Muscle in progress

[Muscub]

Hi folks,

I've always been a big big fan of hearing about other people's muscle growth experiences. I used to think that big muscle guys were more or less born that way and that I did not win the genetic lottery. However, having seen pics of where people started and where they ended up has kept me motivated on my own muscle transformation journey. I've just really enjoyed seeing the skinny guy or the fat guy become a huge muscle bull and thought, hey maybe I can do that too.

My story is that I've wanted to be a big muscle guy ever since I was a little kid. Probably my first memory is from when I was 8 years old. I saw a picture of an ex-football player in TV Guide who was now a commentator and I knew I wanted to look like him. Growing up, I was a chubby kid, never really super fat, but usually pudgy and soft looking. In college, I started weight training and thinking more about what I was eating. I've continued to do that since, however not always consistently nor necessarily doing the right things for my body. In my late 20's I focused on cutting and losing fat with the hopes that it would reveal some hard muscle underneath. What happened was I ended up looking skinng fat, where you're not exactly fat but you still look pudgy and soft. My before picture was from around that time. In around 2006, I became much more focused and dedicated and I hired a trainer and consulted a nutritionist and everything started to come together.

I'm still in progress on my transformation journery. I'd like to add more mass (particularly to my upper chest) and I definitely want to lean down and look harder. However, it's nice to stop once in a while and compare to where you were earlier. So, I am going to focus on some of the things I like from my before and after pics:

1) I've always liked guys whose traps are so big that they don't have a neck and I do like that my neck is starting to disappear
2) I've never really had pecs (my chest just used to blend in with my stomach) but now there is some separation between the two regions
3) I've gotten a lot wider. I tried to make the pics the exact same size and it is nice to see how much wider my frame is. I used to think it wouldn't be possible and that I would always be someone narrow-shouldered but I've made progress on that front.

And my stats are 6'0" tall and I'm 200lbs in the before pic and 250lbs in the after pic. I'd like to add 10 more pounds of muscle and cut down to around 10% bodyfat. That's my goal shape for now. Here is my comparison pic:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14360725@N05/6847758621/

[grubby41]

Okay! This is a fantastic change! You look great. Keep building the muscle, and the fat will melt away if you eat clean and stay on course. You have put a lot of hard work into your transformation. At 250 lbs, you are certainly not someone to be messed with. Very, very cool.

[raven79]

You are looking terrific muscub! Keep it up!

[dodoria21]

wow man. from what I was reading, I was expecting a great transformation, but was still blown away by how big and meaty you've become. keep it up man.

[1bigwoof]

Originally Posted by grubby41

Okay! This is a fantastic change! You look great. Keep building the muscle, and the fat will melt away if you eat clean and stay on course. You have put a lot of hard work into your transformation. At 250 lbs, you are certainly not someone to be messed with. Very, very cool.

What HE said!! Your neck is disappearing and your thick build is very appealing. Congratulations and keep it up.

[Muscub]

Thanks everyone. I sincerely appreciate the encouragement. I don't really feel like I've "gotten there" yet (whatever that means). I'm still plugging away.

However, this has been something that I have been thinking about/dreaming of for the past 27 years. And I spent quite a while trying and getting not so great results. I think deep down I wasn't sure if having a muscular body was going to be possible for me. As I mentioned earlier, I was a chubby unathletic kid growing up. I did have some hope because my dad was an ex-rugby player and very athletic.

[garrix]

Amazing progress big guy! and you're a big guy now for sure.

Keep it up!

(honestly-- one of the best before/afters ive ever seen)

[Muscub]

Hi everyone,

I really enjoy seeing the progress others have made, so I decided to provide an update on myself. When I last posted in February, I was around 250 lbs. I said my goal was to add 10 lbs of muscle and cut down to 10% bodyfat. I started by getting my bodyfat tested in a hydrostatic dunk tank. In Feb, I was 250 lbs and 16.2% bodyfat. I then tried to bulk for a few more months. Unfortunately it was not successful. In May, I got up to 259 lbs but all the extra weight was fat and my bodyfat increased to 18.4%. Now comes the happier part of the story. From May to today, I've been cutting and trying hard to keep the muscle I have and lose as much fat as I can. When I last got tested, I weighed 229 lbs and had 10.3% bodyfat. So I hit part of my fitness goal which I am quite pleased about as I have always struggled with losing fat and looking soft.

I'd still like to add more muscle mass as I think I have a smaller look now. However that will probably have to wait till next year. I'm going off my diet and maintaing for a while and then will try cutting again and maybe get down to 7-8% bodyfat. It would be nice to have abs one day.

Here are some comparison picks. The first one compares me today vs. me in 2004 when I was soft and didn't have much mass. The second one compares me today (10% bodyfat) with me three months ago (18% bodyfat).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1436072...in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1436072...in/photostream

[jcnutt]

WOW!! you really did lean out and are looking fantastic!! Congrats!

[XXLTank]

Excellent progress!

[geoant]

Wow! Great job, man! That is some amazing progress-keep it going!

[raven79]

Wow, you are quite the stud muscub!

[Eager Muscle]

Okay. You win.