I'm Stuck Between Fat and Fit - Decision Time 

Just back from a workout in a new gym...it's all systems GO!!!

you are honestly the most relatable fitness youtuber for me. Your honesty regarding your motivation, the effort you put in etc is very refreshing for people in the fitness industry. I can personally very much resonate with you, and I feel like a lot of other people can as well

I’m 51. I ran a good 10k this morning. I’m watching this eating fish and chips. Let’s go Mark.

Speaking as a 50 something trail runner who now has shave his face, ears and toes it’s all about variety and self accomplishments. I can do 4000 ft of up and feel great and then 6 miles of flat and feel crap. It’s about variety, take the wins, don’t sweat the lows and keep moving forwards. At least I’ve learnt how to balance a trifle on my wattbike bars. Great video Mark, see you at the cake stand 💪

I’m a 24 year old professional MMA fighter and I also have an overeating problem! I’ve taken a back step from my career to do some self work for my overeating and watching Mark has helped a lot, So thank you! Some insight from a high level athlete here. I have found during my athletic life that there’s only small windows of time where you’re at PEAK FITNESS. This is not sustainable and timing is quite important. It’s a combination of peak heart condition, peak muscle conditioning and peak body fat condition. All this together creates your PEAK. But to get to this point takes some serious work. As fighters, we give ourselves about 6-10 weeks to achieve this condition and It’s all about timing, if you go balls to the wall and hit your peak by weak 4. Then by week 6 you’ll bonk. Anyways, looking forward to seeing Marks take at it! It’s bloody hard work to get to that PEAK but god you can do some wonderful things when you’re there, you become a MACHINE. Good luck Mark 🙏

No idea if you read these comments, but by far and away this is the best fitness youtube channel I have found and it's changed my life. Started watching November/December, started running in January first ultra in April (only 33 miles) and did another one in July (a proper one 63 miles). I'm now back in the gym 3 days a week, refocusing on being well rounded (not literally) fitnesswise, while still keeping up my running (at a reduced mileage) and I'm back on my pushbike. Not sure if I'm above average yet, but I'll be fitter at 30 than I was at 20 and I won't be looking back any time soon. Love the videos always tune in to see what you are doing next.

I’m training to be 70. I’m 65 now. For my 60th birthday I ran 5 miles (averaging 9 minutes a mile) to celebrate. Running hurts my knees at those distances so I’m on my concept 2 rower for cardio. Love CrossFit, OLY, good nutrition and good scotch. Mark, thanks for this.

Remember old age doesn’t have to mean lack of ability to move but a lack of movement can allow old age to run havoc on your body which creates a vicious circle “use it or loose it” Definitely feeling this myself 😊

Can I just say I really love how transparent you are. This makes me feel like I'm actually giving a good crack at it even on bad days.

This sounds great! I miss some of the old straightforward vlogs, and was so sad the Ironman plan went down the toilet. I hope we get to see lots of you working hard, it is great motivation for me!

This gave me a hell of a laugh, especially the young wife/burger king comment :D But honestly all this is spot on. The dip zone is amazing and I'm so comfortable being in it. I've been getting up at 5:30 AM and going for a literal 30-minute swim and doing 20 pushups, 3 to 4 times a week, for 6 months now. It's honestly such a low level of exercise that I'm embarrassed sometimes, but the fact that I've been so consistent and not really pushing myself at any point has given me the energy to keep it going for very long now (compared to my previous fitness endeavors), and I feel amazing - lost weight, gained muscle, much much much calmer and less anxious than before, and just have more energy all the time. Highly recommend to all regular people to be in this zone. I still eat junk semi-regularly, but I've reduced that as well to an extent - but again, not so much that I risk falling off the wagon and annihilating myself with junk food, just not being an absolute idiot about it :D Challenges are fun and all that, but if you just wanna fix your goddamn body and mind, I find that constant low-level exercise and getting in this zone is the absolute best course of action because it's sustainable and easy, and if you want to improve later it's the perfect base for doing so

This one spoke to me. I started my fitness journey 12 years ago after turning 40. I lost 22kg in a year (full disclosure - I’ve put 7 back on). My fitness and strength peaked at age 48, then the injuries started - herniated disc, 2 knee surgeries. Age is just a number but sometimes your joints don’t agree with that philosophy. These days - I’m pretty happy in that “above average” zone, and want to keep it there into my dotage without more injuries.

your approach to being above average has been a regular reminder and source of encouragement to get my @ss moving. I've always "enjoyed" doing hard things but went through 10 years of doing very little. This weekend I lace up for a 105k trail run. Looking forward to feeling like you did in the paddock in the dark with the cows. Bring it on.

As someone who rolled off the start of the Elite slope, back into the Uncanny Valley of fitness, I like the way you approach these things and lay them out in a video. Very relatable.

Hearing you talk about this, opened my eyes. I was 'slightly above average pre-Covid, stopped working out and gained 15 kg's in the past 3 years. Being stuck in that 'rit' you're talking about. So just like you, I made myself a promise: I won't get frustrated about the small stuff. Every movement done, no matter how small is better than no movement at all. I'll have the occasional icecream, chips, ... but I'll keep my gut, weight and 1k-HR in check. All to just get 'slightly above average' -again-.

I come for the content and stay because of the humor. Love it! keep up the good work.

I feel the same as you about getting older... I'm now 51. I'm excited to see what I can achieve, and also to maybe be an inspiration to older people that they aren't past it. I've been strength training for 15 years 3 times a week, and started cardio (cycling) 3 years ago after I nearly died on a 2 mile run with a friend. I realised that while I was very muscular....16 stone at 6ft, my cardio health was crap. Now at a 300 watt FTP, and just done a 32 mile TT this morning where I averaged 265 watts for 90 mins. With regards to other people thinking they are past it when they hit their mid 40s, I was doing some 90kg farmers carries up the track near mine last year. And I guy drove past me and asked what the hell I was doing. When I explained it to him, he said ahh at 45 I'm well past doing anything like that now. When I told him I was 50, his mouth dropped open and he didn't know what to say. Hopefully it made him realise that he absolutely isn't past it. Love your videos BTW, they always inspire me and make me laugh. 🤣😊👍

Love your content you’ve helped to inspire me to go from an overweight dude who this time last year couldn’t run a mile to sign up for a half marathon in 9 weeks😳 entertaining and informative as ever.

6 weeks in on a 12 week 5km time challenge. Its bee going great until the last 3 days where I look at my running shorts whilst fighting the demons and decide to just sit and binge on crap. Right, tomorrow back on track says I, come tomorrow, same battle. Strange how the mind works but it helps to know we are not alone.

This is a position I can relate to. Started two years ago, with the help of a nutritionist and life style coach, lost almost 20 kg, ran two marathons (during training), really trying to focus on habits not targets (weight, speed, distance). I feel much better. Healthier, fitter, have enough exercise to indulge myself. I don't want to fall back on targets (they seem to have a negative effect on me), but training intensively without a goal also doesn't feel right. So, for now, I decided to train for a 75 km ultra. And take it from there.

I just mentioned this to a few friends and family about myself. Spent a year getting into shape, or atleast what I call shape from where I was, and have been falling into this trap of pushing off an exercise or two and eating more crap food (in my case sweets). This video could not have come at a better time. Thank you for posting it and good luck along the way. I'll be right there along side you.

As someone who is also approaching 50, your content has inspired me to push myself further and get to the best shape of my life. Thanks💪

I'm currently in a spot where I lost a shit ton of weight, but now I'm plateaued because my diet has kinda gone to hell (not eating junk, just eating too much), and I'm kinda struggling to see it through. I was 315 in November and I'm currently 230, I have come so far! I still work out about 5-7 hours a week, I just gotta lay off the damn curry.

I’ve used your philosophy as a guide to help workmates get fitter and also how to structure our team as it grows. I’ve always struggled with your concept of “no goals” but understand why you say it. It’s refreshing to see you try this, as I really think that realistic goals are a great partner to your way of thinking. We don’t all have to be Mo Farah, but setting our own targets and knowing where we are with them is hugely rewarding. Will be watching with interest. Good luck Mark.

As cliche as it sounds enjoying the “work” goes such a long way to staying consistent. I’m lucky that I thoroughly enjoy going to gym lifting weights doing 20-30min cardio. I track my lifts but that’s ancillary and has no bearings on my enjoyment. For most people wanting to get active and get in shape, doing something they enjoy and would do regardless of the health benefits is a better winning strategy in my opinion than “just” a external goal. Since two things happens with goals, either we achieve them then wonder what’s next or we fail and become discouraged. If the goal is to get a work in, be it running, mixed martial arts, rock climbing, dancing etc… and we truly enjoy those things then the consistency part is taken care of, in my opinion the hardest part for lasting, concrete change.

This hits home for me. Went from 300+ lbs down to 190 lbs five years ago. Went from a complete schlub to in good shape. Then I let it slip and got super inconsistent, especially when gyms were all closed. I’d work out like a maniac for a couple months then slip for a month, then repeat. Could always get back on track pretty easily, but could get off track just as easily. Training for a half marathon now, so need these next 3 months to be more on the on track side of the line

COMPLETELY RELATE to all of this!! 😅 As a 46 year old former pro fighter (I always had a real job but fought pro level) Ive literally been in this spot for 6 years... It's kind of like fitness purgatory. Having tore my bicep 4 months ago I've had a bit of time to think about it recently I've realised I train hard ... Twice a week... Some times 3, I still have visible abbs (just) and a sub 50 bpm resting heart rate... But I'm massively underachieving with my similarly silly yo yo dieting. Im thinking about doing some sort of ridiculous fitness endeavour either combat sports based or not..just to have a reason not to eat a entire tiger loaf of bread every Saturday morning. Quick question..did you ever get anywhere with that idea of doing a charity / white collar boxing match? Think it would be a good excuse to not overdose on burger king and vegan cheese every weekend!! Nothing motivates you more.than the thought of getting punched in the face Infront of people while being too tired to punch back!! 😂Just a thought. 👍🏻

This is exactly where I am. Did 2 marathons in two days and have eaten pasties for a week and constant second bowls of cereal since. Totally in that space of pushing hard because I like the idea and then terrible habits in between. I'm 40 at end of next month so will keep a close eye on this. Good luck!

Mark, you're my favorite youtube fitness guy .You have a solid mindset, and you're a humble beast, and that's rare. Don't ever change! I think you should talk about how having a humble and self aware mindset keeps you motivated and hungry, without having the right mindset, theres a lot of people who won't reach the level of fitness they want to reach, and many that do will ease up, and slide right back down. Its not a 3 month plan, it has to be a lifestyle. 💪✊👏👏

Dear Mark! Love your channel! It’s basically what got me back into “serious” training again. I would love if you would do the occasional old school vlogs from time to time now that your training has changed. I miss the daily life stuff😊

"I get away with T-shirts too tight or wife too young but burger king whenever I like". This line is so brilliant 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Love your content. 50 in a few months myself. Disagree about goals. 7 years ago, I started developing an activity per year time goal. Did that with the aim of getting consistency into my training. Took me from 2 hours a week on average in 2016 to nearly 9 hours on average this year to date. Happy to share what's worked for me. Don't need credit for it.

Mark, I'm so happy you did that comedy course way back. That line "I can get away with t-shirts too tight or wife too young" really made me chuckle. Thanks so much for making your videos. I do love 'em!

Great video mark. You are the most relatable fitness youtuber and the way you approach fitness is so refreshing

Recently discovered your channel, and I’m glad I have. Listening to you has helped me through those difficult moments during training. Thank you 🙏

In 2018/19 around when I was turning 30 I went from 120kg to 80kg with consistent training which has been gradually declining. I’ve been having the same thoughts and same self sabotaging false starts. Thanks for the motivation to commit to making a change and getting back on a program.

Strapping in for the journey! I've found, as a post-50 in the best shape of my adult life that external accountability and a dose of stubborn work for me. Still a long way to go and lots of fun stuff to do in the meantime. I'm lucky enough to be able to have a PT who keeps the strength training honest and, recently a run coach. Both are working really well to gradually move me towards long-term goals in areas I'm just not smart enough to program. Having them there to provide guidance and accountability is key. No willpower needed!

This is a mirror image of what i did and do. Couldve ridden this script. Now 62 still above average and battling Old Father time. Never give up. Great motivational video.

I am 51. I'm in better shape now than any point in the past. I stalled a bit recently, when my a4 pulley statted to hurt a lot. (I'm a climber.) I trained through it, and fortunately it seems to have recovered.

Ah perfect. After a weekend of eating cheese and drinking wine, this is the video I need to kickstart my self loathing ❤

This is exactly where I have found myself in the last few weeks. Ran some big events and done the Dragon Ride and the Struggle Dales cycling events. The issue with the summer months is that the events are what you train and aim (and pay) for. Once all, or most, of these are out of the way we feel lost. Book another major event, set targets and goals and hide the biscuit tin! Sometimes the winter months are easier when nobody is doing anything and you are left to "punish" yourself in a cold room attached to the side of your house! Great video!

Your editing gets better and better with every video, Mark. Thank you for the high quality and entertaining information, delivered expertly.

Recently found your channel not that long ago. And your already one of my favorites! I definitely feel we’re your coming from. And can’t wait to see your new regime.

Your comedy is peak man. Lmao

...."I still fit in the car"... 😂😂👍👍. Fun AND making sense. Looking forward to watching your effort. I believe in you.

I appreciate this. I have hit this rut as well.

I'm 55 this Year & tbh "The Dip" isn't a bad place to be if a bit dull. I'm not going to crack a sub 3 Marathon anytime soon or run a sub 18m 5k. That said I can try different things & keep it interesting while I can. Good luck Mark & have fun.

Thanks ! So good just what I needed!!

Great video Mark -- similar boat here. I've bounced between very fit, semi-fit, and (barely) average throughout my 20's, 30's, & 40's. I've found that without a goal to train for, I still exercise and "try" to eat right, but will find myself slowly but surely losing the level of fitness I'd like to maintain. All too easy to have another beer, tell myself that 20 minutes on the elliptical is just as good as a 60 minute run, or just skip the morning workout altogether. Having a triathlon on the calendar late this summer with a specific time I'd like to beat has completely turned my diet and workout consistency around. I imagine it has something to do with the way goals activate our dopamine/motivational pathways. I feel better, look better, and am much more disciplined about my time in general. Would love to be able to maintain this without putting another goal on the calendar, but my history shows that's not realistic. Good luck!

Seriously needed this one right now, thanks :D

I'm in a similar place. 46 yrs old and it's now or never to push through my goals. There will be plenty of time later in life to relax!

Found your channel I was 118kg & it prompted me to start “running” again. I could make 5k averaging around 7min+/kms few months on 98kg 5:40min/km over 15km. Still a balancing game and I have to readjust most weeks. Thanks for the videos, entertainment & encouragement.

I'm 40 and fat and you seem to be of a similar way of thinking. Great vids thank you

Looking forward to seeing this process unfold, and the results you achieve

Love this, haven’t seen you before but this dropped in my feed and mate, I hear you! In the same boat here although I’m not as fast as you, but “easily” able to knock out a 2hr half marathon each week. You’ve inspired me to refocus and get at it!!

Wow. that punchline at the end of the intro got me laughing out loud 😂😂 well played . . . . . The car 😢😂

Great video and you highlight a very easy trap for people to fall into, regardless of exercise of ability. Progress requires us to realise where the easy plateaux are and step away from it in a positive direction. It will hurt and it is a change from the norm and it is rewarding. Keep up the good work, it doesn't get any easier after 50 and of course you're giving Jen all the secrets before she needs them.

Jen with the double entendre & ultimate motivation.

This is exactly me right now!! Doing random runs abroad and coming back not training and then going again 😅 no lifting since before the London Mara in April , I’ve just had this same talk with myself and am in the first week of what I’m calling bootcamp, here’s to everyone getting back on track, Lfggg

As someone who discovered your videos about 2 months ago and have watched almost every video including rating vegan Christmas foods I can say I have seen some trends with your videos . I find them motivating and relatable and making me get out of good enough and head to above average. Don’t know if I will get there but I am enjoying the process. I don’t want you to take this the wrong way but have you considered a psychologist or even a sports psychologist and maybe try to understand why you have a tendency to dip towards fatter than fitter. A little therapy never hurt anyone including myself. Maybe all that is needed is some different coaches like others have suggested. Either way I am rooting for you to succeed in your endeavours as they make great fodder for the channel. My best to you and your family including the dogs.

That’s me, mediocre, I can push hard for a goal, a race, a ironman race, outside of that I keep a decent shape exercise as a natural consequence of social sport but never peak condition, Mark is so relatable its scary

"Im gonna fit in the car". How many takes did that one take to get through? Actually lolled

I had a similar experience with running. I hit a 5:38 mile, 19:25 5k, 1:30:56 half (and 2:31 800 and 64s 400... my talent was always shorter events). I got invited to join a sub elite sponsored local run team. And... i didn't just stagnate, i had an eating disorder relapse and got multiple stress fractures. Quit running completely for years. I am now scared to repeat the pattern with bjj. There is a lot positive to be said about your more flexible lifestyle.....

Thanks Mark. Great to hear that there are others out there with the same issues. Hope it all goes well... started my own journey so hopefully I can get to valley of just good enough...

You are my brother from another mother half way across the globe. This video sounded like you were telling my bloody story. Looking forward to this series. Love your work, keep it up

Hey just discovered you and l must say your a star , really helping me just turned old 54 and ahhhh cheers

Bro, been waiting for your vid. Didn't know about you just 1.5 years ago and now you are one of my fav youtubers primarily because of your sense of humour.🤣

Making me laugh while you are giving real talk, glad I found your channel. 👏🏻

Amen. All the best to You! Looking forward to seeing your journey.

Can you please post your training schedule and your goals. Do you use a trainer and / or a nutritionist?.

Great video Mark, I love your channel. I’m the same age as you and 3 years ago retired from elite level triathlon, and have been riding the dip since. I was afraid of going back towards elite as that has downsides too, but maybe watching your comeback can inspire me too 👍💪

I just turned 30 today and I'm having similar thoughts about my health. Interesting that I saw this video today!

Spot on as usual, open, honest & relatable (well in some aspects at least 😂) Go scratch that itch!! We shall all live vicariously through you as usual 💪💪💪👊👊

Just turned 50 myself and is in the dame fip. I like it here, train most days, erights, crossfit, trailrunning, but the wife has a plan for us. All of 2024 will be without pints if beer, but with a personal trainer instead; sounds good, but glad I have 4 months to adjust my mindset. Good luck on your new goals here.

Thanks for another great video Mark. Can't wait to see where this goes. You may inadvertently and unknowingly drag me along with you! I find this kind of this very motivating. Good luck! 😊

i'm 52 and i've had 2 weeks off from riding my bike, i have just completed my biggest ever month of riding for a charity which ended on my first ever 100 mile ride on the last day of june, had my plan all setup ready to go for saturday, woke up with the flu,,,, wonderful

I just found this channel and thought the content was really good and motivating. Then I realized you were into motorcycling.... I subscribed instantly!!

I love this. I think the dip will work for me. Quality of life is very important to me

What worked for me too stay motivated was a coach. Had one for a few years. After that good habits were the norm. It was much easier to stay one track. Right now I am where your are at, good enough. I happenen to have no more desire to compete anymore. My goals are to look better than average and live longer and better than average. BTW, you will be there young fun in the 50-54AG enjoy that for a couple of years. Have fun and go and get them

This was a fantastic video… I never knew how to think about the pit of good enough, and never quite realized what it meant until now (this relates really well to my career). I’m in the valley, but just rolling around in it… not making healthy choices. This helps. Thanks.

Mark, videos like this is why we love your channel. Effin' legend.

I tend to 'stick in the dip' for about half the year, then try to work towards a goal for the other half (generally a marathon time target). I find it relitively easy to maintain a decent level of fitness and routine, but to really work towards a goal and peak fitness can only be done in short bursts of 3-5 months before I run out of focus.

Thanks to your content I have taken up jogging (shuffling at the moment) my way to 5k. Thank you for the motivation and entertainment.

Keen to see how you get on Mark. I'm just starting on a kick back in myself, so will be following with interest and motivation.

We gonna go back to you going giddy on Zwift. I kinda miss garage content!

2 years ago I was 185lbs and could race a half marathon. Today I'm 260lbs ish and can't run a mile. I'm angry with myself for letting this happen. I'm a binge eater and its been out of control for ages. It's knowing how far it is to get back to where I was that stops me starting, a lot of the time. But start I must, I'm 44 and its only going to get harder.

Brilliant Mark, wishing you all success and excited to see this journey thru your excellent presentation style here on RU-vid

I started running in March and couldn't run for 2 minutes without stopping, fast forward to now and I can run a sub 30m 5k and have lost around 23 pounds. I'm finding it much easier to stay motivated/disciplined to exercise when I do it every day. Keeps me focused and dialed in.

I’m in a similar boat mate. I’m 40 years old, 95kgs, was a champion pro fighter for 10 years, and a lifelong natural athlete who has always succeeded at sports without applying my best effort. I recently started doing triathlons to get back that competitive feeling and only ever train a semi-disciplined hour a day and am good enough to age-group podium most races and that kinda does me. I can’t ever be arsed with the extra dieting, the extra training etc to get the PBs or the wins. There’s no excuse for me not capitalising on my ability but for some reason there isn’t enough motivation. I think when ability comes easily, effort suffers. Maybe it is because the confidence of knowing we have abundant ability is the battle-already-won in our minds, and that prematurely satisfies us before we reach potential?

Spot on. Very aware I'm in this dip. Fit, strong, mobile, habits well under control, get respect for being on top of these things at 50. Now what....

Appreciating your honesty and find your journey very relatable. A therapist mind be the next step. Meaning that in the kindest way

Great video - very amusing. I am a couple of years ahead at 52 and I sit in exactly where you are too. I am fit for my age and train several times a week - mostly road and mountain biking with a bit of gym cardio on the rowing machine or stair climber when the weather is crap - I track my heart rate on every workout and am able to keep up with my work mate's on our lunchtime hill climbs in the hills around Wellington and they are 10 years younger than me. And I eat very averagely , I like my biscuits but the exercise keeps my weight solidly at 75 kg. But when I look at most other people around my age that continue to eat crap and do nothing we are in a pretty select group - having the motivation to train - it is something that there is little of these days when your world try's at every attempt to make your life easier...... If you haven't watched this video that came our a few days ago I recommend you do - it is brilliant - I recommend anyone to watch it - it could change your life - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ujRwf1HdNjk.html - (and this isn't clickbait)

I used to be in that dip. Life was good there. I had kids and put them first and subsequently I found myself in the fatter side of that graph. Trying to get back in to that dip is hard work 😓 but I am on my way there.

6:40 - whoah that was surprisingly accurate..

I can see you were really happy with the guacamole 🥑 joke! 😉🤣 Tbf I was a good one!

similar story for me, big events no training. taking everything back to square one and getting back on a training plan and conistent training ready for 3 hyrox races and target 15kg loss by xmas then on for 3 ironman races next year. ultimately to feel healthy and confident as i hit 44

Spat my coffee out with the getting into the car comment Looking forward to getting to “the good enough dip” unless I am already there, in which case ahhh!

Was wondering when the next video was coming after the coast to coast bike ride! Glad to see you back!

Love the content Mark! I’ve similarly got in better shape between 35-45. Everything on this list is so true.

This is me. Stuck. Need to find motivation to find more progress forward.