My 1 Year Progress

[TotalReduction]

Just wanted to post my 1 year progress pics, and say thanks to everyone on these forums for helping me get to where I'm at now. I dont think I ever would have reached my goal without the information and support from these forums. Obviously I still have a ways to go, I'm estimating about 25 - 30lbs, but I'm hoping to be there by January. Ive been doing Starting Strength for the entire duration and my strength has stayed relatively steady, some areas improved. Looking at my pics it doesn't look like I have much of a muscle base though despite the lifting so I'm contemplating changing my routine to a push / pull split to see if that helps (yes I know Im still cutting and in a deficit).

Im really looking forward to finally reaching my goal within the next couple months and starting my bulk. I'd like to look somewhat decent by this summer, but Im keeping my goals small.

The before pics are me at 263lbs last October and the current are me now at 205lb.

[Ithaka]

Awesome work! Keep up the hard work.

[apierce1992]

Nice man! You're looking great!

[phoenixr2]

Great job. Dont focus on how far you have to go, think about all the progress you have already made.
Are you not working out your legs?

[Shredthetics]

Amazing progress. Keep at it!

[Harry815]

Great progress man. I'm going through something similar. Do you have gyno or is it just fat that needs to be cut more?

[MrM27]

Awesome progress. Keep up the great work.

[TotalReduction]

Thanks everyone!

phoenixr2

Great job. Dont focus on how far you have to go, think about all the progress you have already made.
Are you not working out your legs?

I do work out my legs, I do it 3x a week since I'm following Starting Strength, and even before that I would do a hard leg workout once a week. Im thinking about moving off SS to a more push / pull split because I feel like I dont have much of a muscle base and SS isn't really helping me with that (Im also in a deficit, I know). Its great for strength though.

Harry815

Great progress man. I'm going through something similar. Do you have gyno or is it just fat that needs to be cut more?

I dont know. I think it's all just fat, I accumulate a lot of fat around my chest, and I've tried feeling for what people suggest, but I'm really not sure. My fear is that if I go to a doc theyll say it is when it may not be just to get buck. I wont really know until I hit my goal and start bulking most likely. I estimate probably 25-30 more pounds to go.

[Cast0rTr0y]

Good job brah. We are just about on the same path.
I started this lifestyle change in January 13' tipping the scales at a hefty 255, now down to around 205. I've hit a wall as far as the scale goes; it hasnt moved much the last few months although i've been very strict with my diet but i feel my clothes fitting differently so im not all that worried.

I too feel as if need to cut down to around 170 or so then work on putting on 10-15lbs of muscle.

[sourmash1973]

Great job!!! Keep it up.

I agree with you. You still have too much fat on your chest to determine whether you have gyno or not. Get rid of the rest of the fat and I'm betting you don't.

[Zmeister]

Repped, good work OP and keep it up.

[TotalReduction]

sourmash1973

Great job!!! Keep it up.

I agree with you. You still have too much fat on your chest to determine whether you have gyno or not. Get rid of the rest of the fat and I'm betting you don't.

Thanks. Im hoping I don't, but I can tell my chest is very flat so I'm going to need to fill that out drastically.

Cast0rTr0y

Good job brah. We are just about on the same path.
I started this lifestyle change in January 13' tipping the scales at a hefty 255, now down to around 205. I've hit a wall as far as the scale goes; it hasnt moved much the last few months although i've been very strict with my diet but i feel my clothes fitting differently so im not all that worried.

I too feel as if need to cut down to around 170 or so then work on putting on 10-15lbs of muscle.

Congrats on your progress! Hitting a wall can get frustrating. I recalculate my TDEE and macros every 10lbs, and like I said im thinking it may be time for a routine change. You may benefit from the same. The longest stalls Ive had are about a month and the weight starts peeling off again usually after a quick adjustment and making sure im tracking everything properly.

Zmeister

Repped, good work OP and keep it up.

Thanks!

[sourmash1973]

Thanks. Im hoping I don't, but I can tell my chest is very flat so I'm going to need to fill that out drastically.

Word of advice; don't try to add muscle until you have lost all the fat. It's pretty impossible to do both at the same time, unless you are a beginner. You will be going in circles and get very frustrated. I bet you have more muscle under there than you think.

[TotalReduction]

Word of advice; don't try to add muscle until you have lost all the fat. It's pretty impossible to do both at the same time, unless you are a beginner. You will be going in circles and get very frustrated. I bet you have more muscle under there than you think.

Agreed, and I'm hoping thats the case. It may be nice to switch it up anyway.

[GbyeSweetPrince]

Amazing progress, keep going. Don't ever go back now.

[pMbeast]

Wow, impressive progress man. Keep it up! Was way better than I expected.

[01lowbird]

Great job, keep it up man

[TotalReduction]

Thanks everyone! The support is much appreciated. I'm never going back. I've been fat most of my life, literally, so I'm excited to reach my goal and finally get the body I want. Theres no stopping me!

[ihavecandygetin]

Great job! Repped!

As for a workout routine, try Strong Lifts (guy talks a lot but his routine is a good 5x5 with TONS of information). I like the fact it has an app (LiftBig for Android). I'd run SL for a while and focus on getting your form down while cutting, you won't add much in the way of muscle but 5x5's help build your CNS more than muscles. You will get MUCH stronger and can take your time to learn good form so that when you do decide to bulk you'll be that much further ahead. But again, find a good 5x5 to work on CNS while cutting and you might surprised yourself with strength gains, they're not dependent on a surplus like muscles gains.

[n4pst3rCOD]

Nicely done mate.

[DBlueWolverine]

Good job man, keep it up.

[TotalReduction]

ihavecandygetin

Great job! Repped!

As for a workout routine, try Strong Lifts (guy talks a lot but his routine is a good 5x5 with TONS of information). I like the fact it has an app (LiftBig for Android). I'd run SL for a while and focus on getting your form down while cutting, you won't add much in the way of muscle but 5x5's help build your CNS more than muscles. You will get MUCH stronger and can take your time to learn good form so that when you do decide to bulk you'll be that much further ahead. But again, find a good 5x5 to work on CNS while cutting and you might surprised yourself with strength gains, they're not dependent on a surplus like muscles gains.

Thanks. I do Starting Strength now, but Ive been doing it for about a year and my lifts have stayed pretty much the same. I do go through weeks where my lifts are horrid, but then they move right back up. I'm thinking just to switch it up some, and maybe begin hitting other areas of the muscle groups like doing incline and decline for chest instead of just flat bench, doing some back, etc.

n4pst3rCOD

Nicely done mate.

Thanks

DBlueWolverine

Good job man, keep it up.

Thanks!