Last day of 2016, your good & bad times pertaining to this "sport" we are all part of

**bodyhard** · 12-31-2016, 05:02 AM

There are so many other things in life which are waaaaay more important than lifting, getting stronger, achieving a great build and for some getting healthier, but this is a bodybuilding site so I just want to look back at 2016 at your accomplishment and your failure (if any) for 2016....

The GOOD and the BAD.....

GOOD
On my 52nd birthday June 23rd 2016 I was in better shape than most 52 year old men, I took these pics on my birthday and I was on top of my game! Not many men could pull this off and I was very proud of my accomplishment....

BAD

On September 9th 2016 I had my surgery.

And several week later, just like that, all my gains were gone

Here is to 2017 being a better year for us in this "SPORT" all of us here share one way or another!

**Brackneyc** · 12-31-2016, 05:39 AM

The good: steady progress and enjoying the training more than ever before.

The bad: the diet, as usual. Not horrible, but not truly aligned to the goals.

**bodyhard** · 12-31-2016, 05:44 AM

Originally Posted by Brackneyc

The good: steady progress and enjoying the training more than ever before.

The bad: the diet, as usual. Not horrible, but not truly aligned to the goals.

Brack, I don't get it, if you know your diet is bad, why not just fix it? What is holding you back? Can you be more specific on why your diet is bad?

**kitpapa** · 12-31-2016, 05:47 AM

The good:
I got back into lifting, after a 2 year hiatus, during my pregnancy and because of that what should have been an extremely difficult delivery leading to a possible c section ended in a practically natural delivery.
Also...I have the body in my progress pics only 4 months after babygirl was born...proud of working my ass off!!

The bad: not much tbh. I would say that I was not as controlled diet wise on my vacation that I am in the process of driving back from now, but I have 13 weeks until my comp so as of January 2nd I'm on that hardcore prep time!!

Congrats to all and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

**Brackneyc** · 12-31-2016, 05:49 AM

Originally Posted by bodyhard

Brack, I don't get it, if you know your diet is bad, why not just fix it? What is holding you back? Can you be more specific on why your diet is bad?

It is just sporadic at times. Like I said, not horrible. Just need to tighten up the macros.

I'm not unhappy. That is the problem.

. I think the gains would come faster with some tweaks. It will be done.

**bodyhard** · 12-31-2016, 05:56 AM

Originally Posted by kitpapa

The good:
I got back into lifting, after a 2 year hiatus, during my pregnancy and because of that what should have been an extremely difficult delivery leading to a possible c section ended in a practically natural delivery.
Also...I have the body in my progress pics only 4 months after babygirl was born...proud of working my ass off!!

The bad: not much tbh. I would say that I was not as controlled diet wise on my vacation that I am in the process of driving back from now, but I have 13 weeks until my comp so as of January 2nd I'm on that hardcore prep time!!

Congrats to all and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Nice....

Few things, 1 I don't really know you (I mean as an OV35 regular) 2. I never seen any pic of you aside from the AV, if you haven't notice I am heavily into AV's as a form of knowing people on here.

With that said, where can I see your pics?

Originally Posted by Brackneyc

It is just sporadic at times. Like I said, not horrible. Just need to tighten up the macros.

I'm not unhappy. That is the problem.

. I think the gains would come faster with some tweaks. It will be done.

Ahh OK no doubt, I thought you were like upset at yourself for not getting the diet together.

**kitpapa** · 12-31-2016, 05:59 AM

Originally Posted by bodyhard

Nice....

Few things, 1 I don't really know you (I mean as an OV35 regular) 2. I never seen any pic of you aside from the AV, if you haven't notice I am heavily into AV's as a form of knowing people on here.

With that said, where can I see your pics?

Yeah I was part of the site a few years ago before I turned 35 (this past August).
If you click on my username it will take you to my bodyspace. My pics are either in progress pics or gallery pics. I cant remember which lol...think that memory issue comes with age

Edit: I use the mobile site so I hope the above works on regular site as well

**Norrov** · 12-31-2016, 06:06 AM

Good

Went from 215 to 167!

Learned how important proper dieting is. I'm still working on it but it's a huge change.

Bad

- Took 8 months due to breaks from traveling, 80 hour stressful work for a couple months, etc. I wasn't as disciplined as I wanted to be.

- Pressing movements are getting weak, but everywhere else is the same or better.

All in all I'm happy. I feel like a twig but still cutting another 5-10 lbs before I bulk. I'm pumped to see what next year brings!

**bodyhard** · 12-31-2016, 06:24 AM

Originally Posted by kitpapa

Yeah I was part of the site a few years ago before I turned 35 (this past August).
If you click on my username it will take you to my bodyspace. My pics are either in progress pics or gallery pics. I cant remember which lol...think that memory issue comes with age

Edit: I use the mobile site so I hope the above works on regular site as well

Ahh OK I saw your pics.

Originally Posted by Norrov

Good

Went from 215 to 167!

Learned how important proper dieting is. I'm still working on it but it's a huge change.

Bad

- Took 8 months due to breaks from traveling, 80 hour stressful work for a couple months, etc. I wasn't as disciplined as I wanted to be.

- Pressing movements are getting weak, but everywhere else is the same or better.

All in all I'm happy. I feel like a twig but still cutting another 5-10 lbs before I bulk. I'm pumped to see what next year brings!

Consistency!

Originally Posted by Oceanside

I see ya workin !

24/7 hustle, all day every day

**2nd_chance** · 12-31-2016, 06:33 AM

The good: I'm still going to the gym.
The bad: My genetic potential is plateaued.

**bhujerban** · 12-31-2016, 06:50 AM

The good: I stayed active and between January and May, I kept going to the gym. Summer was a bit different, being away from home, and Daily Burn kept me moving. Also got a yoga mat at the incredible price of $12. Very happy with that.
Had to shave my chest for some new tattoos, and although I don't like being smooth there, I got to see my pectoral fibers.

The bad: Didn't really gain anything or lose anything. Same as ever. And my gym closed between August and September, possibly forever.

**beachguy498** · 12-31-2016, 08:10 AM

The GOOD: I am still alive despite having a widow-maker heart attack on October 1st. My weight has gone from 265 to 235 and I hope to lose more. I'd be happy at 215 or 210. I eat a whole lot better than I was. I existed on egg and sausage sandwiches in the morning, pizza or burgers and fries for lunch, I was a Pepsi junkie, good for around 12 or more per week. Beer... lots of good old Budweiser all summer. I see my doctors on a regular basis, now not so often since my condition is stable. I had extensive blood work done, everything is right on the money. Aside from residual surgical pain here and there I feel better than I have felt in years. I'm back in the gym, the doctors say not to lift anything over 40 pounds... and I do a mile of cardio every time I'm there. Slowly my strength is coming back.

The BAD: The heart attack of course. Eating horribly and family history finally caught up with me. And not getting a physical every year was a bad move. My last was in 2012 before my wife came down with cancer. I just let it slide. I was doing okay in the gym, my strength was up and I was making gains in spite of my weight. 4 or 5 days in a coma wipes out everything fast. The skin on my arms and legs was slack, just hanging. I call it the 4 day coma diet. That was good for a quick 15 pounds. My first days awake, I had to be fed, I couldn't pick up a spoon, quite humbling. My kids stepped up and cooked for me until I was able to stand for a while, now I cook all the time again.

I have another chance at life. Others say my late wife Barbara was watching over me and I believe she was. My job has been great about everything, I got a full paycheck every 2 weeks and I go back in a few days, actually looking forward to it. 2017 should be a great year for me and I hope for everyone else here too.

**Jtbny** · 12-31-2016, 08:18 AM

The good- hit a 550 squat in competition in April and a 370 bench last week.

The bad - its only 550, and the 370 was in my basement

Oh and diet of course because that's always been the thing that slows me down.

Happy New Year

**thebigzakbowski** · 12-31-2016, 08:21 AM

good side: I also hit a 370 bench (raw 1rm max) and 415 ss bench

bad: Spend most of this year pretty depressed finally off the meds

**bodyhard** · 12-31-2016, 11:58 AM

Some good stuff on here..

One thing we can all be grateful for, we are still alive, still able to lift, still able to progress.....

**katya422** · 12-31-2016, 12:35 PM

Yeah, novice here. Think I fall under that "health" category.

Good: Lost about 60 pounds and started lifting. Would like to get to intermediate level...guess we will see. The heaviest I've gone on anything was bear squats for 180 which is over my body weight, but it's a machine not a barbell.

Bad: Stalled on fat loss for a few months and have been bouncing around the same 5 pounds. Annoying. So diet...big surprise, eh?

**CaptChip40** · 12-31-2016, 02:31 PM

Not making many gains but have been consistent with working out. Seems like just spinning wheels.

Made an appointment with third doc to get shoulder repaired so (hopefully) can start making some progress.

**wesleysh21** · 12-31-2016, 03:17 PM

Good: I feel like I've "mastered" many of the movements in terms of proper form, body position and grip to isolate the particular muscle I'm working. I know the pec deck isn't a big deal, but I feel a sense of accomplishment that I rebuilt my form from scratch this year. Like a lot of people I was just waving my arms in front of my chest. This year I concentrated on the exact sitting position for maximum chest activation and trying to use my arms as stable levers with nothing more than a passive role in the lift. Nice and controlled, with a deep squeeze in the middle. In order to do that for 8-12 reps at the beginning of the year I had to drop all the way down to 80 on the machine, and in a year I've worked up to 190.

Bad: Drank too much, but loved every minute of it.

**y0jimbo** · 12-31-2016, 03:23 PM

'All my gains were gone'

Nah you are just high body fat which made u think your muscles were bigger than they were, once slimmed down reality struck

**induced_drag** · 12-31-2016, 05:09 PM

The good: Found that balance in my life where this does not dominate me and I can still enjoy it. I can stay what most consider in good shape and still lift relatively "heavy" without the need to focus on training 24/7.

The Bad: Giving up that life or death feeling has changed a lot of my training. I think this means my PB's will not increase from here forward. After a certain point, bar gains are hard fought and you have to claw for every lb of bar increase like you life depended on it.

Was going through some old pics.....

This was a few weeks into my comeback back in 2011. Was feeling like I looked pretty good in this pic. (yes, I was trying to look good)

Found a pic that showed my first 14months progress in the gym

Just after those pics, I figured out I had "issues". That closed the book on "natural" training for me moving forward.

Almost 5 years later of consistent lifestyle and training, I shot this quick posing vid closing out the year 2016. I am 7-8 lbs heavier (in 5 years!) than the side shot after 15 months of training. Part of me says....."really!?....5 years for that?" Not only that, I cant say that I am "natural" anymore either. (which was something I took pride in). Sh!t if I could have a dollar for every time some dude on this forum likes to point out that I am not "natural"....hell I would be retired

Dont get me wrong, I am not ungrateful. I am pretty happy....but never satisfied. Guess if I were, I would have quit going to the gym a long time ago. The goal to still improve gets us out the door to train.

Hopefully, 2017 will bring further changes

**dsm246** · 12-31-2016, 06:23 PM

The bad: Got diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. 4 months of aggressive PT and lots lifting restrictions meant that PRs were close to non-existent this year.

The good: The lifting restrictions motivated me to finally focus on my nutrition and eating plans and I managed to drop two weight classes. I think my form has also improved from all the mobility and technique work I focused on during those months of rehab.

**heatwave13** · 01-02-2017, 09:45 AM

For 2016:
Good- My weight loss. I started out around 211 pounds in May (well, that's when I started tracking this stuff) and I am now down below 180. I feel like my movement, flexibility, and range of motion is better and I was able to maintain my max lifts. I also learned a lot about nutrition and specific foods that my body seems to run well with. I also found a total body routine that works very well for me.

Bad-Nagging injuries. This sort of contradicts my comment above about feeling better, but man, my elbows are killing me. Add to that a very sharp pain in my right hip that hit me just after Thanksgiving. This makes heavy squats very painful.

**pharmamarketer** · 01-02-2017, 11:01 AM

Been away from here for a while. Needed a break. Changed the way I approach lifting and my diet the last 6 months of 16'. Used to lift pretty heavy. Was eating crappy. Decided to change some things up. Went from 222 lbs. too much fat. To now 179. Not sure where I'm headed for 2017 but I feel better than I have in a while. Updates my profile pic. So the good is that this sport, however you approach it, can be one of best things you can do for yourself both mentally and physically. The bad....the mental struggle at times.

**Mark1T** · 01-02-2017, 11:27 AM

Maintained throughout the year, never missed a workout. Did not progress that much because of my efforts of scaling up my business.

Developed hernia, so need to get that fixed within next 3 months.

**ajdahlheimer** · 01-02-2017, 12:56 PM

The Good: Set some PR's in standing OHP. Stayed consistent and did not miss workouts. Maintained my cardio and running. Added skipping rope to my routines last summer and have really enjoyed improving at that exercise.

The Bad: Injuries and just uncertainty of where I want to with the "sport" and what direction to take.

Thread: Last day of 2016, your good & bad times pertaining to this "sport" we are all part of

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