Forgive me if this is long.

I've never posted any pics of myself, on any board, so I thought I maybe should, even though I've still got a long ways to go.

I began about the same time as John (January '03), however it wasn't until a month ago I stumbled upon this site. I actually had began earlier, the summer of '02, but then at a temporary job during summer I broke an ankle and had surgery which put me out for the last 5 months of '02. In retrospect that helped, I mean I realized that I did as little on crutches as I did when I was healthy, and that made me mad that I had wasted so much of my youth away. I've always been heavier, but only 15-20lbs for most of my life. But I had horrible self image, no confidence, and even quit baseball b/c of it even though coaches from my school and other high schools around me were trying to get me to play for them. That just caused a snowball effect of gaining more and more weight and going through more and more depression. I don't think I ever weight myself from the ages of like 15 to 20. I even avoided mirrors like the plague.

Anyways, I was 226lbs when I began, not sure what body fat. The first picture is from 2000, the second one is from summer of '02. Now I'm at 167lbs, and as you can tell still have more to go. Not sure exactly what bf I'm at, I have calipers but I'm probably not using them right. I'd say around 17%. The change, and I don't mean physcially, is astonishing. I've never felt so great, and so hopeful that I won't be miserable in my future.

I was at 180 in September, but got tired of not gaining much strength, so I added some weight, but in December began cutting again. Once I got back from Xmas break (this is my last sem of college) I decided to buckle down, and I've gone from 179 to 167 as of today. I never thought I had that much weight to lose, I mean at 6'1" tall 167 isn't a lot of weight, but I still have fat to lose! Its frustrating, my middle doesn't seem to want to change much at all. I just take motivation from the fact that I've been becoming able to see some vague outline of a chest. I know men tend to lose weight from the middle last, just never thought it would be this frustrating.

http://people.clemson.edu/~vstephe/sisgrad.jpg
http://people.clemson.edu/~vstephe/mochi1.jpg
http://people.clemson.edu/~vstephe/022504b.jpg
http://people.clemson.edu/~vstephe/022504c.jpg

Man, you've made some great progress! Your face, especially, looks a lot leaner.

If you're stuck with your change, you've come to the right place. This is a great community John has started.

:gl:

wow super transformation bro! keep us updated on your progress!

Dude, you're a totally new person. Build some more muscle and the ladies will not keep their hands off you ;)

nice work there! your gut has gone from \ to /
well thats how i think of it anyawy (looking at johns pics at least)

You have done great!! 60 lbs. is my long term goal. You should really be proud. Take care and good luck.

Wow!
I know that it's frustrating to lose the last little bit of fat, but look at what you've done! I can't get over how much your face has changed.
You've worked very hard, and it shows.

That last little bit of far is soooo hard to get rid of, but you are doing a fantastic job so far. I think you'll find that an ultra-clean and careful diet will allow you to lose that last little bit. Do that while remaining dedicated to your cardio and weight training and you'll be ripped up by summer.

Good luck, and thanks for posting your pictures. Keep us updated! :)

Wow that's awesome. Your current pictures look like the skinny brother of your before photos. Do people from highschool have trouble recognizing you? Keep up the good work.

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

I run into old high school friends who I went to school with for 12+ years all the time, and yea they generally don't recognize me. I carried on a conversation with a girl at New Years who I went to school with all my life (but hadn't seen since graduation) for about 2 minutes before she realized who I was. I thought she must've really hated me when she just stared at me blankly while I tried to make small talk, turns out she just didn't know who the hell I was, haha.

You know what I love about these transformations? Seeing guys go from total pudge to total looker. I can't believe how many of you guys had gorgeous faces hiding in the fat. stepsinsc, vortex72, zef82, all of you transformers! And of course John....

Thanks for bringin' those faces out for us girls to enjoy!! :D

i hope i live up to your standards andi :p
only time will tell...

good job

Wow, amazing transformation. :tu:

I was like you were in school. overweight and had really low self esteem.

Although I'm still not a my goal weight the best thing about my progress so far if that I have so much more condifdence right now, I bet you can relate to that.

Keep it up mate :tu: