Alright, so I saw some pictures, you know? Ohtani. Big guy, strong. Looks like he could hit a ball a mile, which, well, he does. And pitch like crazy. Got me thinking. I’m not exactly getting younger over here, and looking in the mirror wasn’t exactly thrilling.
So, I kinda decided, yeah, let’s try this. Let’s aim for that sort of… functional strength? Not just big muscles, but the kind that do stuff. The “Ohtani body” thing became my shorthand for it.
Getting Started – More Like Stumbling
First thing, I figured, gotta hit the gym. Makes sense. Signed up for a membership at the local place. Felt pretty good walking in that first day. Then I saw all the machines and the really fit people. A bit intimidating, honestly.
I remembered reading somewhere Ohtani does a lot of core work and flexibility stuff, not just heavy lifting. So I tried some planks. Shaking like a leaf after 30 seconds. Then some stretching. Felt like an old rusty gate creaking open. Not exactly graceful.
Tried the weights too. Bench press, squats. Watched some videos online beforehand so I wouldn’t completely wreck myself. Started light. Like, really light. Felt kinda silly lifting less than some teenagers, but hey, gotta start somewhere.
The Diet… Ugh
Then came the food part. This was tougher than the gym. Ohtani apparently eats a ton, but clean. Lean protein, veggies, all that good stuff. My diet was more… pizza and whatever was quick.
- Breakfast: Tried swapping my usual toast for eggs. Okay, not bad. Added some spinach sometimes. Felt very healthy.
- Lunch: Packed salads or chicken breast. Got boring fast. Really fast. Missed my sandwiches.
- Dinner: More lean meat, fish, lots of broccoli. My family started joking about the smell of steamed vegetables constantly in the house.
- Snacks: This was the killer. No more chips late at night. Tried nuts, yogurt. It’s just not the same, you know?
Honestly, sticking to the diet was the hardest bit. Some days I did great. Other days… let’s just say the pizza delivery guy still knows my address.
The Actual Process – Grind and Reality
So, I kept at it. Mostly. Gym maybe 3-4 times a week. Tried to follow a routine I cobbled together from stuff I read online. Lots of compound movements – squats, deadlifts (started light, remember!), overhead press. Mixed in some pull-ups (well, assisted pull-ups, let’s be real) and rows.
I definitely felt stronger after a few months. Could lift more, wasn’t as shaky doing planks. Clothes started fitting a bit differently. That was encouraging.
But here’s the thing: I don’t look like Shohei Ohtani. Not even close. Turns out genetics are a big deal. And being a world-class professional athlete with teams of trainers and nutritionists probably helps too. Who knew?
It’s easy to see a picture and think “I’ll do that.” But the day-to-day grind? Getting up early for the gym when you’re tired? Saying no to dessert? It’s tough. There were weeks I barely went to the gym because work got crazy or I just felt lazy. That’s real life, I guess.
So, Where Am I Now?
Well, I’m stronger than when I started. Feel a bit healthier. Maybe lost a couple of pounds, gained some muscle. It’s not the dramatic transformation I maybe dreamed of initially, but it’s something.
Did I get the “Ohtani body”? Nope. But I did get my body to be a bit better, a bit stronger. And maybe that’s the real point. It wasn’t about actually being Ohtani, but about using that idea to push myself a little. Learned a bit about consistency, learned that progress is slow, and learned that I really, really like pizza.
Still working on it, though. Maybe not chasing that specific image anymore, but just trying to stay consistent. It’s a process, right?
