Hi, new member here. Just a little about me and what I need advice for. Have always been an active, outdoors person. About a year ago my Dr. did some bloodwork and my cholesterol was out of whack along with my blood pressure. It all started out as a diet thing. I completely changed my diet almost overnight. I am 5' 10" and weighed about 185. I was in the military for eight years and the year after I got out I didn't really do anything but sit around and eat junk. So after I found out I needed to do something about my eating habits I started eating only good foods and eating several small meals a day. I also started running for 30 mins at a time about four days a week.
This got my weight down to about 160 and I got my cholesterol in check and lowered my BP. I read Body for Life by Bill Phillips and some articles by Tom Venuto. This got me interested in weight training. I had never done any weight training and I may have started out on the wrong foot. I know I wanted to look better and be stronger however I really never started out with any real goals.
I was working out five days a week doing cardio every other day. I did two body parts per workout with two excercises per body part. I got much leaner and had some decent results. I was eating right and eating a lot of protein. I saw a lot of change in my back and shoulders and less everywhere else. My wife said I had a huge change however I never took any before or during pics. But my lack of a clear plan, goals, and education cost me.
I did this for about five months and then a couple weeks ago I got discouraged and stopped working out. I am keeping with the new eating habits though. So I came to this site and read everything on the front page. I plan on starting over and following the beginners guide to bulking and then cutting after that. I hope to see real good results this time around. I look forward to being a member here and hope I can get some good advice/help. Sorry this was so long but thanks for taking the time to read it.

Here are a couple pics of how I made myself look. Like I said I cam starting over with a more focused plan/goal. First pic is relaxed and the other two are flexed.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/Richard78/animals535.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/Richard78/animals536.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/Richard78/animals537.jpg

It's great to hear the progess that you have made so far, but as for you not gaining the muscle you desired in that time, it could be you where not eating anough, because I know when I first started lifting I was hardly eating a thing and I maybe gained 3 lbs or muscle in 5 months, then I started over eating alot more food and I'm gaining every single week, and increasing food intake the more lean mass I put on. And I see you read the bulking guide which is a great guide and I hope you have some great progess in the future, also welcome to the forums. By the way, if you packed on a little bit more muscle then cut I think you'd have a good physique, you can already see the muscles you have, especially in your arms and back.

Thanks for the reply. I was taking in 3000-3200 while I was working out. I took those pics today. I am going to start all over and follow that bulking guide.

by the way if you get protein powder, just a word to the wise.. never, ever get strawberry, worst mistake I ever made.

I have been using vanilla flavor.

Anyone else want to critique/give advice?

Bring it up and keep the good work :db: :bb: :eat: :gl: