Progress, I suppose

[mordre_t]

2009 (175 lbs) (mostly a distance runner)
http://imagecdn.bodybuilding.com/img...Tlamz0578.jpeg

2011 (170 lbs) (started getting serious with the weights)

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d5..._5148395_n.jpg


2012 (198 lbs -- last week)

http://imagecdn.bodybuilding.com/img...FRDHDh362.jpeg


I hope some progress is visible. Sadly, I'm not one of those people who puts on muscle easily. I started cutting today, as I am just too soft for my liking. I'd like to lose about 10 lbs of fat while preserving as much muscle mass as I can.

My arms have always been my weakest part. Before I started training, they were only 10"! (I'm 6' tall, so that is ridiculous). They're 14.5" when flexed now. Sometimes I think about people who maybe started with 14" arms, and how, if I was one of them, maybe I'd have 18" arms now. But you have to deal with the genetics you've got!

[arpeejay]

Looks good to me! Plus 28 lbs. in less than 18 months is quite good!

Keep up the good work!

All the best...

Richard

[mordre_t]

That's sweet of you to say! Unfortunately, I think a good 10-14 of those lbs are fat. You may notice I skilfully disguised my waistline in the final picture

My short-term goal right now is to learn how to cut fat without losing too much muscle along the way (any tips on this would be welcome . . . I have done a lot of reading up, but so many sources contradict each other).

[raven79]

You are just a hardgainer mordre. Your height hides some of your progress because you have more space to fill.

[Mdlftr]

[QUOTE=mordre_t;182475
My arms have always been my weakest part. Before I started training, they were only 10"! (I'm 6' tall, so that is ridiculous). They're 14.5" when flexed now. Sometimes I think about people who maybe started with 14" arms, and how, if I was one of them, maybe I'd have 18" arms now. But you have to deal with the genetics you've got![/QUOTE]

I know EXACTLY how you feel!! Before I started lifting consistently, my arms were 12 1/2 inches to 13 inches around -- and I'm 6'3"! THAT is ridiculous, also! I've been working out with a trainer, and I've being hitting triceps and biceps (which I hate working, but it brings a great pump!)

Yes, dealing with the genetics you've got is a very humbling experience. One the one hand it's great being tall with relatively low bodyfat. One the other hand, "relatively low" bulging muscle isn't what you want! But, you keeping working out...and growth DOES come - eventually!

Mdlftr

[just_another]

been said already but the progress you made in a year is fantastic, keep it up

[mordre_t]

So, on March 1 of this year, I weighed 183 lbs and got a DEXA body-composition scan. I was expecting a bodyfat % in the high teens - maybe 18 or 19%? - but it came back at 25.1%!!!

First I was and then I was . I'd always been kind of skinny-fat, and had always been afraid of losing what little muscle I had if I tried to get lean "prematurely." This was clearly the wrong approach.

I doubled my efforts in the gym and began being very strict about my diet. I got a second DEXA scan May 15. I weighed 172 lbs (down -11 lbs) and was down to 20.5% bodyfat. This is still too high, but it meant I had lost less than 1 lbs of lean tissue and more than 10 lbs of fat. According to the scan, I actually very slightly increased the muscle on my arms and legs.

Here's how I look now. I'm 169 lbs in this picture; if my cutting has continued as it had been going, this would put me around 19% body-fat. [spoiler]http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d5...psb4700d05.jpg[/spoiler]

I have to say, getting that wakeup call back in March was the best thing that has happened to me, fitness and looks-wise. I'm hoping to cut my bodyfat down to the low teens, and then to very slowly and carefully bulk. This is a multi-year plan!

[raven79]

You are looking alright mordre. Don't get discouraged just keep at it!

[The Magus]

Take a look at your first 170lb picture and the one just now....you can definitely see the difference...you're much more defined, and don't just look skinny, you look ripped. Good job.

[mordre_t]

Thanks for the encouragement, guys! I will try to post semi-regularly in this thread. It's good to have motivation to keep up the progress.