My Leg improvement in just 3 months!

Hey guys, I haven't posted in a while as work has been busy, but I've had two photo shoots in the past 3 months and I'm pretty excited on the improvements I've made, so I wanted to share the pics. I worked especially hard on my legs and I made some good gains there.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4316504309_ce2af32c0a.jpg

Me in December '09

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2762/4493748655_a697725b75_o.jpg

Me March '10

Dude, you look like a CGI. Glad you are still setting and reaching higher goals.

Thanks! Now I am working hard to gain an extra 8lbs and finally break 190, so I'll be posting again if/when that happens

Snap son! How long have you been vegan? What's your diet/training like?

Dude, not only is your figure herculean, but that improvement in your legs (in 3 MONTHS??) qualifies as epic. You could literally trace the borders of the 3 vasti in your quads with a magic marker, they're so clearly defined.

EDIT: Thanks to vegimator for pointing out the diet/training blog in his signature!

Unreal!!! How tall are you if I may ask?

Really impressive! Love the blog too. He has a diet spreadsheet on there too for those interested - http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B27Vk72kF-kgYjliY2M5N2QtODZhYS00YTRiLWJlZDQtMTEzN2VjZTg3OWNi&hl=en

Thank you all for the compliments. To answer in order:

I've been vegan a bit over 3 years. I've been strength training for 10 years and made much faster improvements as a vegan

Yeah check out my blog to see everything that I do. I'm a personal trainer so I try to keep it up to date for all my clients.

Thank you for the compliment on my legs. That crazy improvement is a combination of recovery (sort of) from a bad knee injury, and lots and lots of 400lb squats

I am 5'11" or so last I checked.

Yes, everyone feel free to check out our blog for recipes, workouts, and our interactive meal plan spreadsheet. We will be making our first website soon that will probably be called veganmuscleandfitness.com so I'll post whenever that happens too

I must admit I am somewhat speechless - brilliant physique, Derek! It's folks like who you are opening my eyes to the vegan world and what can be done - thank you!

WOW, you're what I want to look like now!!!

Thank you all for your compliments, I'm glad I inspire . Seeing surprise on people's faces in the gym when they find out I'm vegan is great motivation! Doesn't that make you guys work extra hard?

Nice work! I knew you had to have some nice wheels to go along with those numbers in our strength chart.

I don't know what to write because every word would just be an understatement. I seriously thought I clicked the wrong link and opened the "Ideal physique"-thread.

lol. Don't know what to say to that. Thanks guys

I don't know what to write because every word would just be an understatement. I seriously thought I clicked the wrong link and opened the "Ideal physique"-thread.

x2

Awesome pics!

Thanks! I recently heard from the photographer (kimberlyfrost.com) and I should be getting the final edited photos from the last shoot soon. I'll put them up when I get them.

P.S. I just realized the routines on my blog weren't open-able so I just fixed that. Sorry!

Damn, that is a lot of volume/frequency. How many sets do you do on average? Do you stay way the hell away from failure? I'd never be able to recover on a schedule like that, but it is obviously working wonders for you!

Hey you did know they are gonna shoot a new HE MAN film?

you should be HE MAN. You look THAT good.

Damn, that is a lot of volume/frequency. How many sets do you do on average? Do you stay way the hell away from failure? I'd never be able to recover on a schedule like that, but it is obviously working wonders for you!

I go through phases of heavy weight lower volume training also, but for the most part I stick to 5-6 days per week once or twice per day, similar to the split Arnold describes in his encyclopedia. My body responds really well to it, but I often times will have to take my rest day early, I usually play that by feel. As for sets etc, I usually do about 5 per exercise and at least one set is to failure or past failure (usually) on most exercises except isolation moves. The first couple sets are warm up though so it's not quite as bad as it sounds.

I honestly stared at that picture for like a minute.

Thank you. From women every where.

Nice job! I have to say, you look much more balanced now from working so hard on your legs.

Thanks! Balance and asthetics are a huge part of my goal so I appreciate that.

Awesome! So great to see you posting again too!

You rock! Looking solid!!!