**Transformations from FAT to FIT**

[b.spencer]

I don't really have a weight problem, but slightly flabby all the way around. I'll be damned if I don't get in the best muscular shape of my life from diet and excerise in part due to this thread. You all are inspire me to become very tight and muscular and I thank you. Much appreciated and keep up the good work everyone....astounding.

Good luck, man.

When I read or hear someone like you, it feels almost as good as making my own transform. There are several seriously huge muscled guys at my gym who tell me that whenever they feel like slacking off a bit, they see me in there sweating my ass off, or straining hard to get up a new weight or an extra rep, and it pushes them right back in. Those guys have always inspired me to get bigger and better, and to hear that back from them is awesome.

I see so often on the boards a lot of support for people, but a lot of cuts too. If we would all take a second or two, cut out the criticism, critique fairly when asked for, but just push each other for that extra rep or to burn that extra calorie -- just like we would out own workout partner -- we all would be so much the better.

OK. Off the wuss "can't we all just get along" box now. (I gotta do my endurance chest workout today that makes me feel like a first week noob. But, it works.) Anyway, just wanted to say that.

[Bigfinger]

great job to all ......

[Owen.T]

Some awesome inspiration here, thanks.

[Vangsgaard]

Still need some hard work, but it's getting better :-)

345 pounds



220 pounds

[bmoney79]

Very nice work dude. Quite an inspiration.

[movingforward]

This thread is great. I was feeling fairly down in the dumps about my body but the stuff some of you guys accomplished is nearly unbelievable. Just incredible.



I don't have any before pics of myself, I was too ashamed to keep them, but I weighed about 215 lbs of pure fat just 2 1/2 years ago. Most from bad diet, no exercise and drinking too much. I'm down to 170 lbs now and still need a lot of work but I will never give up no matter how discouraged I feel. This thread is a great motivator.

[Chris_26]

Here's my "transformation." I was out of shape after not working out for around 4 years. I started hitting the gym and getting my diet figured out halfway through May. Here's my progresss far. Next I'm cutting down to 205, then plan on clean bulking through the winter =)

Starting weight: 195ish (picture taken at 200)
Current weight: 215
Bench: 135x5-->195x8
Squat: 175x5-->295x8


Sorry the image is so dark. Its inspiring to see what some of the people in this thread have done.

[mmitchell57]

Still need some hard work, but it's getting better :-)

345 pounds



220 pounds

Good work there homes! Good inspiration to keep me going in a good direction. I'm still dealing w/ the stretch marks around the belly button. They suck!

[spd5535]

So I don't want to brag about it to my friends or family because I'm trying to be humble, so I'm going to rant on the forum. I was a little peaved watching my weight because it hasn't really dropped over the last month. But I'm at work though and one of my co-workers starts ragging on me about my clothes looking sloppy. She equated my pants to the MC Hammer parachute pants of the 80's (Ohhhhh.......Oh, Oh, Oh, Ohhhhhh, Hammer Time) Sorry had to re-live my youth for a momment...lol. So I go into the uniform shop and have my shirts tapered in and ordered some new pants thinking I was a size 38. I go home and my lovely wife says to me, "try on those pair of size 38 jeans I bought for your birthday. I want to see how they fit on you." Bare in mind I was up to size 44 in Jan. 08'. So I put them on and just about fell over. Guess what too big. She said, "WOW, you're swimming in those things. You should exchange them for a size 36." I could not believe it. Props to you all that have done it but I'm not up to posting pics yet. I just needed to drop a line and vent a little since I can't anywhere else. Below are my current before and after stats:

Jan. 08' - 280 lbs., Size 44 waist, 2 XL shirt, Bodyfat - Infinty
July 08' - 235 lbs., Size 36 waist, L shirt (little tight but not bad), Bodyfat - Dunno but definately shrinking.

Thanks to all for listenin'. As I was once told, "Rome was not built in a day" so this is just the beginning.......

[venfayon]

Me from 2000 to current. I have been on the same program, the only thing is this and last year I was working my first manual labor job at Kroger and lifting small boxes that weight 14 lbs doesn't seem like much, but doing it 8 hours a day really gets you ripped. My joints hurt a lot though. At least I'm basically paid to do aerobic conditioning at least it seems.

[Vangsgaard]

Good work there homes! Good inspiration to keep me going in a good direction. I'm still dealing w/ the stretch marks around the belly button. They suck!

Thanks, yep they suck, with the time i have learned to accept them, I know I have only one to blame them for being there :-).

I wanna get down to about 200 pounds (I'm 6.3 feets high), to se have bad the loose skin is, and maybe consider a operation.

[vinnybear]

I have never posted a personal 'journal' but I feel that it may keep me motivated and accountable.

Short story:
I lifted in high school, and was of the top 5 lifters in the school (but it was a small school). I never got really lean, probably never lower than 14-15% body fat. Shortly after I got married then a couple years later my first daughter was born and before you know it, it is 2004 and I haven't touched iron in about 2-3 years!

Well, I scared myself into shape by taking a before photo:

May 2004 - 250 lbs fat, white and pasty with no definition - ugh!

I got to work and by September:



September 2004 - 212 lbs, about 13-14% body fat (I guess)

Then, in the last 4 years:
2005: sort of worked out, had another daughter, got lazy
2006: bulked then tried to lean, but never got below 16-18% body fat
2007: sort of worked out, had another daughter, got lazy and fatter -
and found myself here again:



April 2008 - 250 lbs, about 20% body fat (guessing)

IT GETS BETTER!
CONTINUED BELOW . . .

[vinnybear]

So, now that I will be 29 in September of this year (2008), I am planning more seriously, not wanting to ride the roller coaster. I know what I want, to be physically fit, with a decent build and maintain 10-12% body fat.

Since April, I have dropped 25 lbs. of fat and then bulked back up to about 230.

Here is a fun picture my company used for their employee picture wall:


And here is one from July, goofing off in my (private) office - I was not flashing anyone:


I took a few more progress pics July 31st and 2 this morning leaving the gym changing room:


crappy lighting i know, but it shows the fullness of my chest


taken in my bathroom at home after work, not workout, no pump (crappy lighting, camera phone - sorry)


taken in my bathroom at home after work, not workout, no pump (crappy lighting, camera phone - sorry)


taken in my bathroom at home after work, not workout, no pump (crappy lighting, camera phone - sorry)


leaving the gym changing room to go to work (crappy lighting, camera phone - sorry)

So there is the progress so far, through August 1, 2008, I guess I am around 13-14% body fat (feel free to comment), weighing about 228 (I am 6'2").

Currently I have weight workouts Tuesday - Friday in the morning:
Chest & Biceps, Legs, Shoulders, Back & Triceps
(I have to do it this way due to my schedule)

I also do HIIT 3-4 times a week (just finished my first week actually) and am planning at least 8 more weeks of the same, although I go on vacation the week of August 10th. I am going to be good though! I am determined now more than ever to make this a lifestyle and not a phase. Now if I can just stop having babies - but that would mean . . .

I eat very clean, especially during the week at work, although I take no supplements except for whey protein. Well, not entirely true - every once in a while I will pop for a fat burner or NOS.

I will update as often as I can. Your support/criticism/critique are welcome and appreciated in good taste and intention.

[layzee_git]

vinnybear
good work dude, looks like its been a rollercoaster for you, get on it for good now, you have the start of something good, and some solid looking mass now, and a massive chest to boot!!

keep on keeping on

-layzee

[spd5535]

Ya Vin,

It's amazing how having kids keeps you from staying in shape. I've got 3 and ugh, let myself get huge. Nice job on your transformation and keep fightin' the good fight.

[vinnybear]

Ya Vin,

It's amazing how having kids keeps you from staying in shape. I've got 3 and ugh, let myself get huge. Nice job on your transformation and keep fightin' the good fight.

I just used my 10 month old, then my 3 year old to do a couple sets of front lateral raises!!

Having kids CAN (not do) cause you to get out of shape, but they can also help you get back in shape!!

[spd5535]

Exactly!!

[Chuck_SA]

May 2005



June 2006 @ 268 lbs with size 46 pants.



August 2008 @ 198 lbs with size 36 pants.




I'm not at my goal yet, but slow and steady wins the race for me I guess!

[Skreddy]

Congrats on your weight loss. I bet its real hard not being a teenager and trying to do all that. I wish my dad would get off his arse and do what you're doing. Potbelly muscle head genetics ftw.

[Toronsote]

May 2005



June 2006 @ 268 lbs with size 46 pants.



August 2008 @ 198 lbs with size 36 pants.




I'm not at my goal yet, but slow and steady wins the race for me I guess!

WOW that is a big change lol. I bet your family is proud.

[jipp]

awesome guys. keep em' comming!

[hwell]

May 2005



June 2006 @ 268 lbs with size 46 pants.



August 2008 @ 198 lbs with size 36 pants.




I'm not at my goal yet, but slow and steady wins the race for me I guess!

Not to discount anyone else's transformation at all, but for me yours is definitely the most inspirational.

I am still in college so I can't say I know the feeling from experience, but your children must be SO proud! It's really great to see that. Great job, thanks for sharing, and keep up the good work!

[Fall13]

its about a 3 year difference between the pics. About a year and half of hard work. If I knew what I was doing back then I prob could have done it a whole lot quicker. I've learned a great deal from mistakes that I've made and I feel that it was the best way I could have learned it because I will never let them happen again.

By the way, thanks for all who are participating, I will rep when I get some more. There is some awesome progress on this thread so far.

What were some of the mistakes you made when you started?

[Fall13]

[img]http://photos-e.ak.********.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v195/237/113/868225353/n868225353_2651196_488.jpg[/img]

AMAZING IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY!

[Fall13]

So we have seen the guys amazing transformations, where are all of the ladies at? Anyone? I will have to post mine once I make more progress. Good job guys! For all of the overweight to obese people, has anyone been able to tighten up that loose skin in the abdominal area? I have pretty bad loose skin after having my girls, its a genetic thing, but I was wondering if it'll ever get better. Will I have to consider cosmetic surgery?

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AND TRAIN HARD!

[Bignbuff]

This thread is seriously AMAZING! Great work, everyone (and I really mean everyone).

I need to rep you all.

[CamKeo]

I swear im going to have a transformation in here. Just gotta keep working, I guess.

[mickeylax311]

I swear im going to have a transformation in here. Just gotta keep working, I guess.

I hear ya. We've been remodeling the house and stuff so no way to cook meals really. So I've just been making little changes until I move into my apartment next year. I will post my pics here when my deadline of June 1, 2009 to get fit comes.

[Chuck_SA]

Thanks for the positive feedback everyone! Definitely have more fun with my kids now that my energy has returned. And being around for them and FUTURE (I'm not ready for them yet) grandkids is a hell of a lot better than kicking off early.

Those small changes add up, so make them! I started out by stop drinking 6-8 cans of soda a day and started walking for 45 mins three times a week. The weight began dropping with just those two changes alone.

Started eating unprocessed foods whenever I could and tried to make better choices when eating out. Added a multi-vitamin and fish oil pills daily to help fill any gaps in my nutrition and balance my omega fatty acid ratio.

Weight loss stalled after 40 lbs or so as my body started to adapt to what I was eating and what I was burning off in exercise. Joined a fitness center and up'd my cardio to five 45-60 min sessions a week. Also, started a food journal using www.fitday.com to better understand my calories consumed. Weight started dropping again slowly.

Six months ago I began doing resistance and weight training three times a week, while I reduced my cardio to three 30 min sessions a week. Playing around with this right now to try to find the mix I need to maintain lean mass while losing fat.

Still have cheat days and party nights now and then, but make sure to get back on track asap so I don't fall.

[BlondGirlNextDo]

You all look amazing!!!

Keep up the great work!