lazy, didn’t eat well, and lost what I worked so hard for.

I started from scratch and began building again. Just as I was getting back in shape, I discovered another hernia. Although it was smaller and only on one side, I had to make a decision about timing of the surgery. I was training for a late summer triathlon and was concerned that if I waited and it got worse that I wouldn’t have time to get in shape for the triathlon.

I bit the bullet, decided to have the surgery in June, and did everything I could to not revert like last time. With resolve and some pain, I was up and walking around the block a day after surgery. I increased my distance and pace daily and was running a week after surgery. As time progressed, I was up to longer distances and did short bike rides within a few weeks. I am happy to say that I set a personal best for the triathlon in September.

I’m very proud of the progress I made considering I had to start over a second time after two consecutive years of surgeries. I proved that you cannot ever give up and you can achieve any goal with time, patience, and dedication.

I’m happier, healthier, and have more ambition than I did 20 years ago. I’m in better shape than most guys half my age and the compliments alone made this a worthwhile lifestyle change.

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Supplements that helped me through the journey

Diet plan that guided my transformation

Training regimen that kept me on track

I typically run 10-20 miles per week outdoors, bike 40-50 miles per week in the summer, and swim 1-2 miles in the months leading up to triathlons. With my hernia surgeries in the past two years, I haven’t trained legs. I’m now starting to train them carefully. I do 25 sit-ups between my lifting sets.

I’m very fortunate to work for a company that believes in staying healthy and promotes the idea by providing gym facilities. This means I’m able to work or run at lunch. The town I live in allows residents to use the high school weight facilities for free. They are typically open weeknights and during the day on weekends.

What aspect challenged me the most

“Make changes at an acceptable pace for your lifestyle.”

Diet has been and continues to be my most challenging part of my lifestyle. I’m not a slave to a diet and make sure to eat other foods that I enjoy like pizza, wings, chocolate, and candy.

My main goal is to be 80 percent faithful to my diet. I decided to give up some gains to keep a healthy lifestyle balance that fits me.

My future fitness plans

I plan to continue running 5 and 10k races, triathlons, and charity bike rides. I’m going to sign up for a 100-mile ride for missing children this summer. I’m also planning on running a half marathon next summer.

Suggestions for aspiring transformers

How Bodybuilding.com helped me reach my goals

When I first joined Bodybuilding.com, I looked at the profiles of members and started to key in on guys who were my age and were close to my body size and structure. I was astounded at how good they looked.

I set a goal to get in good shape by age 50. I’m 49 years old and am close to where I want to be thanks to the tools and motivation from Bodybuilding.com and its members.

Chuck’s Top 5 Gym Tracks