my waifu
Lydia Valentin is awesome. One of my favorite female weightlifters.
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Fitness |OT9|...You looked better before
- Thread starter Chocobro
- Start date
Lydia Valentin is awesome. One of my favorite female weightlifters.
Psychotext
Member
ajfoucault
Member
This is THE thread for fitness. Bodybuilding.com needs something like this. Their forums are okay, but not as well-organized and compiled as this thread.
Preach
Jacksinthe
Banned
So i've been absent here the past two weeks and I apologize. Going through some shit at the moment. Anyhow...
My better half says she's all about where I'm at right now as she prefers this look. I wouldn't mind being leaner but I'm OK with where I'm at. So here are some extreme before ever lifting a thing to now photos.
This is me before I knew that iron was more than just an element on the periodic table. I weighed in the low 170's here. You could probably go cave diving in my chest since it was in the negative range for anything resembling muscle tissue. I was quite skinny:
I began lifting years ago - on and off then super on until some bad stuff happened and I stopped, lost a lot of weight, hopped back on again and then had some more bad shit happen in 2014 then lost a lot of weight again until here I am today, 66 weeks and 2 days since i started training again.
Altogether over the past 66 weeks I have shifted a total of 59.8 total pounds up and back down. I weigh less than I did 66 weeks ago but remain bigger and leaner, i guess. Certainly stronger. I learned a lot dealing with some stuff while doing it so next bulk cycle i will be more prepared and have a better understanding on how to manage the bad.
Here's pretty much week 0, week 50 and today, 66 and 2 days weighing 196.8
Part of me wants to keep going just so I can say I did it and the other part of me is super comfy being right where I'm at as it gives me a good balance of "lean" with strength. I suppose one could always be more lean and have more abs but that really doesn't bother me much.
My better half says she's all about where I'm at right now as she prefers this look. I wouldn't mind being leaner but I'm OK with where I'm at. So here are some extreme before ever lifting a thing to now photos.
This is me before I knew that iron was more than just an element on the periodic table. I weighed in the low 170's here. You could probably go cave diving in my chest since it was in the negative range for anything resembling muscle tissue. I was quite skinny:
I began lifting years ago - on and off then super on until some bad stuff happened and I stopped, lost a lot of weight, hopped back on again and then had some more bad shit happen in 2014 then lost a lot of weight again until here I am today, 66 weeks and 2 days since i started training again.
Altogether over the past 66 weeks I have shifted a total of 59.8 total pounds up and back down. I weigh less than I did 66 weeks ago but remain bigger and leaner, i guess. Certainly stronger. I learned a lot dealing with some stuff while doing it so next bulk cycle i will be more prepared and have a better understanding on how to manage the bad.
Here's pretty much week 0, week 50 and today, 66 and 2 days weighing 196.8
Part of me wants to keep going just so I can say I did it and the other part of me is super comfy being right where I'm at as it gives me a good balance of "lean" with strength. I suppose one could always be more lean and have more abs but that really doesn't bother me much.
Spiritreaver
Member
You look amazing bud, damn, great work! I think everyone hits that point where they have to decide whether or not to focus on maintain a certain composition.
I know this is a non-answer, but I think it's best to look at it as focusing on what you want to do now. What makes you happy now? The thing is, it's never too late to move toward those other goals. If you later you decide you want to be bigger, leaner, beefier, whatever, you can make those changes. If you're comfortable with you are now, that's great too.
Also hope you're doing okay big guy. We're always here!
I know this is a non-answer, but I think it's best to look at it as focusing on what you want to do now. What makes you happy now? The thing is, it's never too late to move toward those other goals. If you later you decide you want to be bigger, leaner, beefier, whatever, you can make those changes. If you're comfortable with you are now, that's great too.
Also hope you're doing okay big guy. We're always here!
Psychotext
Member
Is a good look. Nice.
lol!
FallingEdge
Member
looking good Jack, third pic is legit
when is this competition again? October?
when is this competition again? October?
Can't believe I missed this post! It really is! Welcome.
Aww FE. That's cute you pretend not to know.
Jacksinthe
Banned
Thanks for the kind words, fam! Been fun this past year learning from all of you and training. I would definitely not be where I'm at without all of the work you folks do and your knowledge. Really inspiring for me.
As for the contest I think I can easily nab first for best farmer's tan!
As for the contest I think I can easily nab first for best farmer's tan!
Psychotext
Member
Cyclist here... farmers tans don't come sharper!
(Though admittedly, it'd be even sharper if I ever wore lycra)
FallingEdge
Member
Actual days were never discussed!
True true. I'm liking October 8th personally. It's a Saturday and I might still have a little color left over from summer.
Psychotext
Member
Funnily enough, I'm pretty much the other way. I realised that having large squat and deadlift numbers (benchlol) are completely meaningless to me.
Of course, being aesthetic is mostly meaningless to me too (married, and she prefers me scrawny)... but of the two, that's what I'd choose.
Of course, being aesthetic is mostly meaningless to me too (married, and she prefers me scrawny)... but of the two, that's what I'd choose.
Both are essentially meaningless, unless you're an athlete or a model. I just don't get the same good feeling from the unenjoyable hard work that is required from me to look good as I do from the enjoyable work that's required to be strong and fit.
It's not like once choice is superior to the other when it's a hobby.
It's not like once choice is superior to the other when it's a hobby.
Psychotext
Member
Yeah, but lets be honest... plenty of people do this to get laid rather than for the other reasons. 
Oh, and I don't really see the difference in the work required. Not sure why one would be more enjoyable than the other. I've never really seen the difference; it's all a fucking awful way to spend a couple of hours for me.
Oh, and I don't really see the difference in the work required. Not sure why one would be more enjoyable than the other. I've never really seen the difference; it's all a fucking awful way to spend a couple of hours for me.
Yeah, but lets be honest... plenty of people do this to get laid rather than for the other reasons.
Oh, and I don't really see the difference in the work required. Not sure why one would be more enjoyable than the other. I've never really seen the difference; it's all a fucking awful way to spend a couple of hours for me.
I hate dieting. I love training. That's the difference for me. Someone once told me that "No food tastes as good as looking good feels." They were so full of shit. Looking good feels great for like a month, then it becomes normalised. Food always tastes good.
If I could look good without constantly having to diet then I'd be totally for it, but man, fuck counting calories and macros. Fuck feeling hungry and tired during a cut.
Again, not saying anything about you, or people who make those choices, it's just not for me any more.
Psychotext
Member
Ahh, I thought you were talking about differences in what you're doing in the gym.
Watching my intake is second nature for me now. As a mountain biker putting on weight makes hard even harder... so it's definitely something I try to avoid.
Watching my intake is second nature for me now. As a mountain biker putting on weight makes hard even harder... so it's definitely something I try to avoid.
Psychotext
Member
Celebration lifts today then?
Happy birthday.
Spiritreaver
Member
Happy birthday! What's the meal plan for today?Hahaha! Thanks Bum and Szu. Awesome way to wake up.
Oh and Bum...
Hahaha! Thanks Bum and Szu. Awesome way to wake up.
Oh and Bum...
Lol love that gif.
Have a great day with fam dude. Enjoy it!
Thanks guys.
Pizza, cheesecake, homemade white peach pie, pineapple coconut ice cream. Probably more. lol
Jacksinthe
Banned
ShadowgeistX
Member
Looking good man. I guess we all have to kinda decide where our line is with regards to how much effort we have to spend on being lean vs being strong.
Happy birthday Cooter. I bet you won't even gain any weight after eating your birthday meals.
Spiritreaver
Member
This is my favorite Cooter. Eat some cheesecake for me, pal.
hey, fitnessGAF, i need some advice
my dad's 35 year reunion is next year and he wants to bulk up before then. he's 54, 5'8, and maybe 130lb. pretty damn skinny. kind of a bad back. he knows i, while not exactly the shining beacon of physical fitness yet, am in the process of losing weight and putting on some muscle and so he came to me for advice but i have no idea where to begin for someone at this stage in life. i know for a fact that he needs to go see a doctor before starting ANYTHING but he refuses to because he hates doctors.
what can i do to help him out?
my dad's 35 year reunion is next year and he wants to bulk up before then. he's 54, 5'8, and maybe 130lb. pretty damn skinny. kind of a bad back. he knows i, while not exactly the shining beacon of physical fitness yet, am in the process of losing weight and putting on some muscle and so he came to me for advice but i have no idea where to begin for someone at this stage in life. i know for a fact that he needs to go see a doctor before starting ANYTHING but he refuses to because he hates doctors.
what can i do to help him out?
Psychotext
Member
Unless you can persuade him to go to a doctor... probably very little. Especially if he has a bad back.
Age isn't particularly important though. Just means a shitload more care with rest and form... and usually higher reps rather than lower.
yeah, i was afraid of that. my mom and i are going to try and persuade him to get a check-up and he's pretty damn adamant about doing this so maybe he'll give.
Definitely start by telling him you cannot help unless he gets a checkup. Bad back and bulking up generally don't mix well at all.
ExplodingKetchup
Member
FitGaf!! I switched to an intermittent fasting high carb training/low carb rest diet and my lifts are amazing! I have so much more energy during/after my workouts now. I also benched 95lbs 3x5 today which is a PR. 135lbs is in sight!