New club memebership

brent · #1 June 1st, 2005, 06:20 AM

I just joined a new gym last night. They have free personal training, towel sevice, body composition testing, etc. I'll try to get some "Before" pics of my husband Rob and I soon, and see how we can change. I like that they want people to change their routines monthly. They make 24 Hours seem down right getto. Speaking of 24 Hours, we need to cancle those old memberships.

UKBeefy · #2 June 1st, 2005, 08:06 AM

Is it not slightly disengenous to have a Las Vegas part of town called Green Valley. I never saw a natural blade of grass anywhere when I visited. Is it really like living on the moon, Brent?

brent · #3 June 1st, 2005, 05:19 PM

It's funny how greenery & trees are associated with wealth down here. That's OK for me since I moved down here from Oregon, and I've had enough greenery to last a lifetime. Seriously, in Oregon you have to sprinkle moss killer on your walk ways & roof regularly, so I'm enjoying the change. However, I'd like to state that greenery is totally natural for this area: Las Vegas is Spanish for, "The Meadows". When pioneers first arrived here, it was a lush valley. However developers discovered that you can't build on rivers, so the water has been piped underground, turning this area into desert. If you want natural plant life, Red Rock Canyon is less than 12 minutes (up the street next to mine) from my apartment. It gets 5 times the rainfall of LV, and has lots of nature. The problem is that most tourists don't get out of the city, so treasures like that, and the Valley of Fire often get overlooked.

Back to my original post. I've felt that I have hit a plateau lately, and I hope this new club & facilities can help me get to the next level.

BTW: if you want to see naturally occurring grass around here, you can weed my front yard for me. It's a waterless xeriscape, but weeds (grass included) still grow.

UKBeefy · #4 June 2nd, 2005, 04:45 AM

Well best of luck with the new gym and training. I've just changed gyms and it has been a huge boost. I realised in my old gym I knew nobody and had no interaction with the staff. My new gym is much friendlier and I feel so much better going in the door to be met by someone who actually knows who I am. My old gym was very much a gay party/clubbing crowd and they all knew each other and the rest of us were outcasts (or felt it unless you were part of the 5ft7 latino muscleboy mafia). The new gym while being equally gay is run by the actual owner and his staff all appear friendly and interested in each member. I've also felt alot more confident in talking to other people in the gym - I think it is easier to do that when you are a recent joiner.

I've also got a workout partner for the first time. Has made workouts more fun and more objective orientated. Feel 100% better than before.

Out of interest Brent, is living in Vegas just like any other town? I presume you don't have much to do with the Strip.

brent · #5 June 2nd, 2005, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKBeefy

...
I've also felt alot more confident in talking to other people in the gym - I think it is easier to do that when you are a recent joiner.

I've also got a workout partner for the first time. Has made workouts more fun and more objective orientated. Feel 100% better than before.

Out of interest Brent, is living in Vegas just like any other town? I presume you don't have much to do with the Strip.

Having a partner makes a HUGE difference. Plus, one of my coworkers belongs to this gym, so Rob & I might try to involve him too (although he's straight).

I hope we will meet a few normal people at the gym, but in general I've found nice normal people that don't want to get you into bed very few & far between in gyms in general. I'm not there to cruise, but lots are (straight & gay.)

As for living in Las Vegas, I do try to avoid the strip mostly. I have yet to go to the new casino, "the Wynn" although I work at the mall across the street from it. It is nice to have the strip there if friends come to town, and downtown Las Vegas is rich in cheap buffets, so there are some reasons to go there. Mostly Las Vegas is endless suburbs. I do miss the neighborhoods & cafes of an older city like Portland, and I miss Portland's shopping, but I think LV's lack of anything interesting to me keeps me in the gym more. And that's a, "good thing" as Martha would say.

One last thing, I think the sun in a climate like this helps keep you energized, and that helps too.

UKBeefy · #6 June 2nd, 2005, 04:27 PM

If you don't mind me asking why did you move there if it is not that interesting for you?

I would imagine u do get a little buffeted out....

brent · #7 June 3rd, 2005, 08:08 AM

I think Las Vegas is a fine area to live in, so long as gambling isn't interesting to you!

I moved here because I couldn't take the rain in Oregon any longer, my mom lives down here, the economy is better, the cost of living is lower, and I wanted a new adventure. I think people need to move every so often, or live is dull.

ethernet_jock · #8 June 3rd, 2005, 10:57 AM

I can't speak on moving or living in vegas.... but what I can say is this..

I didn't realize how dull my life was until I had a kid. Now I can't imagine life without him and there's never a dull minute.

Even if you're gay - consider adoption - kids are GREAT!

DonnieJvilleNC · #9 June 3rd, 2005, 11:30 AM

Congrats on joining the new gym, brent. Boy, it sure looks like a great place to workout. I'm jealous!

I, for one, will be anxiously awaiting your posting of "before" pics of both you and your hubby.

As for LV, I have a cousin who lives there as well as a friend from High School. The cousin works in a casino & the friend teaches first grade. Everyone has to call "somewhere" home.

UKBeefy · #10 June 3rd, 2005, 12:23 PM

What I notice is chatting online to a range of North Americans is that you guys do move around alot. It seems even if you want a big city life you have a choice of 8-12 or so places that have similar virtues (perhaps gay scene excepted). I would be interested in how easy it is to make the move from city to city. Do house prices vary that much there (I know SF and NYC are obviously expensive - how do other places compare?)

In the UK we seem more capital city centric. If you work in a range of fields (eg advertising, publishing, media, big law firm, finance, consulting, Govt, NGOs etc) there is little choice but to move to London. So many people move there after university and never leave. If you are lucky like I was to arrive at a time of less prohibitive house prices it is alot easier to survive than doing the same now. Still there is the financial worry that if you leave London for a while and sell up that you cannot return from the provinces and get back into the housing market at the same level. Is that effect noticeable in the US? I think for many people while housing etc is expensive in London the higher echelon salaries are just not available elsewhere eg top law firms, top investment banks.

Also while the scene is moderately okay in the provinces the focus is on London. Do bigger US cities have more going for them in terms of the scene?

brent · #11 June 3rd, 2005, 08:04 PM

I don't think that moving a lot is exclusive to North America; I remember when I lived in New Zealand many kiwis & Aussies moved all over Australasia and the world. I think that Maybe it's a New-World thing?

At any rate, property prices vary greatly around the US, but they tend to be insanely high up & down the West Coast. There is a show What You Get For The Money that illustrates this quite well. I know that when I lived in Portland, similar houses could cost several times as much, just based on the neighborhood, or suburb.

I'm not sure what you mean by "Scene" but if you mean gay scene, it can vary greatly. However, my party days are over, so it doesn't matter to me.

As for an earlier question, you recently asked if living in Las Vegas was like living on the moon. That's funny because I've always said that LV is an experiment in colonizing Mars. It's odd to think that everything here from water, to food, to power has to be shipped in. Although, I bet London is a lot like that too. I mean, I've seen a lot of it on TV, and it looks far from self-sustaining.

Now back on topic (I hope) I will be posting pics soon, and I made an appointment with a trainer to start training a week from today (fri. June 10th). Wish me luck. Also, if you watch CSI much, you hame probably seen LVAC. It's a very nice club, and even my friends from LA say it's much larger & better than anything in Cali.

muscle_mastah · #12 June 4th, 2005, 07:53 AM

Brent, good luck with the new trainer, gym and getting bigger. It seems a few of you are getting trainers these days so I hope this one good and works out well for you. Let us know what your program looks like after he's done changing things up.

brent · #13 June 8th, 2005, 06:51 AM

I definitely intend to post a lot of details of what gets changed, and anything new I learn from him that can help others.

brent · #14 June 10th, 2005, 11:20 PM

So I finally saw my trainer today, and he is HUGE! However, he is mean, and worked my butt off! It's exactly what I needed! I'm doing a lot of work on "Keiser" machines, and was scolded harshly for not stretching enough, not doing near enough abs, and not doing any real cardio. All of which I needed.

Here are some shots of me today, I hope they change soon!

muscle_mastah · #15 June 11th, 2005, 07:21 PM

I can definitely see why you get all the comments on the arms, very large. You're looking big, Brent!

ottomun6 · #16 June 11th, 2005, 07:55 PM

Brent I can't believe nobody has grabbed your arms yet! (your guns are pretty beefy) even your abs are starting to show.
But one thing is for sure, the more size you pack on, the more likely someone will strike up a conversation ending up with them grabbing your arms.

optimusx · #17 June 11th, 2005, 09:08 PM

Brent is getting HUGE

It seems like everytime you post new pics you're bigger... hehe.. good going! You don't have far to catch up with your avatar!

Scott (thinking after all of the talk of trainers that I should look into one...hmmm)

CanadianGordon · #18 June 11th, 2005, 09:26 PM

WOOF!
How big are those arms now?

brent · #19 June 11th, 2005, 11:15 PM

Thank you everyone for all the nice comments. My arms might be looking bigger, but they've been stuck at 18" for many, many months now. I think they might look a bit bigger as I've been loosing fat lately. My weight keeps going down.

On the plus side, I think my chest is doing good. Although you can't tell, because I took these pics indoors, with a flash. The flash makes it look like it disappears. Better pics to follow soon.

UKBeefy · #20 June 12th, 2005, 10:11 AM

Yep Brent. looking very good in those photos. I notice that your shape is definitely becoming more of that standard bodybuilder shape (what I mean is that you can see a vertical muscled trunk mid section with vertical sides and then lats going out in a V and a good arms/shoulders set up rather than a more curvy midesection). Certainly your individual bodyparts are more visible and separate. That is so impressive to see.

Do you have any tips then as I think I share some similar build/genetics to you regarding the losing fat?

Also I do dream of my arms getting stuck at 18 given they are stuck more at the 16.5/17 level now.!

brent · #21 June 12th, 2005, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKBeefy

...
Do you have any tips then as I think I share some similar build/genetics to you regarding the losing fat?
...

Well, I'm not too sure about the quality of my advice, especially since I have been trying to gain weight, not loose it... However, I eat anything, and everything I can that doesn't have any sort of meat in it. Lots of protein, and lots of creatine shakes. Probably the only diet tip I have that would be quality advice is to eat at least every 2 hours, even if it's just a yogurt.

Keep stretching and lifting guys, and I promise better pics soon!

Now it's time for sleep.

ethernet_jock · #22 June 13th, 2005, 10:28 AM

agreed with UK and stuck in the 16-16.5 range myself.... 18" is a major goal. Despite this I understand your need completely to work harder and continue to re-shape.

If this is your "before"... dude.... I can't WAIT to see your "after". Congrats on finding such an awesome trainer and being such a great inspiration to all of us!!

glammaman2000 · #23 June 13th, 2005, 05:58 PM

Besides being big&hard;you're getting even More HANDSOME all the time!(some of us like MEN!)Hot to see you back in the saddle!

claygrant · #24 June 13th, 2005, 07:15 PM

brent I know what you mean about the flash but I don't see any flattening here. It's obvious how big and full your chest is. And those 18" arms, woof. I feel like a skinny kid again when I think about someone having 18" arms! Sounds like your new trainer is just what the doc ordered. Keep it up!!

brent · #25 June 15th, 2005, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by claygrant

...
Sounds like your new trainer is just what the doc ordered. Keep it up!!

Yeah, his workouts are kicking my ass. It hurts, but it is exactly what the doctor ordered, or at least exactly what I asked for.

brent · #26 June 16th, 2005, 10:31 PM

It was over-cast today, so these still aren't the greatest, but here's some slightly better pix:

grywlf · #27 June 17th, 2005, 03:14 AM

definite improvement from late summer. no one motivate me to lift more like you do brent. hoping nowthat i can lift year round i can catch up with you. i'm lifting more heavier then last fall finally. i weigh a bit more but i'm slimmer then last year try as i might to gain weight now that i lft 4 times a week seems as struggle just to keep my weight up never mine gain more.
but since i moved almost 2 months ago now i can workout whenever and with the new job i'm eating and sleeping better. i had to take most of this week off from a cold but looking to get back into swing of things again.maybe taking this week off
may end up doing me some good i was starting to slip again after 3 months of training pretty hard to make up for lost time . my elbow was starting to bother me
and i wasn't making the gains i had in may. so like i said maybe the time off was just what i needed

brent · #28 June 17th, 2005, 07:42 AM

Grywlf, thank you for the nice comments. I didn't think I'd made progress since last Summer, until I saw these pics. It does represent a LOT of hard work, so it's good to see I'm still getting some results. I hope it can get kicked up a notch with a trainer. I'm also rooting for you. Have you posted pics? Do you have any stats posted so we can watch your growth too? Don't worry about taking the odd week off because of a cold; your body needs some reat cycles too.

ethernet_jock · #29 June 17th, 2005, 07:56 AM

Indeed... the nicest and biggest guy... Brent is always a FANTASTIC inspiration!

You ARE looking MUCH bigger than the last round of your pics I saw man... very good work!

(outdoor lighting is good to you, as well, as I'm sure you know!)

glammaman2000 · #30 June 17th, 2005, 04:54 PM

Arms are borderline SCARY!chest&thighs are definitely showing more shape.Keep challenging yourself(&US!)

Mdlftr · #31 June 17th, 2005, 05:45 PM

Whoa Brent!

Your ARMS!

And your LEGS!

And your whole self!

WHOA!

Good going, man! MAJOR Inspiration!

[Love the Oregon tan, btw! Nice to see you still remember the old hometown!

]

Mdlftr/Tim

brent · #32 June 17th, 2005, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mdlftr

Whoa Brent!
...
[Love the Oregon tan, btw! Nice to see you still remember the old hometown!

]

Mdlftr/Tim

Of course. I love looking at the sun, and having it there, but if I'm out in it with only a 45 SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, and parasol, I start screaming, "I'm melting, I'm melting!"

Seriously, thank you everyone for all your nice comments, but how about constructive criticism, like my need to get the shoulders into shape, and work more on the chest?

claygrant · #33 June 17th, 2005, 06:47 PM

wow brent, I just saw these for the first time! Lookin THICK.. it's not easy to look big on camera, which flattens us all out. A big man in red shorts... classic!

So you want criticism eh?? How about working on delts and laterals to bring out those shoulders past your monstrous tris?

DonnieJvilleNC · #34 June 17th, 2005, 08:20 PM

Wow indeed! Congrats on the thickness, brent! Hell, tans are overrated......and unhealthy. Take it from someone who tans like "flash paper".

I can't wait til my back is as developed as yours. Keep up the great work....it's showing!

brent · #35 June 17th, 2005, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by claygrant

...
So you want criticism eh?? How about working on delts and laterals to bring out those shoulders past your monstrous tris?

Thanks, I've received a PM about needing to work on the delts too. So I guess it's unanimous, more shoulder work for Brent! I love compliments, but I'm to the point where a little, or a lot, of constructive criticism won't scare me out of the gym.

grywlf · #36 June 18th, 2005, 04:09 AM

no i never have posted pics before been very tempted to lately but i still dunno
not sure how to say it so i'll just come out with it i'm wasn't born male i'm a ftm
ts (female to male transsexual) i started hormone replacement therapy right after i started lifting in 97
so when i started i couldn't lift very much . seems like i had to fight hard for every
gain i've made , but i'm proud of my accomplicements i will most likely post more in the coming days but for now i leave at this yes i really am 6ft5 no i didn't play in
womens basketball in college cause of knee problems (there was a time when some though i be so great at it) when i started in 97 i could just bench 65 now
i can do sets of 210 and i'll try to get some postable pic taken soon

glammaman2000 · #37 June 18th, 2005, 08:05 AM

Thanks for"coming clean!"Very brave,but you're obviously the adventurous type!Good luck with the workouts!(Kinda gives new meaning to"be all that you can be",don't it?)

brent · #38 June 18th, 2005, 09:02 AM

Grywlf, thank you for your honnesty, but I don't think there is a lot of having to "come clean" in here. If anyone on this site has a problem with ftm, then they can deal with me (and I'm sure most other members here). Just be true to yourself, be proud of who you are, and know that we are all friends here.

-Brent.

optimusx · #39 June 18th, 2005, 05:42 PM

Brent, as far as your delts are concerned, yeah they probably could be brought up a little, but I think the main thing to realize is that your arms are pretty BIG and they seem to dwarf everything else... if only everyone could have that problem!

Overall you're looking great, massive in fact. Remember, BB is all about the illusion. That's why when guys compete on stage, they come in about as black as night and nothing but bone and muscle .The second you threw a shirt on them you'd think they were anorexic! So if you're loosing a few pounds (most likely fat) then it's just adding to the illusion of how big you really are!

Scott

grywlf · #40 June 19th, 2005, 01:40 AM

brent thank you i wasn't too worried here i found this site to be diffrent then others in the past but you can imagine in 7 years how many chat rooms and sights
on bodybuilding i found that were full of users who just ridcucled each other anyhow i posted a few pics nothing fancy thought they would be good before pics
seeing as i just getting over a cold and its a bit of a set back kinda shy when it comes t pic but i've always wanted to get some done while i'm working out think that would be neat idea