Day Fifty (Officially down 30 lbs. in 50 days!)- Flips, Fitness & Second Chances: A Middle-Aged Man's Return to Gymnastics
- Jay M. Horne
- Jun 25
- 6 min read
Day 50: The Final Bell - 30+ Pounds Down and Still Standing
Well folks, we've made it. Day 50. The big five-oh. And honestly? I'm still pinching myself because this feels like some kind of fever dream.
When I started this crazy journey 50 days ago, I had no clue what I was getting into. I mean, who decides at middle age that they're going to start doing gymnastics again? Apparently, this guy. And apparently, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.
The Numbers That Made Me Do a Double-Take
Let me hit you with some reality: I weighed in at 169 pounds this morning. One-six-nine. That's 31 pounds down from where I started. In 50 days. I had to check the scale three times because I thought it was broken.
My 5K time today was 39:20 - still cruising in that recovery pace zone, but man, compared to where I started? It's like I'm a different person entirely.
Today's "Strategic Recovery" (AKA I'm Getting Old But Still Kicking)
Look, I'm not gonna lie and say every day was easy. Today was another one of those strategic recovery days where my body was basically like, "Hey buddy, remember me? Your joints? Yeah, we need a chat."
So here's what went down:
5K Run: 39:20 (my legs were feeling philosophical today)
Push-ups: 100 (because round numbers make me happy)
Sit-ups: 120 (core consistency, baby!)
Pull-ups: 22 (hey, that's actually pretty solid!)
Rings: 20 minutes (because I'm fancy like that)
What I Ate (Because You're Probably Curious)
Today's menu was brought to you by "whatever was in the fridge":
Pepper mushrooms (fancy, right?)
Steak (because I earned it)
Cole slaw (gotta get those veggies in)
Stuffed cheese... something (honestly, I'm not even sure what it was, but it was good)
Total damage: probably around 1,200 calories of pure "I'm-not-counting-anymore" energy.
The Before and After That Still Blows My Mind
Let me paint you a picture of where this all started vs. where we are now:
Day 1 Jay:
200 pounds of "comfortable living" consequences
33-minute 5K (and that was being generous)
300ml whiskey + 30oz wine on non-work days (yeah, I said it out loud)
2500-3000 daily calories of whatever was convenient
Occasional cigarette because "why not add insult to injury?"
Exercise regime: walking the dog and pretending it counts
Day 50 Jay:
169 pounds of "holy crap, I can see my abs again"
5K times consistently in the 30s (and sometimes better)
Alcohol replaced with... well, actual hydration. Plus, I can have a drink once in a while and stay below my caloric goals! (wild concept)
1200-ish calories of food that actually fuels performance
Cigarettes replaced with the high of crushing personal records
Exercise regime: daily workouts that would've killed Day 1 me
That's a 31-pound swing and a complete lifestyle overhaul in 50 days. And before you ask - no, I'm not selling you anything (Well, not yet). This is just what happens when you dust off techniques that actually work.
The Real Talk Section
Here's the thing nobody tells you about transformation - it's not just about the weight or the times or the reps. It's about waking up and realizing you're not the same person who started this journey.
Fifty days ago, I was that guy making excuses about why I couldn't work out. "I'm too old," "I don't have time," "my back hurts," "I'll start Monday," and my personal favorite: "I deserve this whiskey because adulting is hard." Sound familiar? Yeah, I was that guy.
I was drinking 300ml of whiskey plus 30oz of wine on my days off (because apparently I thought I was training for the liver Olympics), eating 3000 calories of whatever was convenient, and calling a 33-minute 5K "cardio." I had fooled myself into thinking that walking my dog counted as exercise and that my occasional trampoline bouncing with the kids was maintaining my "gymnastics skills."
Now? I'm the guy who gets genuinely excited about doing ring work for 20 minutes. I'm the guy who looks forward to his morning run; well, not really, but I do it anyway. I'm the guy who has lost over 30 pounds without feeling like I'm starving myself or living in a gym. I'm the guy who replaced alcohol calories with actual nutrition and somehow doesn't miss the hangovers (shocking, I know).
The techniques I've been using - the ones straight out of Chico's playbook from my original transformation 15 years ago - they work. At any age. I'm living proof that muscle memory is real, that your body remembers what it was once capable of, and that you don't have to be 20 to get in the best shape of your life.
The Plot Twist (Because Every Good Story Needs One)
So here's the deal: this is my last blog entry in this series. I know, I know - just when it was getting good, right? But here's why:
A Middle-Aged Man's Guide to Beginner Gymnastics is going into presale soon (with a planned release by January 2026, because apparently I like giving myself impossible deadlines). Plus, I've got a mountain of other projects demanding my attention like needy children. The audiobook for The Tome of Ages isn't going to narrate itself, A Lousy Bedtime Story needs finishing touches, and The Death of Magic is demanding completion like my kids demanding snacks every five minutes.
But don't worry - I'm not disappearing into the sunset with a belly full of victory donuts. I'll keep documenting my journey in my personal journal, tracking every rep, every run, every victory (and every day I want to throw my alarm clock out the window and go back to my old habits). The difference is, you won't have to read about my daily existential crisis over whether to do 100 or 120 sit-ups.
What's Next for You (The Important Part)
Listen up, because this is the real meat and potatoes: Keep going.
50 days ago I could hardly do a proper pull-up, now I do 10 at a time. I do my push-ups 30 at a time. Sit-ups 40 a go.
I don't care if you're 25 or 55 or somewhere in between. I don't care if you can barely do a push-up or if you're already crushing it in the gym. The principles are the same:
Show up consistently (even when you don't want to)
Track your progress (those numbers don't lie)
Be patient with yourself (Rome wasn't built in a day, and your six-pack won't be either)
Find what works for YOU (not what works for Instagram)
Celebrate the small wins (every single one matters)
The techniques in the upcoming book? They're battle-tested. By me, by Chico, by countless others who decided that age is just a number and excuses are just stories we tell ourselves.
My Final Thoughts (Before I Get All Sentimental)
Fifty days ago, I thought I was starting a fitness journey. Turns out, I was starting a complete life overhaul. Who knew?
I've proven to myself (and hopefully to you) that it's never too late to flip the script on your health, your fitness, and your life. The gymnastics techniques that seemed impossible on Day 1? They're becoming second nature. The weight that felt impossible to lose? Gone. The excuses that felt so valid? They're looking pretty silly now.
Keep Practicing, Keep Tracking, Keep Believing
So here's my challenge to you: start your own 50-day journey. Track it. Document it. Share it. Prove to yourself that you're capable of more than you think.
And remember - consistency beats perfection every single time. I didn't have perfect days. I had consistent days. That made all the difference.
Until the book comes out, keep flipping, keep fighting, and keep believing that second chances are real.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a book to finish and some rings that are calling my name.
Peace out, Jay
P.S. - Seriously, track everything. The data doesn't lie, and on the days when you feel like you're not making progress, those numbers will remind you how far you've come.
DAY FIFTY TRACKING
Weight: 169 pounds (-31 from start!) 5K Time: 39:20 Total Weight Loss: 31 pounds (15.5% of starting weight) MILESTONE: 50 days complete!
Nutrition:
Pepper mushrooms
Steak
Cole slaw
Stuffed cheese (approx. 1,200 calories)
Exercise:
5K Run: 39:20 (recovery pace)
Push-ups: 100
Sit-ups: 120
Pull-ups: 22
Rings: 20 minutes
Key Achievements:
50-day transformation journey complete
Over 30 pounds lost in 50 days
Consistent training methodology proven effective
Strategic recovery approach maintained
Final blog entry before book presale launch
What's Next:
Personal journal tracking continues
Book presale preparation
Continued training with proven techniques
Focus on other writing projects
Day 50: The Final Bell - 30+ Pounds Down and Still Standing
Weight reached 169 pounds (-31 from start) with 5K time at 39:20, completing 50-day transformation journey demonstrating that middle-aged gymnastics training produces extraordinary results through consistent application of proven techniques, strategic recovery management, and sustainable lifestyle changes—proving age is no barrier to complete physical transformation while establishing foundation for continued personal development and upcoming book release sharing these time-tested methods with broader audience.
A Middle-Aged Man’s Guide to Beginner Gymnastics is awaiting an official announcement, but has a planned latest release date of January 2026.
Jay Horne is the author of the science fiction fantasy realm of Rootworld where magic came before science. His latest works explore the discovery of magic on the Earth when the first witch is born and turns water into wine. Now, both realms are trying to educate and acclimate their students into new subjects.
Jay is the father of four and works as a cardiac monitor tech while he writes. He has a newsletter at substack called Stories that Slap. The only thing he loves more than writing is fooling his children.
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