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[indigo-cyclops]

I see that you recommended "Convict Conditioning", what do you think about "The Naked Warrior"?

I've been reading through the Convict Conditioning book, still focused on the core 6 exercises with variations. I usually take about a 2 mile cycle ride up to a local playground and work out there doing all sorts of weird pull ups, pushups, squats, burpees. Some days I won't go quite as intense. I've noticed a noticeable amount of both weight loss (paired with almost paleo diet, eating some wild/brown rices in moderation, and oatmeal) and muscle growth. Still can't do that many pullups but for me, this is exactly the kind of workout that I want. Something quick, but intense, deeply rooted in core strength, and "natural" if you will.

Never been more stoked to work out. Down to about 245 from 270 two months ago.

For me it's still early in the training regimen, but I was lacking motivation for years and hadn't even bothered to work out. This book really switched things up for me and as I read I get more and more excited for an opportunity to say, climb a tree again, or doing handstands. Years of sitting around doing nothing has taken its toll, so those days are still far away.

 

[Malleymal]

Hope you guys are keeping it up... This summer is looking great here in jersey and the females are out. Keep up the good work fellas

 

[reilo]

I need some advice on my squat progression and how I should approach it.

I hit 185lbs today on my back squat (+10lbs bodyweight), but all I could muster out of the first set was a staggered 2-2-1 rep count. I've also incorporated front squats in my routine, so the second two sets include 2x5 sets of front squats at a lower weight.

My question is, should I keep at it with the 185lbs until I hit 5 consecutive reps, or should I de-load a bit and work myself up to a 5 rep set at 185?

On another note, I'm finally making some progress on my chin-ups (I'm 6'4 which means I have a long way to travel). I hit 12 reps in 5 sets (until failure) today after not being able to do more than 6-7 total a couple of weeks ago.

 

[deadbeef]

I need some advice on my squat progression and how I should approach it.

I hit 185lbs today on my back squat (+10lbs bodyweight), but all I could muster out of the first set was a staggered 2-2-1 rep count. I've also incorporated front squats in my routine, so the second two sets include 2x5 sets of front squats at a lower weight.

My question is, should I keep at it with the 185lbs until I hit 5 consecutive reps, or should I de-load a bit and work myself up to a 5 rep set at 185?

On another note, I'm finally making some progress on my chin-ups (I'm 6'4 which means I have a long way to travel). I hit 12 reps in 5 sets (until failure) today after not being able to do more than 6-7 total a couple of weeks ago.

I would personally keep at it for a bit. If you start finding yourself losing reps from workout to workout you might consider backing off a bit. But if you just have one bad workout or so, you gotta shrug that stuff off.

 

[Stat Flow]

Hey Fitness-GAF, stationary bikes: Yay or Nay?

 

[Devin Olsen]

Hey Fitness-GAF, stationary bikes: Yay or Nay?

I could be way the fuck off, but I think fitness bikes are the equivalent of using machine weights as supposed to free weights. I do a mix of bike/treadmill but I don't think it's bad to use the bike?

 

[BamYouHaveAids]

Hey Fitness-GAF, stationary bikes: Yay or Nay?

Why? It takes absolutely all the fun away from riding bikes.

I managed to squat 405 at the end of my set with no belt last week. I weigh 175. Not world breaking numbers, but definitely a milestone. Funny thing is I hadn't been to the gym 2 weeks prior.

 

[Stat Flow]

Why? It takes absolutely all the fun away from riding bikes.

I was asking about the benefits it gives you when it comes to exercise, not necessarily about the fun of it.

 

[Parch]

Stationary bikes are OK because some people have real winters.

 

[Domino Theory]

Dumbell Military Press or Barbell Military Press? And (this is most likely a stupid question but I'm going to ask anyways) if I'm using 45 pound dumbells for each arm for Militay Press, would I use a 90 pound barbell when doing BB Military Press?

 

[parrotbeak]

Dumbell Military Press or Barbell Military Press? And (this is most likely a stupid question but I'm going to ask anyways) if I'm using 45 pound dumbells for each arm for Militay Press, would I use a 90 pound barbell when doing BB Military Press?

You'll probably press more with a bb because it's easier to stabilize. How many sets/reps do you do?

 

[Domino Theory]

You'll probably press more with a bb because it's easier to stabilize. How many sets/reps do you do?

Dumbell MP, 3 sets of 6, but I end up doing 5 for the 3rd set.

 

[Ripclawe]

http://www.vicjg.com/aspx/madcowint.aspx

so I decided to use that 5x5 calculator and did the Bench and subbed overhead for military press.

Bench 5x5:
sets/weight: 140, 176,211, 246, 281

military press 5x5: 108, 130, 151, 173

also did my heavy routine

Shoulder shrugs(4 working sets = avg: 360 pounds)
Incline press: (4 working sets = avg : 205 pounds)
Triceps pulldowns: (3 sets)
cable crossovers: (3 working sets)

Did I royally screw up 5x5 which I am just doing as a change of pace?

 

[RumblingRosco]

I haven't lifted in 6 weeks which is the longest between lifting sessions since I started weight training 3 years ago. I finished undergrad, moved all my stuff to my new college for grad school and have been working on the place I moved into for the past few weeks. Also had a meeting in Canada for a week in the middle of all that.

Got back into the gym today. As expected, all my lifts suffered, but I'm ready to make back the last ground and then some asap. Feels good to be back.

 

[parrotbeak]

Dumbell MP, 3 sets of 6, but I end up doing 5 for the 3rd set.

What are your goals? I think people favor the bb because it's easier to increase by small increments and you don't have to clean/curl if you use a rack. Even adding 5 lbs will be rough, but with dbs you often have to go up by 10 lbs. I like to do both but for increasing strength I'd go with bb. I'll usually do dbs on light days to work on stabilizers.

 

[Flash]

For those of you on GOMAD - are you guys seriously doing a gallon of milk a day? the thought of that just makes me want to puke lol. I need to gain weight though, but I don't think I have it in me to drink that much

 

[reilo]

For those of you on GOMAD - are you guys seriously doing a gallon of milk a day? the thought of that just makes me want to puke lol. I need to gain weight though, but I don't think I have it in me to drink that much

I'm doing half a gallon (along with increasing my daily food intake in general) and I gained 12-15lbs in the first 45 days. I've plateaued since, but that's my body adjusting.

 

[The Lamp]

I just tried on a pair of boxers I used to wear. My ass and hips and legs are filling them out pretty quick--they're almost like boxer-briefs on me now.

It's the little things like this that are amusingly exciting lol.

I think I'm going to post before/after pics in a few weeks if this weight-gain continues.

And yes I'm seriously drinking a gallon a day. It was hard the first couple of days with lots of trips to the bathroom (where I crapped but it was never actually diarrhea).

Now it's not hard at all so long as I start early in the day and finish before my work out. My body's finally adjusted to digesting all that lactose, too, I think.

I think if you stick with the GOMAD diet the first week it isn't too hard afterwards. I know people recommend you ease into it, but I (possibly unwisely) just started drinking a gallon of milk out of nowhere. Like I said, left me extremely bloaty and made my intestines hate me, but now I'm okay and the diet is doing it's thing.

EDIT: HOLY CRAP. Guys I just checked my work-out log.

These were my lifts for one set, 8-10 reps.

June 20--last week. I could only lift 45 lbs. on the leg extension machine, 65 lbs. on squats, 15 lbs. on the military press, and 35 lbs. on the multi-bench-press machine.

Today I easily lifted 95 lbs. on the quads/hamstrings leg extension machine, 95 lbs. on squats, 30 lbs. on the military press and 45 lbs. on the multi-bench-press machine.

WTF are these kinds of improvements in just ONE WEEK normal??? O_O

 

[MjFrancis]

Sure are. The greater the distance you are from your genetic potential for strength and muscle hypertrophy, the greater the capacity for quick and rapid gains.

*edit* Not to mention the capacity for central nervous system adaptation, particularly with barbell movements.

 

[X-Frame]

Lamp, it's not only normal but expected for those that stick to the basics and don't over-analyze shit.

Progressive Overload + Eat big + Rest = Grow like a weed, especially if you're a beginner.

 

[cuevas. PhD.]

You probably just didn't push yourself on your first workout.

 

[The Lamp]

You probably just didn't push yourself on your first workout.

I personally think that my first work-out and third work-out felt the hardest. To the point where I couldn't think or move except writhe in sore agony.

The first day I went in thinking "okay, let's lift as much as heavy I can for one set and record that number."

By the second work-out, I was doing it easily, and increased the weight. By the third work-out I increased again. Yesterday I increased again and here I am. I think I went too easy yesterday, though, because I wasn't that sore or tired afterwards and I was experimenting with new exercises to build into my routine. Wednesday I think I'm going to try harder.

How exciting.

 

[borghe]

I see that you recommended "Convict Conditioning", what do you think about "The Naked Warrior"?

I am still getting through Naked Warrior right now.. IMHO it is an "ok" book. There is some really great information in it and nice bodyweight variations, but in actual information there is (obviously) a ton of overlap with Convict Conditioning and I REALLY dislike Pavel's overselling and hyperbole. Paul doesn't use a ton of hyperbole and "drama" in Convict Conditioning.. He simply says "here's what the greek statues look like. Who do you think modeled for them?" or "here's the guys that were doing feats of strength back in the early 20th century before free weights" etc. For someone who has no science or medical background, it surprisingly seems impossible to argue with much of his logic. Much of Pavel's writing is a bit more subjective (the actual writing, not the fitness info).

For that reason I would say if you had to choose one, choose Convict Conditioning. Get through that and treat it like your bible. If you want to expand your scope of bodyweight training, add a few more exercises (for example I wish Paul had included burpees.. I also like kipping pullups though I imagine he doesn't want you to do them because they are usually where ALL the injury comes from doing bodyweight exercises because they are so easy to do wrong by just dropping down.......) add Naked Warrior to that. Both together and I honestly believe as Paul says.... you will have more practical and useable strength than 90% of the weight lifters in the gym. I see guys pressing 85lb dumbbells who I know for a fact couldn't even do probably more than 1-2 handstand pushups and definitely couldn't do a muscle up. If you're going for body building, that is completely fine. If you want to actually move your body around with ease... whether it's climbing trees with your kids, running obstacle courses like tough mudder, or whatever.. it's really hard to argue the benefits of hardcore calisthenics.

Hey Fitness-GAF, stationary bikes: Yay or Nay?

Well, it looks like I am going against the grain here.... Nay... Biking as cardio is HORRIBLE. IMHO the ONLY reason to bike is as others are saying.. because you actually enjoy moving yourself around great distances and love touring. Biking as a form of recreation is amazing. Biking as a form of exercise is minimal at best. If you take both of those statements at face value, that should show where I put stationary bikes. If your weather is nice and you don't already have a bike, hit a rummage sale or craigslist and grab a crappy 20 year old schwinn 10 speed and have a blast. if the weather is crappy and your looking for some way to burn calories intervals on a treadmill imho are much better than a stationary bike. more muscle groups, etc.

 

[GashPrex]

Alright BroScience, lets talk

Age - 32
Height - 5'9"
Weight - 166
Goal - Strength + reduction in body fat (yes I know the problems these present)

In March of this year, I started p90x and successfully completed the program in early june. I reduced my weight from 180 to 167 on the program. Being a lowly associate at a law firm made it very difficult to work out but I eventually sucked it up and worked out at home from like 8-9 every night. In early june I transitioned back to a gym that is right across from my office (that my firm pays for) I currently go three times a week. I have worked out before with good results but I would like a sustainable program - I have been following the "basic" program in the OP with a few minor tweaks for the past month and would like to see what else you all thought I could add/tweak. Its strange going from such an active workout, p90x, to one where you work hard, but its not as sweat inducing.

The current routine looks like this

Monday
Squat - 3 sets of 5
Bench Press - 3 sets of 5
Deadlift - 1 set of 5
Bent Over Rows - 3 set of 5
Y-Press or Swimmers Press - 3 set of 5
Pushups X 3 (regular, wide, fly)
HIIT (run/sprint 12 min)

Wednesday
Squat - 3 sets of 5
Overhead Press - 3 sets of 5
Power Cleans - 5 sets of 3
Ab work

Friday
Squat - 3 sets of 5
Bench Press - 3 sets of 5
Deadlifts - 1 set of 5
Pull-Ups - 3 sets of 8-15
Bicep Curls ( one set of Supinated, hammer, concentration)
HIIT (run/sprint 12 min)

Diet/Schedule(been doing this basic diet since march)

Breakfast - 1 cup oatmeal, 1/2 cup 1% milk, 1 cup egg whites (pasteurized, aka 24 grams protein)

1100 AM - Greek yogurt

12:30 - Salad with 6oz chicken + cashews + non-fat dressing

3:00 - Pure protein bar

6:00 or 7:00 - Workout for 1 hour

Immediately after 1 scoop whey protein with milk

8-9 - Dinner, chicken/turkey + 1 good carb + vegetable

11:30 - Casein protein

One of the big problems is the time from 3 till after workout - I can get sweats, lightheaded before my workout etc...Based on my bmi, calorie intake calculation, I think my needs were somewhere around 2300. Oh and PS I've seen good gains in strength - a decent size gain in just the limited time.

 

[Natural]

For those of you on GOMAD - are you guys seriously doing a gallon of milk a day? the thought of that just makes me want to puke lol. I need to gain weight though, but I don't think I have it in me to drink that much

Yeah I do - or near enough, I drink 6-8 pints of milk a day depending on time I wake up/got to go to work etc.

I started with half a gallon at first and then worked myself up to a gallon. The way I see it is, I can't eat 2500+ calories a day - my lifestyle/sleeping patterns don't really allow it, but being able to drink a pint here and there makes me getting the calories in so much easier.

So I can get by on eating breakfast and dinner, and have milk and odd snacks during the day or whatever to make sure I'm hitting the 3000 calorie mark a day.

 

[Enco]

To those eating like crazy, be careful as if you want to lose the weight further down the line, you'll find it pretty hard as you would be so used to eating so much.

 

[The Lamp]

To those eating like crazy, be careful as if you want to lose the weight further down the line, you'll find it pretty hard as you would be so used to eating so much.

I've been keeping this in mind and paying close attention to my hunger cycles and stuff.
I've always been the kind of person to eat small meals sporadically throughout the day, and that's what I'm still doing even right now. Doesn't take much to fill me, doesn't take much to get me hungry. That's why the milk diet was hard, because a glass of milk would fill me up for about half an hour, so I'd have to plan my drinkings throughout the day.

Hopefully if I need to lose the weight I can keep this pattern but just substitute my meals with things that are less fatty/caloric/carb-saturated.

That and the fact that my body naturally likes to lose weight to reach equilibrium or whatever. When I used to gain weight I would lose it immediately (like within a few days) if I didn't keep up my food. That's why I can't slack off with the milk...I know I'll slink back to my normal weight quickly.

 

[MjFrancis]

To those eating like crazy, be careful as if you want to lose the weight further down the line, you'll find it pretty hard as you would be so used to eating so much.

Definitely. There seems to be a couple of few people who misused or abused GOMAD and other similar see-food diets on this forum and others. Sans linear progression, consuming a gigantic excess of calories is unhelpful at best and harmful at it's worst. It pairs so well with Starting Strength because few programs ask as much of a new trainee. I mean, you squat every single training day and the weight on every lift is supposed to go up every time! Linear progression doesn't get much more demanding as that. If your training isn't as demanding as that, I've never seen a need for such consumption.

I'm still hoping a dozen eggs a day catches on someday, since DEAD is such as awesome acronym. Twelve large eggs are approximately 1,080 calories with 84 grams of fat, 76 grams of protein and a negligible amount of carbs. Also, at least where I'm at least 1/3 the price of a gallon of whole milk. Pretty filling for a skinny bastard, though. Not to mention any digestive issues that might be paired with such a diet.

 

[reilo]

Definitely. There seems to be a couple of few people who misused or abused GOMAD and other similar see-food diets on this forum and others. Sans linear progression, consuming a gigantic excess of calories is unhelpful at best and harmful at it's worst. It pairs so well with Starting Strength because few programs ask as much of a new trainee. I mean, you squat every single training day and the weight on every lift is supposed to go up every time! Linear progression doesn't get much more demanding as that. If your training isn't as demanding as that, I've never seen a need for such consumption.

I'm still hoping a dozen eggs a day catches on someday, since DEAD is such as awesome acronym. Twelve large eggs are approximately 1,080 calories with 84 grams of fat, 76 grams of protein and a negligible amount of carbs. Also, at least where I'm at least 1/3 the price of a gallon of whole milk. Pretty filling for a skinny bastard, though. Not to mention any digestive issues that might be paired with such a diet.

The exhaust fumes from milk are bad enough, I can't imagine from consuming eggs. Geez.

 

[Enco]

I've been keeping this in mind and paying close attention to my hunger cycles and stuff.
I've always been the kind of person to eat small meals sporadically throughout the day, and that's what I'm still doing even right now. Doesn't take much to fill me, doesn't take much to get me hungry. That's why the milk diet was hard, because a glass of milk would fill me up for about half an hour, so I'd have to plan my drinkings throughout the day.

Hopefully if I need to lose the weight I can keep this pattern but just substitute my meals with things that are less fatty/caloric/carb-saturated.

That and the fact that my body naturally likes to lose weight to reach equilibrium or whatever. When I used to gain weight I would lose it immediately (like within a few days) if I didn't keep up my food. That's why I can't slack off with the milk...I know I'll slink back to my normal weight quickly.

I'm not sure if eating lots of small meals is better than a few bigger meals. Personally I would think that lots of meals would make the body more used to a constant supply of food so if you ever cut down you'll go hungry. I suppose if you carry on with the same number of meals and just make them healthier as you said then it would be ok.

Definitely. There seems to be a couple of few people who misused or abused GOMAD and other similar see-food diets on this forum and others. Sans linear progression, consuming a gigantic excess of calories is unhelpful at best and harmful at it's worst. It pairs so well with Starting Strength because few programs ask as much of a new trainee. I mean, you squat every single training day and the weight on every lift is supposed to go up every time! Linear progression doesn't get much more demanding as that. If your training isn't as demanding as that, I've never seen a need for such consumption.

I'm still hoping a dozen eggs a day catches on someday, since DEAD is such as awesome acronym. Twelve large eggs are approximately 1,080 calories with 84 grams of fat, 76 grams of protein and a negligible amount of carbs. Also, at least where I'm at least 1/3 the price of a gallon of whole milk. Pretty filling for a skinny bastard, though. Not to mention any digestive issues that might be paired with such a diet.

Agreed.

I don't think I can eat 12 eggs a day though :lol

edit: And I'm sure you don't actually need to have a whole gallon of milk to put on weight. 4-6 glasses should be enough.

 

[cuevas. PhD.]

this conversation reminds me of this:

 

[MjFrancis]

Yeah, that poor kid cuevas posted is the posterchild for how not to do bulk. That's what happens if you eat in ridiculous excess without demanding anything appreciable of your body simultaneously.

The exhaust fumes from milk are bad enough, I can't imagine from consuming eggs. Geez.

Haha, I eat approximately 18 eggs a week and I'm alright, but if I add too much coffee or too many beans into the mix, I've crossed into dangerous territory! I've had up to six a day with no noticeable drawbacks, but I've never done a whole dozen in a day. Yet.

 

[H3xum]

Ok guys, I need some help with a new routine.

Over the last 7 months I've lost 105lbs (ketosis, ask me anything). However, with that weight loss, I've lost tons of strength.

I always was a pretty avid lifter before the diet and have continued to do so but as you can imagine I'm nowhere near as strong as I was before, so I switched to pyramiding everything just to maintain.

For example, on my chest/arms day I'll do this on

flat/decline/and incline bench

1x10 135
1x10 155
1x10 185
1x8 225
1x5 245
(I don't do the last 2 sets on incline, my triceps stink)

After that I'll do some other bicep/tricep things, mostly db workouts. That's my Mon, Wed, Fri. Tues and Thurs I do back and shoulders. Core every day.

Now that the novelty of the weight loss has faded, I'm just depressed in the gym because of how much weaker I've become, so I was looking at power lifting routines because I want to get away from pyramiding as that's not pushing myself, just keeping myself steady.

Any suggestions on new chest/arm routines to burn myself out and build up some strength again are welcome! I'll tackle back afterwords

 

[X-Frame]

Francis, you ever just throw raw eggs into a protein shake? They taste good, or you don't even notice them depending upon what you mix with.

I'm too skurred to use regular eggs for that, but would use natural/organic ones or whatever. Not sure how much the probability of salmonella goes down with organic, but it makes me feel better. Lol.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

Insanity is killing me. Did 3 days last week (had to miss suddenly) so this week is my first official week, my legs get so tired.

It doesn't help that my apartment has no air movement and is like 90 degrees all the time.

 

[Jason's Ultimatum]

Is that Frog-Tech shit real? LULZ.

 

[X26]

When I go for a run lately there's a soreness in my legs just to the left of my shin in my left leg and vice versa for the right. It takes awhile for it to go away and I can run normally. Anyone know what that part of the leg is called and a way to relax t beforehand? None of my stretches seem to target it.

 

[TheRagnCajun]

Is that Frog-Tech shit real? LULZ.

I've seen worse. There's a pic floating around the BB forums of a guy that did GOMAD without excercise.

 

[Price Dalton]

When I go for a run lately there's a soreness in my legs just to the left of my shin in my left leg and vice versa for the right. It takes awhile for it to go away and I can run normally. Anyone know what that part of the leg is called and a way to relax t beforehand? None of my stretches seem to target it.

Sounds like shin splints.

http://www.mobilitywod.com/2011/06/episode-270365-mobrx-for-shin-splints.html

 

[gburgess10]

Why? It takes absolutely all the fun away from riding bikes.

I managed to squat 405 at the end of my set with no belt last week. I weigh 175. Not world breaking numbers, but definitely a milestone. Funny thing is I hadn't been to the gym 2 weeks prior.

For a 180 pound person, properly squatting 367 pounds is considered "Advanced" and squatting 479 is considered "Elite" level. For a 165 pound person, the numbers are, respectively, 342 and 445. So you clearly fall in at the Advanced level (but quickly edging into elite). Reference

My question is: How tall are you? And you must be as cut as FUCK to be putting out those numbers at that weight.

I'm 6' 1'', and when I was about 180 lbs. (and at a rough estimate of 9% BF level), I could 1 rep out at about 260.

For me those numbers are fucking impressive. Bravo.

 

[MjFrancis]

Francis, you ever just throw raw eggs into a protein shake? They taste good, or you don't even notice them depending upon what you mix with.

I haven't gone all Rocky just yet. Liquid eggs would be able to be consumed rather rapidly, though questions of nutrient absorption become more pertinent at that point.

I have eggs I buy locally, farm-fresh, and I use those for the vast majority of my egg intake, especially raw yolk. I buy eggs from the store for hard-boiling since fresh egg shells don't peel as well. I've been on an egg kick recently, ye olde tyme musclebuilders swore by them, and since I'm a whole foods > powdered protein kind of guy, it's right up my alley.

 

[Ace 8095]

I've seen worse. There's a pic floating around the BB forums of a guy that did GOMAD without excercise.

That's hilarious.

 

[cuevas. PhD.]

Is that Frog-Tech shit real? LULZ.

His actual "progress" :

 

[reilo]

woooooooow. His acne got pretty bad, too.

 

[PBY]

woooooooow. His acne got pretty bad, too.

IF I remember the thread right, he was absolutely CRUSHING packaged, shitty rice/chicken. That thread is one of the funniest things I've ever read in my life.

 

[Sarye]

I've seen worse. There's a pic floating around the BB forums of a guy that did GOMAD without excercise.

do you have a link? I can't seem to find it.

IF I remember the thread right, he was absolutely CRUSHING packaged, shitty rice/chicken. That thread is one of the funniest things I've ever read in my life.

Yeah it was ridiculous. I think he was ingesting 5000-6000 calories of crap. I don't know what's worse though. If you read the beginning posts, there was a lot of good job with the bulk posts before someone spoke up.

 

[Parch]

Well, it looks like I am going against the grain here.... Nay... Biking as cardio is HORRIBLE. IMHO the ONLY reason to bike is as others are saying.. because you actually enjoy moving yourself around great distances and love touring. Biking as a form of recreation is amazing. Biking as a form of exercise is minimal at best.

Cruising around isn't going to do much, but find a hill and sprint up, cruise down is as good as HIIT running IMO.

For those stuck inside, I agree a treadmill is preferable over a stationary bike, but cost and space can be a factor. I'm stuck with aerobics with dumbells and still quite happy with the cardio results.

 

[MjFrancis]

If you read the beginning posts, there was a lot of good job with the bulk posts before someone spoke up.

That's even more disheartening than the failed bulk itself!

Someone somewhere should have spoke up and told this kid he was getting fat between the 7 month and 1 year 3 month photos. Then, in the next three months he goes into overdrive and packs on 14kg of fat! And since he was posting these pictures in hopes of internet approval, he genuinely believed that he was putting on muscle. For the latter part of a year he was in complete denial of his condition. That's the truly sad part.

Though as I said, posterchild for how not to bulk.

 

[Parch]

Someone somewhere should have spoke up and told this kid he was getting fat between the 7 month and 1 year 3 month photos.

I think this happens a lot. A kid does some casual workouts and uses that as an excuse to eat like a pig under the assumption that he's "bulking".

Quite frequently here I see the recommendation that you need to eat to gain muscle. Yes, that's absolutely true, but I cringe when I see this because I bet a lot of guys are not working out with enough intensity to justify significant calorie increase.
"Bulking" advice is quite often "fattening" advice.

 

[yacobod]

the thing is he's not even really fat or skinny, he's kind of stuck in that transition of skinny-fat called skat.