Forgot how little I enjoyed putting weight back on vs cutting it...
dropped from like 185lbs to 156lbs over the course of 2017 (ofc with some BF% loss in there, but muscle too) as got really into cross-country and 5-15km running, and it did not matter to me as was playing local league water polo so could outplay people still who were a lot heavier. Plus really enjoyed the process... lots of cardio almost every day (5km run, 1.5km swim, 40km bike ride every weekday and a 10km run on Saturday for like 3 months straight).
Now in Denmark and trying to play at the top level of water polo there. Skill wise I'm fine, but the guys are damn big.
Up over 170lbs again, but still giving away like 20lbs at least to everyone.
Did not feel this un-enjoyable when went from ~170lbs to 192lbs from late teens to early 20s! I guess some of it is old injuries and niggles, ache so much most days. Hopefully age 27 is not when that all catches up...
and it is just enjoying the countryside exercise+scenery over the gym based more with age!
Though it would be ironic considering those articles I did a few years back on age 27 being a (hockey) players absolute peak in general.
(post written feeling sorry for myself as my shoulder and left knee are killing...
)