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2007 to 2010.


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Was time for me to take some progress photos to gauge my progress since I got sick a few months ago and started from scratch, thought I'd share. I probably could have flexed better or taken better photos but you get the idea. Enjoy, and ignore the poop bag.

 

2007. 140, skinny fat.

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10 Minutes ago. 133, around 10% body fat.

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/8541/progress006.th.jpg

 

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Very interesting!

 

You don't see many before/after pictures of people working away from being skinny fat.

 

What was your overall strategy? Clean eating, lifting weights and cardio?

 

I've tried TONS of different approaches and I've screwed up and floundered so many times. You can read all the muscle mags and articles you want but genetics are tailor made and no one is exactly the same.

 

As an omnivore starting off I was just eating tons and tons of food and got pretty strong quickly, but I was lifting sporadically, skipping days, eating tons of junk food, and got fat. Think 175lbs fat...yeah.

 

Then I went in the opposite direction and was restricting calories while lifting and not making any gains, sticking to the same program, not experimenting much, not pushing myself, I was even running long distance....

 

Then I just gave up and did body weight stuff for a while on a really healthy but calorie restrictive diet, then I went back to the bulking mindset and hovered around 150 for a while, not making any gains.

 

Then I got really sick, lost all my weight and strength and got down to 120ish and became a vegetarian, now vegan, found Buddhism and meditation, and finally unlocked the perfect storm for muscle growth for me.

 

4-5 Days a week of weightifting at 60-90 minutes a day on a heavy low rep program, I just don't respond to sets over 6 reps. Only low intensity cardio like walks or bike rides a few times a week. Lots of calories from TONS of carbohydrates, 50/25/25 is what I am doing. It's why veganism works so well for me.

 

Three things I should have never done was eat so much crap for calories and be lackadaisical at the gym, and crash my metabolism by going under maintenance so much. Because two of the most important things I need are lots of calories and lots of heavy weight for long periods of time to grow. The third is running. My CNS shuts out muscle growth if I do long distance high impact stuff.

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My sister is out of town today so I figured I'd take some photos in natural lighting. Her being away is easier than explaining why I am taking half naked photos of myself in the living/dining room. "IT'S FOR VEGAN BODY BUILDING SIS, GEEZE" I am stuck in permanent Bruce Lee mode. I'm eating something in the neighborhood of 3,000 calories and my weight isn't really changing but my strength is through the roof. I guess I'm not so much of a bodybuilder I am a strength builder. Haha.

 

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Thanks man. I put up 230 for my deadlift at the gym yesterday x5. I've been doing static holds with a loaded bar that equals my deadlift + 15lbs plus some forearm isolation, it's working well, it helped me move ahead of my old number. It always surprises guys at the gym how much I put up considering my stature. I am extremely proud of how far I have come and take pride in my strength vs. size. Body Building is not for me and instead I prefer strength.

 

It's interesting. I am very small at 5'5.5 and 133lbs with a pretty damn petite bone structure. I am a very logical man and I know genetics play a huge part in muscle growth. And I honestly think I only have about 140lbs of size at my current 8% or 9% body fat before I slam into my genetic ceiling. But look at how strong I am at 133lbs 8% body fat, 250lb+ Deadlift, 275lb Squat, 175lb Bench Press. That astounds me considering my history and where I came from and I honestly feel I am slowly but surely pushing past the point where 133lbs of mass is no longer sufficient to support more strength so my body is accruing mass at a very slow interval. I've been weighing myself every month since starting 5x5 and have since seen a steady increase in strength plus very small increases in mass each month, less than a lb but none the less, mass, around 129-133lbs give or take, lost my six pack so some fat is being accrued which means I have just a bit excess calories, which means 2,400 is my sweet spot (Tried 3,000, felt extremely bad).

 

The only place to go is up.

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  • 5 months later...

I live in a van now so I can travel the United States for cheap, I literally own nothing besides my van and what is in it, I sold everything save for a small tucker tote of photos I store at my sisters house in San Diego. I am still Vegan to the core, but I have no gym, so I use 20lbs worth of chains and locks, and my suspension straps to workout, as well as any structure I can work out off of. What working out with my body weight plus a little extra has taught me is that I can challenge myself without a gym, the simplicity it has brought to my life encourages me to continue with my minimalist mentality.

 

I don't really count calories, I eat when I am hungry and stop when I am satisfied. Typical fare includes two or three peanut butter and fruit spread (not that sugary jelly crap) sandwiches, 2 or 3 servings of fruit, 2 servings of veggies, a serving of nuts, a few glasses of soymilk, a bowl of sprouted beans or legumes with a bit of olive oil or avocado, or a can of soup or beans of some sort, and a bowl of cereal or a bowl or two of oats. I like dark chocolate or cacoa nibs for snacks. I also drink a cup or two of coffee and half a 64oz jar of tea a day, plus a lot of water.

 

I think calories are abstract and are a flimsy measurement, but it works out to 2000-2500 a day. I don't have to force all this food down, it seems to be what my body prefers.

 

My gear, I'll be investing in a 40lb weight vest that accept standard plates and 25lbs of plates to start, plus a dumbbell or kettle bell handle. I am also going to buy a hydration lumbar pack for when I jog or sprint. Maybe next month, because I had to buy new shocks for my van.

http://i55.tinypic.com/2h83b4h.jpg

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http://i54.tinypic.com/5lpg5c.jpg

http://i55.tinypic.com/6prkao.jpg

 

Life is simple and awesome.

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  • 1 month later...
I have to ask - what's on your stomach?

 

Ileostomy. Got no colon so I poop out my side.

 

I'm sorry I have to ask but did you get colonsectomy after being vegan? You seem quite young and I read colon cancer is rare before age ~50, but certain studies indicate a higher rate of colon cancer among vegans... Being 27 years old, vegan for 3 years, this scares me a bit.

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I'm sorry I have to ask but did you get colonsectomy after being vegan? You seem quite young and I read colon cancer is rare before age ~50, but certain studies indicate a higher rate of colon cancer among vegans... Being 27 years old, vegan for 3 years, this scares me a bit.

 

that makes no sense whatsoever...

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I have to ask - what's on your stomach?

 

Ileostomy. Got no colon so I poop out my side.

 

I'm sorry I have to ask but did you get colonsectomy after being vegan? You seem quite young and I read colon cancer is rare before age ~50, but certain studies indicate a higher rate of colon cancer among vegans... Being 27 years old, vegan for 3 years, this scares me a bit.

 

There are multiple reasons one might get a total colectomy (that's the word you're looking for).

 

I had my Colon removed because they thought I had Ulcerative Colitis, and that is the only way to cure it, turns out I had Crohn's, not Ulcerative Colitis.

 

Everything causes Cancer these days. Fear mongering is a bitch, huh?

 

Anyway, I suppose this might be a good time to update. I've moved out of my van and I am going back to school for my high school diploma, then onto college for nutrition and/or physical training.

 

I'm ashamed to admit I have never been totally dedicated to weightlifting in 4 years. I've never eaten over 2,500 kcal for more than a month or two, and never gone to the gym consistently without skipping days for more than a few months.

 

I'm currently eating 3,000-3,500 kcal, lifting 5x a week, and I've started supplementing creatine as well as soy protein. My body fat has just about stayed the same and I have gained 3lbs in 2 weeks.

 

I always blamed my lack of size on genetics. It was always just my piss poor dedication. It was time to make some changes.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Done making excuses. Been making serious progress. I might be stalling and need more calories. Goal weight is 175lbs in 6-8 months or so. Notable lifts.

 

Current weight is 140lbs, consuming 3000-3500 kcal daily.

 

Deadlift: 275lbs3x8

Squats: 250lbs 3x8

Hack Squats: 300lbs 3x8

Bench Press: 175lbs 3x8

Seated Military Press no Support: 125lbs 3x8

Bent Over Barbell Row: 145lbs 3x8

Dips: +45lbs 3x8

Pullups: +35lbs 3x8

Chinups: +50lbs 3x8

 

As always, yes I shit out my side.

 

http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k615/WanderingYeti/th_DSCN2939.jpg

http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k615/WanderingYeti/th_DSCN2942.jpg

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http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k615/WanderingYeti/th_DSCN2945.jpg

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