This week in the O35 II

[grubman]

How is the X-Frame factor when taking a shot like that shirtless?

Not great. I don’t have a thick waist (30” at 5’7”), but it’s “wide” (skeletal structure). I don’t have a lot of outer sweep in the quads and straight on, the waist makes the legs and skeletal shoulder width (or lack of it) unimpressive. Thus, the reason almost all of my pics have a slight twist to the midsection to hide this. I mean, not pathetic...but not anything to write home about.

[tblodg15]

Rare full body pic... Will never have impressive legs, but I think they are in proportion with my upper body for the most part.

Your legs don’t look thick due to your genetics but what is there is definitely muscle!

Do you always lift in long pants because it is chilly in your basement? In the winter I start in sweat pants but almost always take them off once I get going and start sweating. Outside of winter I just start in shorts.

5 months til I’m 51, so I gotta look descent for my yearly update picture.

Hell yea, gotta peak for the planned photo shoots! Have you adjusted lifting routine or diet the week before you are planning on photos?

[tblodg15]

Starting my cut now, but I am pleased at my legs filling out a little bit, especially the Rectus Femoris.

Similar to what I mentioned to grub to me your leg circumference looks relatively thin but there is a good amount of muscle on what’s there. The medialis is popping too.

[grubman]

Do you always lift in long pants because it is chilly in your basement? In the winter I start in sweat pants but almost always take them off once I get going and start sweating. Outside of winter I just start in shorts.

I actually have central air in the basement, so between heat and AC it’s probably about 55ish year round (a bit cooler than upstairs). It’s very comfortable for lifting. I usually start out in athletic pants a T-shirt and a sweatshirt, and lose the sweatshirt about a half hour in, when I’m good and warm and sweating. With my job I’m pretty “immune” to temperature, since I can do the same thing in a -30 windchill as I can in 90 degrees with humidity. I’m just more comfortable in the pants for some reason.

[ectoBgone]

Not great. I don’t have a thick waist (30” at 5’7”), but it’s “wide” (skeletal structure). I don’t have a lot of outer sweep in the quads and straight on, the waist makes the legs and skeletal shoulder width (or lack of it) unimpressive. Thus, the reason almost all of my pics have a slight twist to the midsection to hide this. I mean, not pathetic...but not anything to write home about.

Gotcha. I have similar struggles with the outer sweep. And while my waist is fairly narrow, a combination of thick obliques, 'meh' lat insertions, and fat storage preferences, I have my work cut out for me to avoid an hour glass figure.

Similar to what I mentioned to grub to me your leg circumference looks relatively thin but there is a good amount of muscle on what’s there. The medialis is popping too.

Thin circumference is the story of my lifting career Thanks for the feedback.

[grubman]

Gotcha. I have similar struggles with the outer sweep. And while my waist is fairly narrow, a combination of thick obliques, 'meh' lat insertions, and fat storage preferences, I have my work cut out for me to avoid an hour glass figure. .

It’s not a complementary picture (especially since I’m just coming off a surplus, so I don’t even have cuts), but, truth in advertising. Here’s a “relaxed” straight on shot. In case anyone wonders, one of the improvements I made to my gym a couple years ago, was adding 6 100 watt light bulbs. Wakes me up for early morning workouts...but that’s why most of my pics look bleached out.

EDIT: yikes! That’s hair and shadow around the one nipple, ha ha, both are the same size, but that pic makes one look huge.

[tblodg15]

It’s not a complementary picture (especially since I’m just coming off a surplus, so I don’t even have cuts), but, truth in advertising. Here’s a “relaxed” straight on shot.

That’s definitely not a bad look grub!

I know you (and it seems most people) prefer a leaner look but I myself like a thicker look. I personally think a competitive natural bodybuilder looks much better in their off season than they do on stage, especially when they are freaky lean because then they look thin and grainy most of the time.

And my LED lighting in my basement gym also washes me out bad and that’s why I use a self tan for my official progress pics to document the end of a cut or bulk.

Edit to add - just for clarification I am not saying that you wouldn’t look better dropping some body fat. As you had mentioned to me maybe losing half of what you gained might look real good.

[EricWillson]

[QUOTE=pharmamarketer;1360291281]And here is to all the others in the OV 35. CMOORE thanks for staring this thread. Here's to round 2



awesome...

[EricWillson]

[QUOTE=grubman;1580606931]Rare full body pic...I work out in long pants, so most of my gym pics are upper body. On occasion, I will take a pic of my lower body just to prove I work out my legs, but I rarely have the camera positioned for the big picture. Today I decided to put on some shorts to see my legs while I did squats. Will never have impressive legs, but I think they are in proportion with my upper body for the most part.

4 months of surplus and I only put on 8 pounds. Dropping a couple hundred to try and shed the fat I gained while trying to maintain 4 pounds. 5 months til I’m 51, so I gotta look descent for my yearly update picture.
Nice legs...

[adamgentile]

5' 11" currently weighing 184lbs. The heaviest I ever been in my life. Two years ago I was 155lbs. Thinking I'm around 30% bodyfat? Looking to really chip away now and get to 170 shedding some fat for the summer. Need to really dial in with the diet now.

[kimm4]

Here's my most recent. Too fluffy for my liking. I need to drop a good 7-10 lbs and I'll feel so much better.

[tblodg15]

Here's my most recent. Too fluffy for my liking. I need to drop a good 7-10 lbs and I'll feel so much better.

"Fluffy" LOL, to me that looks like a perfect body comp for over the winter. To me it wouldn't make sense for any of us to stay lean over the winter unless of course someone has a contest or photo shoot or something coming up. Even if not purposely bulking or cutting I could see myself being 5 to 10 lbs heavier over the winter than the summer as I continue on this fitness journey.

After I read what I typed above I realized my thoughts may be different for someone else who doesn't live where it gets cold in the winter.

[grubman]

"Fluffy" LOL, to me that looks like a perfect body comp for over the winter. To me it wouldn't make sense for any of us to stay lean over the winter unless of course someone has a contest or photo shoot or something coming up. Even if not purposely bulking or cutting I could see myself being 5 to 10 lbs heavier over the winter than the summer as I continue on this fitness journey.

After I read what I typed above I realized myp thoughts may be different for someone else who doesn't live where it gets cold in the winter.

Ironically, I live in the frozen tundra of Wisconsin, and tend to gain a little more weight (fat) in the summer and get leaner in the winter. I never really take off my shirt, so cuts don’t matter, but I do fill out my T-shirts a little better, and look “bigger” in the summer with about 5 pounds of fat, where in the winter I’m wearing layers, so it doesn’t matter if I’m leaner. Opposite of what most people do.

[tblodg15]

Ironically, I live in the frozen tundra of Wisconsin, and tend to gain a little more weight (fat) in the summer and get leaner in the winter. I never really take off my shirt, so cuts don’t matter, but I do fill out my T-shirts a little better, and look “bigger” in the summer with about 5 pounds of fat, where in the winter I’m wearing layers, so it doesn’t matter if I’m leaner. Opposite of what most people do.

Interesting, you have logic behind your approach so makes sense for you. For me there are other reasons than going without a shirt that make sense to me for being leaner in the summer. In the summer I am way more active with kids activities, yard work etc... plus it is light out way later so I stay up later. So I just burn more calories outside of exercise over summer so it lines up more with a cut than a bulk for me. In the winter when I am burning less calories and going to bed earlier recovery should be better so seems like a good time to work on pushing heavier weights while gaining some weight.

[ectoBgone]

Just a spontaneous wardrobe selfie that shows some of the back gains I made over the fall-winter bulk. Contours are starting to show as I lean out.

[ProYeo]

Took a week to spend some time with friends in Chicago for my birthday... turned 35. Am I allowed in here now?
Might have been a vacation... but I can't stay out of the gym. Went to one of my bucket list gyms... Quads Gym.

[grubman]

Took a week to spend some time with friends in Chicago for my birthday... turned 35. Am I allowed in here now?
Might have been a vacation... but I can't stay out of the gym. Went to one of my bucket list gyms... Quads Gym.

One of us!!

Happy (belated) Birthday.

Did you feel obligated to work legs at Quads Gym...even on chest day?

[tblodg15]

Took a week to spend some time with friends in Chicago for my birthday... turned 35. Am I allowed in here now?

I said “wow” when I saw your pic from vacation and then I clicked on your profile and even way more WOW! Very impressive and welcome to O35!

[ProYeo]

One of us!!

Happy (belated) Birthday.

Did you feel obligated to work legs at Quads Gym...even on chest day?

Thank you, and yes, I absolutely worked in some legs, how could I not???

[ProYeo]

I said “wow” when I saw your pic from vacation and then I clicked on your profile and even way more WOW! Very impressive and welcome to O35!

Thank you! I just wrapped up a powerlifting season... I plan to finish out the year on a bulk. 2020, I got plans!

[tblodg15]

A couple random, unplanned back shots from my basement workout this evening at 170 lbs. Still a few pounds left to go before a maintenance phase and then my “end of cut” pics but getting there.

[grubman]

A couple random, unplanned back shots from my basement workout this evening at 170 lbs. Still a few pounds left to go before a maintenance phase and then my “end of cut” pics but getting there.

Looking good Latman...calves too!

(But your wife needs to get all her crap out of the gym! )

[tblodg15]

(But your wife needs to get all her crap out of the gym! )

Those shelves don’t bother me and don’t affect my workout. But I am sure they would bother you OCD guys, especially those with color schemes and matching plates .

It would be nice to have the extra 2 1/2 or 3 feet of width but I have enough room (for now).

[ectoBgone]

Took a week to spend some time with friends in Chicago for my birthday... turned 35. Am I allowed in here now?
Might have been a vacation... but I can't stay out of the gym. Went to one of my bucket list gyms... Quads Gym.

My eyes popped out of my head from that photo. Amazing mass and shape.

A couple random, unplanned back shots from my basement workout this evening at 170 lbs. Still a few pounds left to go before a maintenance phase and then my “end of cut” pics but getting there.

Frame is looking solid with good density. Great work.

[kimm4]

Still pluggin along...don't mind my farmer's tan...

[JohnButz]

Looking great Kimm!

[tblodg15]

Still pluggin along...don't mind my farmer's tan...

Love the tan!

I am still plugging away also, down 10 pounds from the end of my surplus. About a month away from taking some official progress pics to document the end of my 2nd cut ever.

[ProYeo]

Still pluggin along...don't mind my farmer's tan...

Still can't rep... but would! You rock... your farmer's tan looks a whole lot like my husbands cycling tan!

[ectoBgone]

Still pluggin along...don't mind my farmer's tan...

Yowza. Amazing how good you look on a consistent basis. You carry around those years of dedication so visibly.

I am still plugging away also, down 10 pounds from the end of my surplus. About a month away from taking some official progress pics to document the end of my 2nd cut ever.

Like I said in your journal, physique has a great hard and muscular look to it. Excellent job on the cut.

[tblodg15]

Nearing the end of this cut, still in a deficit but raising calories/carbs and starting to fill out. Leg pump curtesy of Bulgarian split squats.