I've been posting here for a while now so I figured I'd throw some pics up just to further my commitment and let you all see who's behind the keyboard. My current stats:

Age: 20
Height: 5'6"
Weight: ~162 lbs
Body fat: ~9.5/10% (according to FatTrack II)

When I was like 14-16 I was pretty ripped and then I let myself slip for my last 2 years in HS and especially my first 2 years of college. I started working out again in September. I am happy with the progress I've made, but I certainly have much to go. I am looking to get rid of every ounce of excess fat I have by summer. Hopefully I can meet that goal.

The first pic is the first before/after I did of myself. The "before" is some time in 2002 and the "after" was about 1.5 months into lifting in 10/03. The second pic is on 1/14/04 after the holidays and my vacation in Florida which combined allowed me to put on like 15 pounds, about 10 of them being fat. The last 3 pics are this morning. I know the lighting sucks and you can't see the arms great and it makes my abs stick out, but I'm at home for the week and I really don't have anywhere ideal to take pics, so that's what you get for now. haha
I know the 2nd to last pic is pretty bad, but someone asked for a "bodybuilding pose" pic, so I tried under the conditions I was working with, and failed because there wasn't enough room. Not to mention my biceps are less than impressive. Oh well... I'll get better ones up in 2-3 weeks. :tucool:

I HATE YOU! /jk

Wow you look great man. You are fortunate to be a place where you are. My goal is too have a physique like yours. The grass is always greener.

You are cutting up nice man - some good lean mass showing through now! Keep up the hard work, you're looking great!

Nice physique. You're very balanced in the pics you've posted. Do you have any of the standard bodybuilding poses? Front/back double biceps, hands over head ab-shot? I'm curious to see the other angles.

Your abs are great, did you have to build them up or did you just cut the fat off and there they were? I ask b/c I see some people have very little fat but still not much ab definition. Your abs really stick out, even though you're not shreaded to the bone.

You are either extremely lucky, or you work out extremely hard.

I always just thought your avatar pick was some photo you picked up on the net like mine. Impressive work.

Dude, you so don't look like 166lbs for 5'6" :eek:

I think you are a little lower than 11.5%, good work!

Great work man. Keep it up.

Thanks guys! Yeah I have more pics and more recent ones. (I've lost some more fat, I think/hope :p )

I wasn't going to post more until I hit my goal, but what the hell. I'll post the pics later tonight or tomorrow along with the answer to any questions that we asked.

You're cutting up nicely. Good Job!!

Just like Guava I thought that picture was just a random avatar. :o
You look really great. How much of your muscle tone came from martial arts?

Nice physique. You're very balanced in the pics you've posted. Do you have any of the standard bodybuilding poses? Front/back double biceps, hands over head ab-shot? I'm curious to see the other angles.

Your abs are great, did you have to build them up or did you just cut the fat off and there they were? I ask b/c I see some people have very little fat but still not much ab definition. Your abs really stick out, even though you're not shreaded to the bone.

Okay, well I have had abs for the last 7 years. Here's a little story, enjoy :D :

When I was like 13 I was on a school trip and I was with my friends and these 2 girls, 1 of which I really liked. They were feeling all the guys "abs" and went to feel mine and my best friend goes "Justin doesn't have a 6-pack, his stomach goes like this. (And motioned a belly) I was not fat by any means, but certainly not in the best shape. Well, he totally embarassed me in front of these people and the girl I liked so I swore to myself "I'd show him".

Well, I did. I started eating healthy and EVERY NIGHT (I know it's not right, but I was 13/14, what did I know) I did like 100 crunches, 50 leg raises, 30-50 pushups on the pushup stands and I built my way up from like 10-25 pull ups.

Needless to say, the next year I won 3rd place in the County Physical Fitness Meet and at the Graduation Parties that summer, girls were calling me things like "Diesel" and what have you. We still laugh about that to this day. (This part is just to show what happens when you put your mind to something)

Anyway, so that's basically what started it. Then in 9th grade I was on the Wrestling team which cut me up more and I started lifting a bit in gym class. All while taking Martial Arts classes 3-5 times a week. The next year I started eating a lot and exercising less, but I was on the Gymnastics team in 11th and 12th grade, so it helped (along w/the Martial Arts) to keep me in decent shape.

Then college hit and I just stopped working out, ate everything I saw and my body went to total crap (IMO). However, I ALWAYS could see my abs. At one point I was up like 15 pounds of pure fat but STILL I could see my abs. Then it wasn't until 2 years later (about 8 months ago) that I decided to get my ass back in gear and I will post more specifics of what I did/do if anyone is interested.

A sample of my abs when I was like 14 or 15:

Just like Guava I thought that picture was just a random avatar. :o
You look really great. How much of your muscle tone came from martial arts?

haha, nope, it's me. I'm flattered people think that that is my "goal" picture though.

I would say the Martial Arts have helped me NOT gain too much weight while eating whatever I want. However, since I only get to study over breaks from college for the past 2.5 years, it really hasn't been a factor since then. That's why I gained a lot of weight in college, because I had nothing active to do until I finally got myself into the gym. For the first 8 years though that I was in Martial Arts, it definitely helped once I REALLY got into it and started working my ass off in class. You think 23 mins of HIIT is hard, you don't know... haha

I do think the Martial Arts are an EXCELLENT way to get into shape. It's because of my Martial Arts classes and tests that I am in the physical shape I am. Hell, you have to be in order to endure a 5 hour 2nd degree Black Belt test in the sun with no water, no breaks and 100% effort the whole time. NOTHING I've ever done though has put me in better shape than when I was on the Wrestling team in 9th grade. Talk about getting a workout!

You're 20!?!?!?! Oh God, now I feel bad. I'm 20 in just over 3 weeks. I look like such a kid compared to you! BUT, I shouldn't be comparing myself should I? You've got great abs, I really need to work on that. And good pecs too!

Actually, pecs are funny. I keep reading that pecs are hard to grow. Yet from what I can tell they've been easiest. I'm starting week 4 tomorrow. I'm not nearly as disciplined as you, but they really seem to have bloomed out. That said, they were TINY to begin with.

You're 20!?!?!?! Oh God, now I feel bad. I'm 20 in just over 3 weeks. I look like such a kid compared to you! BUT, I shouldn't be comparing myself should I? You've got great abs, I really need to work on that. And good pecs too!

Actually, pecs are funny. I keep reading that pecs are hard to grow. Yet from what I can tell they've been easiest. I'm starting week 4 tomorrow. I'm not nearly as disciplined as you, but they really seem to have bloomed out. That said, they were TINY to begin with.

haha, well no, you should not be comparing yourself to anyone. And if it helps, I'll be 21 on Wednesday! :d_wink:

As for the pecs, I've always had a pretty decent sized chest. Reason being because when I was younger and used to lift weights, ALL I DID WAS CHEST! In 9th grade I weighed like 120lbs and my max bench was in the low 200's (I think 205lbs). Not that it's special, but for a kid who was 14, 5'6", 120lbs it was pretty good. However, my biceps and shoulders are pretty weak. I see girls curling as much as me at the gym!

You kinda look like Colin Farrell...And remember, Colin Farrell hooked up with Britney Spears... :gl: haha!

Seriously though, great progress!

how you lookin' now a days karate?

how you lookin' now a days karate?

Pretty crappy. I mean, not much different than back in March when those last pics were from, but definitely not better. I have added a decent amount of mass though I think. I don't have many measurements, but my bis are about .5-.75" bigger and I can see a big difference in my quads. As you've probably read in that college challenge, I drink 2-3 times a week and I eat like complete hell. I meant to take pics Nov 1, but over the past 3 weeks I've eaten so shitty and dranken so much, I changed my mind. haha

In the beginning of the Summer, I put on a good amount of fat. So I kind of had to lose that first and I did by September. Anyway, I'll throw a pic up from the summer and from September just as an idea of where I'm at. I probably gained 3-4 pounds since this pic, half muscle, half fat.

Whack about 6 inches off those shorts and lets see your legs. The shorts sure aren't flattering, I bet you are hiding some good legs.

Great job. Keep up the good work.

:d_biggrin ;) Pretty crappy. I mean, not much different than back in March when those last pics were from, but definitely not better. I have added a decent amount of mass though I think. I don't have many measurements, but my bis are about .5-.75" bigger and I can see a big difference in my quads. As you've probably read in that college challenge, I drink 2-3 times a week and I eat like complete hell. I meant to take pics Nov 1, but over the past 3 weeks I've eaten so shitty and dranken so much, I changed my mind. haha

In the beginning of the Summer, I put on a good amount of fat. So I kind of had to lose that first and I did by September. Anyway, I'll throw a pic up from the summer and from September just as an idea of where I'm at. I probably gained 3-4 pounds since this pic, half muscle, half fat.

I agree. ;)

Whack about 6 inches off those shorts and lets see your legs. The shorts sure aren't flattering, I bet you are hiding some good legs.

Whack about 6 inches off those shorts and lets see your legs. The shorts sure aren't flattering, I bet you are hiding some good legs.

haha... Yeah I don't think I've ever posted a leg pic. I have some, but they never come out good. I'll take a new one in the next day or two and throw it up.

And as for the pics I posted, feel free to comment of course, but I know there's nothing special there. I just updated it so people who were wondering what I've been up to can have an idea. Over the past year and change I've gone back and forth several times (that summer pic being my worst) and right now I'm somewhere in the middle. One of these days though my after pics will be impressive, it just may take some time until AFTER I'm out of college, but it will happen. :tu:

I can only wish to look that good in 6 months :)

Great Job :tucool:

dont neglect your calvs

dont neglect your calvs

I know... I know... my calves suck! :( Trust me, I work them, they just don't grow. They used to be non-existent, now I at least have some there, but I just can't get them much bigger.

Any tricks?

i really dont have any advice for em'...just keep workin them

yep, looks like you put on some fat during the summer, but then lost it all afterwards. Looks like you have your cutting routine down pat.

Awesome mate, sweet differense. Those pounds where no match for you;)
Which I looked like you!;) Gl further!

Very nice work buddy...and thanks for the help with my plan the other day...looking good