11 Month ofBulking, 55lb. Gain. Before and After Pics/Stats, Take a look:

[Craig Mack]

It has been 11 months since i've started my project. My main focus was to bulk and gain mass. I totally revised my diet, ate tons of the right kinds of food constantly (every 2 hours at least) and had a complex lifting routine everyday. Of course I'd take a few days off here and there if I got sick or hurt myself, but overall I was in the gym everyday. My supplements consist of whey protein, muscle milk, and TRAC No2 Loading Creatine (cycling). My diet played the key role in my "transformation". I ate like a horse. I forced myself to eat when I didn't want to, the right kinds of complex carbs, proteins, etc.

Here are some basic stats of some of the progress i've made, followed by a before, middle, and after pic:



Start (June 4th, 2004) Day before my 19th birthday:
-Height: 5'8 1/2
-Weight: 123lbs.
-Bench Press: 115-125lbs - 6-8 repps (best two sets)
-Dumbell Bench Press: 55lbs. each arm 6-8 repps (best set)
-Arm Curl: 30lbs each arm - 4-6 repps (best set)
-Shoulder Military Press (dumbells): 45lbs. 6-8 repps (best set)
-Back - Bent over rows (dumbells): 45lbs. 6-8 repps (best set)
-Shrugs (Traps) - 55lb. Dumbells: 10repps (best set)




November, 2004:
Height: 5'8 1/2
Weight: 150lbs.





current (May 9th, 2005) ~Month before my 20th Birthday:
-Height: 5'8 1/2
-Weight: 178-180lbs
-Bench Press: 235lbs. - 5-7 repps (best set)
-Dumbell Bench Press - 105lbs. each arm - 4-5 repps (best set)
-Arm Curl: 60lbs. each arm - 4 repps (peak set, which is usually the 3rd set)
-Shoulder Military Press (dumbells) 75lbs 4-6 repps (best set)
-Back - Bent over rows (dumbells) 85lbs. 5-7repps (best two sets)
-Shrugs (Traps) - Dumbells - 100lb. dumbells, 10repps (best two sets)



(I'm on the left)


What do you guys think? I gained ~55lbs. in ~10-11months and have seen major strength and apparence gains. I didn't do any cardio during this period, just basically straight strength training. People I haven't seen in months think I am on steroids. Some have actually gotten worried and get really serious when they see me. It's kind of flattering and annoying at the same time. I have come to the point where I am fairly satisfied with my results and want to start getting ripped. I just started running 3x a week now, working my way up to 2 1/2 miles. I have SLIGHTLY revised my diet, eating a little less and cutting virtually all carbs out of my before bed "meal".

As far as legs go, I squat 225lbs now, started at about 155. I have slacked BIG TIME on legs. I probably averaged 2 leg workouts a month if that. I am trying to get back in the habit of it now. I work legs 1-2 times a week now, and already leg press ~500lbs. Legs are easy to shoot up in weight though.

*UPDATE* - It's been about two weeks since I picked up cardio every other night. I run 25-35 minutes every other night, at a steady jogging pace. I still eat about 6 meals a day, I just have cleaned up the carb/fatty intake a little and eat a little less. I now weigh 173lbs. I have NOT seen any strength losses. In fact, I have only gotten stronger! My stomach is a little flatter, but still a little pudgy. I am still on all my supplements. I am going to make sure I still get plenty of food, becuase I still want to make strength gains.

It sucks, becuase most girls want a ripped brad pitt kind of body, but I want to be jacked. My whole life I have been skinny. I Want to be ripped like Brad Pitt, but bigger. So I am going to take the process slowly. Also, I am slightly hunched over in the last picture, so my shoulders are actually a lot broader than appears.

So, what does everybody think?

[johnsbod]

You've made some incredible gains bro, congrats!

[Ninjaman]

your lookin great! looks like you have added quite a bit off mass over the last 10-11 months... some pics of different poses would probably help people judge where your really at but other then that your lookin alot bigger ...got any stats?

[Craig Mack]

your lookin great! looks like you have added quite a bit off mass over the last 10-11 months... some pics of different poses would probably help people judge where your really at but other then that your lookin alot bigger ...got any stats?

Thanks man. I'm pissed that you can't directly link photo's on this site, thats gay. The little last pic of me doesn't do any justice. Unfortunately I never took any measurements. I really should have. I don't have any pics of me with my shirt off recently, but it's basically just like with the shirt but flesh.

The main thing I hate about bulking is getting a chubbier face and stomach. But that should go away slowly with my introduction of cardio and revised diet.

[tek.]

Can definately see a change, looking great in the last pic what measurements you at now? o and the woman in the grad clothes is hot!

nice lifts too dude, congrats yur well on your way

[Craig Mack]

Can definately see a change, looking great in the last pic what measurements you at now?

Like I said I never took any, but I can tell you my arm is almost twice as strong as it used to be. I hate how little that last damn pic is in the link, oh well. Hopefully you guys can focus on the details and get a keen idea of the change. Sorry again for the ****ty pic.

o and the woman in the grad clothes is hot!

lol, thats my sister.

[skinnytobuff]

man thats really good! amazing gains.. we're the same height (i round up lol) and i started lifting 2 months after u.. but ive only gained 20lbs so far..

why dont u post some shirtless pics so we can compare the gains.. and what bf are you at??

[tek.]

lol sorry didnt no it was yur sis, anyway u don't look fat at all, if you don't already you should get the tape measure out and measure yurself allaround once a month to see how your going cause the scales aren't always a good way of checking yur progress. With the cutting sounds like u know what yur doing.. goodluck dude and post some pics when yur done

[SkeetSkeet]

ur the real deal man



fast gains at that age is no prob but just keep em comin

[Craig Mack]

ur the real deal man



fast gains at that age is no prob but just keep em comin

Thanks guys!!! I'll be sure to post some pics sometime late this summer of me more cut up.

I have a question though...this may sound kind of gay, but it's been bothering me...

My chest is pretty well developed. It's solid everywhere except around the nipple area. I have a pretty diverse chest routine, mixing it up with incline/flat bench, incline/flat db presses, cable flies, and even decline bench every now and then as my last exercise. No matter how hard I try though I can't get my chest shaped around that area like I can the rest of my chest. It starts a little above the nipple and around the bottom side. It looks better after I go for a run, jump in a cold pool or do something to make the skin "bumpy".. It looks different then. I have run out of ideas though. Anyone ever heard of this? Is there anyway to burn off the fat around that region of my chest? It's not that noticeable, but it's still soft and sticks out a little bit in certain shirts. (probably only noticeable to me, but still). I'm all out of ideas here and it's getting frustrating.

[zcsmith]

I agree with what everyone has said already - you made some really good gains. About 5 pounds per month weight gain, which is a decent average especially when you are just starting off. I wouldn't gain too much more weight, though. You're not overweight by any means, but you will reach a point of diminshing returns. I would either bulk slower in the upcoming months, or maintain where you're at for a while, fill out, the go into a cutting cycle. If you even want to go into another cycle, that is

Again, you made some really good gains, both in appearance and weights. Congrats!!!!

[ewig furchtlos]

Sounds like you could be describing Gyno? Maybe it's just me but that's what it sounds like.

[Craig Mack]

Sounds like you could be describing Gyno? Maybe it's just me but that's what it sounds like.

lol, you mean that thing where guys have bitch tits? No, it's nothing like that. It's just softer around that area. I don't have gyno b/c when I was skinny (as you can see) I was a flat little wall of nothing.

[SollyOlly]

As you're looking at the computer screen, lift up your left arm. Take your right arm and prod at your left nipple. Shift the skin around. If you feel a lump like Obstruction, Its gyno.

[irishrunt]

nice gains man.....the change is amazing. you thickened up a lot between the two pictures. congrats!!!

[Craig Mack]

As you're looking at the computer screen, lift up your left arm. Take your right arm and prod at your left nipple. Shift the skin around. If you feel a lump like Obstruction, Its gyno.

Nope, no lump at all. I am probably just being overzealous about it I guess? Underneath my chest and on my stomach is probably where I store my fat, which i've gained a little obviously from the bulking. But no one really notices it except me, but i'm my biggest critic.

irishrunt: Thanks man, I appriciate that. I can safely say that my diet carried me all the way. My senior year of high school, I worked out for 6 months and didn't gain but 5lbs! I made crawling progress in strength as well. I would barely eat, maybe 3 meals a day. My body just had no fuel for the fire. Then, last summer, I started lifting with a friend of mine who taught me about proper dieting. I started eating a ton of food every two hours (right kinds of food) every day. That's what got me where I am today.

So, I learned a huge lesson. That lesson is that it's all about your diet. Without the right diet, your muscles won't grow or have any fuel. And without any fuel, you won't make strength gains. And without strength gains, you will be a skinny wimp like I was in HS.

[simBO850]

Dude thats awsome, your picture is motavating me to reach my goal...

im 5'9 about 150 and i want to get to 180

im JUST starting to work out again after a long semester or partying and looking at those pics motivates me more than anything

[Craig Mack]

Dude thats awsome, your picture is motavating me to reach my goal...

im 5'9 about 150 and i want to get to 180

im JUST starting to work out again after a long semester or partying and looking at those pics motivates me more than anything

I'm glad my pics motivated you bro. If you are 150 and 5'9, then you probably look similer to me in that middle pic. If you used to work out and stopped, then you will regain strength quick (muscle memory). If you are serious about lifting then you should be able to gain 30lbs of muscle before spring break.

And I can relate on the drinking. My friends drink all the time. I put a limit on my drinking. Now I only drink maybe once a week, and when I do, I usually don't get hammered. Especially now that i'm trying to introduce cutting into my routine. Drinking is counter-productive for muscle growth and body building in just about every way possible. It sucks though b/c I'll either have to stay in and not go out or find something else to do, since basically alchohol is involved with most every get together.

[cupcakekid]

i dont see any pics did you take them down?

[Fluery]

i dont see any pics did you take them down?

The thread is four years old. If he hosted them externally, they've probably been long gone.

[lfm01]

wow... i bet he's fat now

[Craig Mack]

The thread is four years old. If he hosted them externally, they've probably been long gone.

lol wow strong bump!!! I was 19 at the time I made this thread

[Wector]

Great increase in strength and mass. Well done

You are really a good motivation to me cause I am also skinny like your before bodybuilding status...