Gaining weight after National Service is a concern that some have.
It’s common to see people become overweight, or even obese, after National Service.
Isn’t it quite common to see people who balloon up after they ORD (Operationally Ready Date)?
People have also heard stories of those who just let themselves go and get fatter.
But, it is sort of understandable why guys tend to become like that after they ORD.
No Longer Forced To Work Out Anymore
Firstly, those out of the army are no longer forced to work out by their superiors.
This is quite obvious, but also remember that these guys would typically do physical training together.
So, there is at least some motivation for them to not back down when seeing their platoon mates suffering as much as them.
Once people ORD, they would go their separate ways.
One would no longer have their buddy to cheer them on.
Pay Day = Time To Indulge In Food For The Hard Work
Next, some might think that they should reward themselves.
National Service is so shag, now that they have earned quite some money, why not splurge it on food?
The thing is, the food bought will probably be less healthy than the cookhouse food.
But the issue comes when people do not become mindful of what they eat, and let their impulses cause them to buy junk food.
Cannot Fit Into The Same Clothes?
So, it is quite true that guys will likely get that dad bod with more than 20% body fat percentage after they ORD.
At the gym in a military camp, one could see a bunch of guys in their 30s preparing to go for the Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT).
Unfortunately, it is quite clear that they let themselves go.
They are in their PT shirts and shorts, so it is obvious how much fat they have on their arms, thighs, and even their stomach.
People might even comment how it seems like they are here just for fun, since none of them appear like they trained for IPPT at all.
Well, it might be beneficial to train for IPPT.
On the other hand, what about exercising so that one is at less risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and breathing problems?
Guys On Social Media vs In Reality
Source: Pexels
For most guys, one can observe that if they do not have a gut, then they might not really pack a lot of muscle.
It’s easy to observe when walking past Singaporeans in public.
Indeed, what one sees on social media is completely warped, so it is kind of good in a sense to have that reality check.
But it is sort of a sad reality check.
On social media, it is common to come across guys with rock hard 6 pack abs and arms as huge as watermelons.
These models, bodybuilders or weightlifters would often gain a lot of likes and follows.
In an ideal world, every guy would try to be in a healthy bodyweight while packing some muscle.
It makes one wonder, will they grow up to be like that, or can they become a statistical anomaly?
Become Fitter After National Service?
Source: Pexels
It is common to observe how guys get fat after they ORD.
One might also hope to not be like that.
If anything, some might think they could take their fitness to another level.
There might be more flexibility in one’s schedule to work out.
He can choose the food that is healthy yet not as bland as the cookhouse food.
Of course, one can still occasionally indulge in good food.
But it’s the idea that after enlisting, one became a fit person.
What one should at least work on is maintaining that.
Fitness isn’t a 2 year thing, it’s a lifetime thing.
That is today’s quote of the day.
So, hopefully one could still have some routine after serving for two years.
Related to NS:
8 Types of NSF in Singapore (National Service)
101 Bad Habits during National Service (NS) in Singapore Part 2
