'O'peration: Hulkout

[seahawk]

Originally Posted by omelissokomos

Here's the update for January:

• Switched to a new gym while the old one is undergoing renovation. Not sure if I wanna go back.
• Did one month of creatine and got mixed results. Arms and shoulders grew, but I bloated up some. My endomorphness at work (and pants don't lie).
• Finishing up Phase II of my workout this week and prepping myself for Phase III with a whole new routine.

I've set aside February for losing more fat so I hope to see "less of me" at the end of the month. Until next time, cheers.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...0060131-07.jpg

lookin WIDE... your new nickname is TRUCK. Keep it up!

[omelissokomos]

February went by really quick, but I did what I set out to do which was start Phase III and lose some fat. Like I said in my blog, I'll take looking smaller and leaner over bigger and bloated any day. (Some of you will disagree. )

The end of Feb also marks my sixth straight month of working out which is something I never I thought I'd be able to do, and so I'd like to thank those who've helped me along with their encouragement and support, especially Donnie, loopy and Greg. Let's see how things'll turn out in another six month's time.

Sep 05
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...0050918-01.jpg

Feb 06
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...060226-05a.jpg

[glammaman2000]

ENORMOUS improvement!You should be proud&I hope it's making you happy!A real transformation!Just goes to show what consistent,hard work can do!g.

[hulkmuscle]

Way to grow, O...crank it up!

[Gman]

Wow!

I can hadly believe that it's the same guy in the pics.
Yiu're begining to look more and more like your own artwork.

keep it up, you're looking great!

G

[omelissokomos]

Here are some pics I've taken for the end of Phase III (Feb-Apr). Still gonna continue favoring fat loss over muscle mass for now 'coz that's just the way I'm built.

Relaxed
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...060501-01a.jpg

Front Double-Bi
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...060501-02a.jpg

Front Lat Spread (sorta)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...060501-03a.jpg

Back Double-Bi
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...0060501-04.jpg

Back Lat Spread
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...0060501-05.jpg

Side Chest
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...060501-06a.jpg

Side Tri (sorta)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...060501-07a.jpg

Single Bicep
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...060501-08a.jpg

Thanks for the comments, glammaman and Gman. That plus my online interactions with Greg, Donnie, loopy and lewj go a long way in keeping me motivated.

Phase IV commencing in 3, 2, 1...

[jx22uk]

Wow, fantastic progress there, you're looking great!

[lewj99]

Nice pics there man. Hope you continue making great progress throughout the next stage!

[hulkmuscle]

I'm especially liking the delts and biceps. I see you're learning how to flex your lats too, which is good. Let's keep shearing off the bodyfat and mining the muscle for maximum growth. Your strength levels are fantastic considering your experience. I have a feeling you might be a natural for this.

[LipsK]

Wow. Great gains! Congratulations!

[Hellboy]

Wow ....thats all I can say ...you look great!

[BBMikeNJ]

Looking good there, big O

[DonnieJvilleNC]

Wow "O"! I really can see the improvement! You're losing fat while adding the mass...especially to those delts. Keep up the amazing job. Now I have to work even harder!

[omelissokomos]

Two years ago, I started taking sporadic pics of myself, and after 9 months of working out, it's been a slow burn (could've been faster with more cardio, hehe) though I'm getting closer to where I wanna be.

Before: June 2004 (+200 lbs.)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...200406-01b.jpg

After: June 2006 (174 lbs.)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...0060602-06.jpg

I'll give myself one more month to lean down, and then it's back to bulking. (Hope I can minimize the fat gain this time.)

Thanks again for the feedback guys. They really do help motivate me to do better.

[loopyrhino2001]

Great work, O! You've gone from pear-shaped to V-shaped in less than a year. Kudos!

[macmanchad]

Awesome transformation!

[hulkmuscle]

At this rate, you'll be competing in a couple years. Keep plugging babe, you're doing great. On days when I'm feeling less than inspired to go pump iron, I just have to think about you and how well and fast you're progressing, and I'm out the door!I hope you're enjoying your new workout. I'm starting to edge you towards a more hardcore powerlifting/bodybuilding regimen which I think will really benefit you since you have such naturally high strength levels (you lucky bastard).

[DonnieJvilleNC]

Congrats on the transformation, O! Every day I'm inspired by you. I agree with Hulkmuscle, when I feel like "slacking", I think how far you've come in so little time. Then I get my ass to the gym!

Keep up the great job!

[glammaman2000]

...showing some nice arm,too;babe!

[scott2462]

Looks good, O! I agree with Hulkmuscle, keep this up and you may not only be competing, but maybe winning!

[omelissokomos]

Even though I haven't been posting here lately, that doesn't I haven't been working out, and in fact today is my first anniversary of hitting the weights. Throughout the past year I've had a lot of help through its ups and downs from guys like claygrant, Donnie, garrix, glammanman, lewj99, loopyrhino, Max Mann, Scott and most especially Greg without whose guidance I wouldn't be half the man that I am today (or something like that) so here's a big thanks to them.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...060830-06b.jpg

[macmanchad]

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...060830-06b.jpg

Yeow!

[DonnieJvilleNC]

That's a great photo, O! You've made amazing progress over the past year...Congrats, my friend! Thanks for your help and inspiration.

[scott2462]

Happy anniversary, O! This latest pic continues to show great progress. Just shows what sticking with it can do. Congrats!

[omelissokomos]

Thought I'd have some fun duplicating my pathetic poses from last year.

Before: Sep 2005
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...050930-04b.jpg

After: Sep 2006
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...060927-05a.jpg

As expected a year into working out , changes have slowed down, but then I'm trying my darnedest keeping my endomorphness at bay as I don't have reason to get into a dedicated bulk/cut cycle yet.

[hulkmuscle]

The difference is amazing, "O". Like night and day if you ask me.

Hope you're enjoying the deadlifts...MWAHA....

[glammaman2000]

MUCH improved! Leaner & bigger arms at the same time! You're on your way!!!!

[buffdoc]

Originally Posted by glammaman2000

MUCH improved! Leaner & bigger arms at the same time! You're on your way!!!!

Agreed. It really is a great change. Great job, keep lifting...

[TheMM]

Originally Posted by omelissokomos

Thought I'd have some fun duplicating my pathetic poses from last year.

Before: Sep 2005
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...050930-04b.jpg

After: Sep 2006
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...060927-05a.jpg

As expected a year into working out , changes have slowed down, but then I'm trying my darnedest keeping my endomorphness at bay as I don't have reason to get into a dedicated bulk/cut cycle yet.

Just read this thread O', just found it too. (I been here for a year today woo!) This might be enough inspiration to get my skinny ass into the gym...well, if I had any free time. *sighs* Fate doth be cruel'eth.

[BBMikeNJ]

Looking good and solid there . great frame for even more muscle!

[DonnieJvilleNC]

I am always amazed when I see progress pics from 'O'!

Your pics give me SO much inspiration! Thanks a million and keep up the phenomenal progress.

[omelissokomos]

Thanks guys.

Anyway, I'm just checkin' in after a couple of months of growing-and-hoping-it's-not-just-because-of-fat. Here's a pic of me hamming it up for the camera yesterday. Ain't foreshortening fun?

Dec 2006
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...0061201-09.jpg

[DonnieJvilleNC]

I like the newest pic, 'O'. That's a great quality photo. You've got two of my favorite things....muscle and body hair.

[buffdoc]

Originally Posted by DonnieJvilleNC

I like the newest pic, 'O'. That's a great quality photo. You've got two of my favorite things....muscle and body hair.

Agreed. Muscle and hair is a great combo. Looking good 'O'!

[hero1000]

Originally Posted by omelissokomos

Thanks guys.

Anyway, I'm just checkin' in after a couple of months of growing-and-hoping-it's-not-just-because-of-fat. Here's a pic of me hamming it up for the camera yesterday. Ain't foreshortening fun?

Dec 2006
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...0061201-09.jpg

Holy crap, dude. You just jerked me out of lurker status with that update!!! You really are turning into the Hulk. Your chest and arms have great definition and size. Your shoulders have gotten some great shape, very clear and rounded. Very nice, can't wait to see you soak up more of those gamma rays or what ever you are doing...lol

[macmanchad]

Wow.

Congratulations. Unfair, but awesome!

[omelissokomos]

Wrapped up Phase VI this week. Spent a big chunk of it fixing up my form and managed some decent gains. I'm gonna try leaning down again for Phase VII and see whether I'll be going for strength and size or shape and a six-pack (haha) afterwards.

Feb 2007
http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...0070226-01.jpg

http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...0070226-02.jpg

[omelissokomos]

Damn, has it already been six months since I last posted here? Well, with today being my second anniversary of working out, I thought I'd share what's been happening.

• Went back to basics last April with The New Rules of Lifting (NRoL) written by Lou Schuler and Alwyn Cosgrove (who is the devil). I've
  been getting a lot of "after-sales support" from the forum at JP Fitness.
  
  
• Re-started taking creatine last month which has so far brought me just shy of hitting 200lbs. and getting 16" biceps. (The right side's almost there. You know how it is.) Before August though I've already gained back the weight I lost my first year, and it started when Greg first put in deadlifts into my routine. Ah, memories. "MWAHA" indeed.

I haven't decided what I'm going to do once I'm done with NRoL. I'll either go for another round using a different year-long program (the book has 4 suggested profiles), or, if I get really serious with fat loss, try out Cosgrove's Afterburn. I've gotten a taste of his taskmaster tendencies, but even that may not prepare me for what's in store.

Here's a shout out to loopyrhino, lewj99, garrix and Donnie who've been keeping tabs on my progress, and I'm glad to see other guys posting theirs, which have been great for inspiration and motivation. I hope in my own small way I'm able to do the same.

Sep 2006
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...060830-06b.jpg

Sep 2007
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...s/08fda48c.jpg

[macmanchad]

Take the shirt off, I want a more "apples to apples" comparison :-)

Seriously, you're looking great. I'm going to have to check out some of these programs, I always feel a little more motivated when I'm doing something that not only is working as well as is planned out, but is also proven to work by an "expert".

[DonnieJvilleNC]

Thanks for the shoutout, O. You're looking more solid and muscled every time I see pics. You don't just "look" strong, you "are" strong.

Keep up the great progress! Whether you decide to continue bulking or cutting, I'll be waiting to see the results.

BTW, I love your delts...*green with envy*