I got a couple of packs of Meta Zoo when I was thinking about collecting it. The next day, the game died. I was left with a couple of packs for a TCG that didn’t exist anymore. I decided to do pack openings on my YouTube after every workout as a way to reward myself and keep myself accountable. That tune changed quickly when I opened my first-ever pack of Meta Zoo, and the cards were warped. I know I could have probably gotten boxes or even cases of Meta Zoo for cheap after its death, but seeing the cards in person left too much to be desired. 

I got a box of Akora instead because I found a box of Spellbound Wings 1st Edition for cheap. I ended up liking the cards, learned how to play, and the cards aren’t warped! I’ll be continuing the series but will be breaking into different games for variety. It all depends on what’s affordable at the time of resupply. So far, it’s been a very cool experiment and one that has helped me get into a consistent workout routine. 

Exercising has been a tricky endeavor for me because I got lazy and unmotivated. I’ve tried over the years to pick up a routine, but nothing ever stuck. I am currently 48 days into this experiment, and I am starting to notice the impact. I haven’t lost much weight, but I do notice a change in my motivation and physical health. 

Opening packs was a solid motivating reward. Whenever the bike ride got too tricky, or I didn’t want to go to the gym, the desire to open that next pack helped get me off the couch. I started recording the series on YouTube not to go viral or make money, but as a way to keep me accountable. It was a way of documenting my journey, and the idea of other people being able to see the posts made it more real. If I didn’t go out and post a pack opening, people would see I was being lazy and I didn’t want that. 

Not losing weight is a bit discouraging, but I understand that it is my fault. I still eat like garbage and that is something I need to work on. It’s scary to think that even though I am more active, I eat too much and cancel it out. At least I am not gaining weight. 

I have noticed that my physical health has gotten better. When I first started this project, a 30-minute workout would leave me dead for the rest of the day. Now I can function and go about my day. I still get an early crash towards the early parts of the evening, but that window keeps getting bigger. On bike rides, I feel like I can go faster and farther, but it never gets easier. The hills still kill me, and I still get home winded, but that distance is slowly climbing. At the gym, I can go longer on machines that would destroy me and lift more weight. I am also getting comfortable working out in front of people which was a huge deterrent in the beginning. It is awesome to see muscle start peaking from the fat. I’ve got ways to go, but this has been something that has helped me get active, and stay motivated. 

I am not here to be a health guru or be a doctor, I am just speaking on my specific experience. I’m not going to run any marathons or have a life-changing transformation, it’s just nice to be able to live my life a little less winded. 

For me, the motivation of opening a pack of some random trading card game was enough to get me off the couch. Those moments of reflection, even brief sentences of how my workout felt are even more crucial. Even if no one reads them, it helps me see my progress and keep myself accountable. I don’t know if I will do any updates on my progress here, but I thought I would share in case someone needed to read it. 

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