...and I couldn't be happier. I started off this year at 178#, overweight and out of shape. (I am 6' tall and an ecto in spite of the gut). I decided to lose weight and try to get into shape. BFL got me going and then I found this site and have been working hard ever since. I lost 25# quickly (by April) and thought I looked good. In July I decided that I was too thin and set out to regain the weight I lost. Well, as of today, I have it all back, but as muscle (mostly) this time! I find it interesting to look at my body at the same 178# and looking so different.

I apologise for posting progress shots so soon after my last set but I didn't think I'd reach my 178# goal so soon and it has been what I have been working for. Since you're all probably tired of looking at my mug, I changed that too.

I do have a question. Do you think I still have some bulking left to do or should I start to cut and go for definition and lower body fat? I think my %bf is probably about 14% now.

Sorry to blow my own horn but I'm feeling pretty pumped. :bb: Here's some before, during and after shots. I think you'll be able to figure out which is which. January 2005 is 178#, April 2005 is 153# and today is 178#.

Great work Carguy ! Inspiring :tucool:

G

awsome! you look a lot more healthy now... more youthful also. amazing!

Wow... just wow!

Kudos. You have the right to feel pumped. Awesome progress :D

:claplow: :claplow: :claplow: :claplow: :claphigh: :claphigh: :claphigh: :claphigh:

Great job Mike. Shoot, I can't call you tubby anymore but I can still call you OLD!!!!!!! :lol: You look great! You're a true inspiration to us old guys!!!!! :tucool: :tu: :D Again, great job!

Holy Cow - Great bulk. I vote to keep bulking. Congrats :tucool:

You look about 8 years younger, nice job.

Good job Car!

Thanks for all the kind words everyone. I shaved the beard off this morning on a whim and I got the younger comment a lot at work. I still would like more mass on my chest and in my legs so I will probably continue to bulk. A small part of me says just stop, you've done enough, so I'm gonna need you guys to keep me motivated. :nod:

you're doing great! You do look better without the beard. A lot more energetic and younger. Your arms have really made huge improvement and your back looks tremendously better! You're getting a good V shape! Keep it going!! :tu:

Wow, great improvements carguy! very inspiring :tucool:

really great work ! can't find the right words for it, especially since you are a little older than the average guy trying to get in shape again. hell of impressive!

you should have kept the beard though :p even though you would look a little older. still whatever works for you is the best.

Man, you look GREAT! I really like what shaving the beard did for you, you're looking much younger because of it! I'd just keep bulking, I don't think you're 14%, I'd say you're lower that that, but I don't know anything about body fat. :D
The bulking is doing you well, why stop? I'd try and fill out your chest if possible, what kinds of exercises are you doing currently

:tu: You should be very proud of yourself. Man, you look a lot younger and so much healthier!! I'll bet you feel great, and you should. You effort has produced what I would call "dramatic" results Carguy!!

I think you should celebrate and reward yourself somehow !!


Congratulations and thanks for the Motivation your pics give me!!!

:claplow: :claphigh: :claplow: :claphigh: :claplow: :claphigh: :claplow: :claphigh:

Look great mate, keep up the good work.

am constantly impressed by the results you're getting mate. I think you should keep up with the bulk (at the very least till the end of our challenge!)

am constantly impressed by the results you're getting mate. I think you should keep up with the bulk (at the very least till the end of our challenge!)

John, I didn't mean I was going to stop this very minute. I am going to finish our challenge. I think I'll make it my new goal to get up to 185#. That would be the most I have ever weighed in my life. if I can do that and still have a 32" waist, that would be great.

:claplow: :claplow: :claplow: :claplow: :claphigh: :claphigh: :claphigh: :claphigh:

Great job Mike. Shoot, I can't call you tubby anymore but I can still call you OLD!!!!!!! :lol: You look great! You're a true inspiration to us old guys!!!!! :tucool: :tu: :D Again, great job!

Michael, at least you have the proper use of the word "us" this time. :D I may be older than you, but I'm feeling younger all the time. :)

:tu: You should be very proud of yourself. Man, you look a lot younger and so much healthier!! I'll bet you feel great, and you should. You effort has produced what I would call "dramatic" results Carguy!!

I think you should celebrate and reward yourself somehow !!


Congratulations and thanks for the Motivation your pics give me!!!

:claplow: :claphigh: :claplow: :claphigh: :claplow: :claphigh: :claplow: :claphigh:

Steve, thanks and congrats to you to. I read your thread and I think you're doing great. I can tell you are going to make a remarkable transformation. Keep up the great work.
:tu:

you're doing great! You do look better without the beard. A lot more energetic and younger. Your arms have really made huge improvement and your back looks tremendously better! You're getting a good V shape! Keep it going!! :tu:[/QUOTE]

escher, thanks for the comments, especially about my arms. That is one thing that I am pretty happy about. But they're not getting much bigger, even though they sort of look like they are. Can you believe that they only measure 13.5" pumped? Rested they are only 12". But I have added 4" to my chest and 4" to my shoulders and reduced my waist by 4". I probably need to add more calories.

Awesome carguy! You're inspiring people half your age!!! :nod:

I'm not sure if it is the beard or whether your face has really filled out, but, yes, you look years younger. Especially in the shot in your bathroom with the glasses and the comparrison shot. Honestly, you look like you've grown 20 years younger. And I bet you feel it too.

I say: continue the bulk and see how many more years you can add to your life.

Michael, at least you have the proper use of the word "us" this time. :D I may be older than you, but I'm feeling younger all the time. :)

And guess what. You're LOOKING younger all the time!!!!! :claplow: :nod: :tu:

Carguy!!!!!!!!

No. 1: If that is 14% BF, then I would take 14% ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!

No.2: The difference in your physique is absolutely mind-blowing! I'd say keep bulking!

No. 3: Keep the goatee-less look, as it literally shaves (boo! bad pun) years off your life!

-Steve

I'm not sure if it is the beard or whether your face has really filled out, but, yes, you look years younger. Especially in the shot in your bathroom with the glasses and the comparrison shot. Honestly, you look like you've grown 20 years younger. And I bet you feel it too.

I say: continue the bulk and see how many more years you can add to your life.

Thanks Reeze. Your challenge is what really got me going. I was sruck at 158# before then. I hope you don't mind me stealing your goal of 185#. I thought it sounded like a good number. And if you can do it, so can I.

I do feel younger and better. Although today I am walking a little funny because of stiff-legged dead lifts.

I'm glad you thought it looked like my face had filled out. I'm thinking my cheeks still look a little hollow. I hope I look fuller than I did in April. Keep up your good work too!
:claplow:

Carguy!!!!!!!!

No. 1: If that is 14% BF, then I would take 14% ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!

No.2: The difference in your physique is absolutely mind-blowing! I'd say keep bulking!

No. 3: Keep the goatee-less look, as it literally shaves (boo! bad pun) years off your life!

-Steve

Thanks Coachese, I like your pun. As far as %bf is concerned, I don't really know what I am. I am just going by my scale which I know if not that accurate. Most people are liking me without the goatee so it's history. And I am going to continue the bulk for a while longer. Genetically, I don't know how much mass I can really add, but it might be fun to find out. :lol:

carguy, I haven't posted here in while, but I had to let you know how impressive I thought your transformation was! It's rare to see someone lose then regain weight as muscle like you've done. You do look much younger, and healthier, and I agree w/others who've said you're probably below 14% bf.

Can you share with us the diet and routine you used to get into such great shape?

Again, congrats on an amazing transformation! :claplow:

carguy, I haven't posted here in while, but I had to let you know how impressive I thought your transformation was! It's rare to see someone lose then regain weight as muscle like you've done. You do look much younger, and healthier, and I agree w/others who've said you're probably below 14% bf.

Can you share with us the diet and routine you used to get into such great shape?

Again, congrats on an amazing transformation! :claplow:


Isn't it Bushwick CC ?

carguy, I haven't posted here in while, but I had to let you know how impressive I thought your transformation was! It's rare to see someone lose then regain weight as muscle like you've done. You do look much younger, and healthier, and I agree w/others who've said you're probably below 14% bf.

Can you share with us the diet and routine you used to get into such great shape?

Again, congrats on an amazing transformation! :claplow:

Thanks DN. I can't really share my diet because I don't have one. I just eat sensibly and stopped doing cardio in order to gain weight, all the while lifting 3 times a week.

I actually thought that I could keep my weight the same and convert my fat to muscle by lifting. That obviously didn't happen as I lost 25# pdq. But then I got more earnest in the lifting dept. and joined a gym with much better equipment than I had at home. I'm enjoying that now. Say hi to Billy Baroo for me.
:lol:

Isn't it Bushwick CC ?

Get out your specs old man and look at his signature. it's Bushwood CC. :cool:

Get out your specs old man and look at his signature. it's Bushwood CC. :cool:


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: I do need my specs but I thought it was Bushwick Country Club. Looks like I need hearing aids too! :lol: :spaz:

An amazing transformation, particularly from photo 2 to the current photo. I actually think you looked better in photo 1 than photo 2-it's a good example that just losing weight isn't necessarily good for you.

But now you've got an enviable physique and you look much healthier, particularly in the chest and neck/face.

Had to chime in--awesome progress! Definitely keep bulking, you're still looking really defined as it is.

hehe wow, amazing :P

Thanks for all the kind words everyone. I shaved the beard off this morning on a whim and I got the younger comment a lot at work. I still would like more mass on my chest and in my legs so I will probably continue to bulk. A small part of me says just stop, you've done enough, so I'm gonna need you guys to keep me motivated. :nod:
You look great with the muscles! And getting rid of beard is the right thing to do. Santa Claus is the only one that needs one. You have lost 10 years, a new man. :claplow:

You look incredible!!!!! I'd definitley keep bulking for a while...

Carguy that is a very impressive job you've done there. You look like you're in great shape! If I had to choose between cut and bulk, I'd say bulk, but have you considered maintenance? You look pretty optimal. :tucool:

You look phenomenal for 52 (or 25) and I'm not just patting your ego; really, very good job.

Thanks, everyone. I appreciate your kind words. Rtestes, I'm still having a little trouble seeing me and muscles in the same sentence. I still think of myself as a tall, skinny guy without muscle. I guess that's why I am continuing to try to bulk and add more muscle. But the idea of maintenance is interesting, Travis. I am at a good weight for my bone structure. I guess if I could maintain my weight and continue to add muscle definition, I'd be happy. I would also like to start back with some cardio since I miss it. Maybe extra calories with cardio and lifting and then I'll stay even.

You're 2 inches taller than me, you weigh 10 pounds heavier than me and look a hell of lot better. I'm so impressed.

Do you have a specific post or pre workout shake/meal that you have?

When you lift three times a week, do you split the days or do a whole body workout?

Thanks for the inspiration!

You're 2 inches taller than me, you weigh 10 pounds heavier than me and look a hell of lot better. I'm so impressed.

Do you have a specific post or pre workout shake/meal that you have?

When you lift three times a week, do you split the days or do a whole body workout?

Thanks for the inspiration!

Thnks, gh. I feel a little funny giving advice since I don't consider myself an expert in anything fitess related. I'm still learning myself. I do do a full body workout three times a week. Before lifting, I have a half scoop of unflavored whey in my OJ along with a bowl of Kashi cereal or maybe some wheat toast. If I am on creatine at the time, I take it before lifting. After my workout, I mix 1.5 scoops of Whey with water and ice (and some lowfat Hershey's syrup) for my PWO. I usually eat 3 sleeves of Smarties (for the dextrose). And I may have a banana or a piece of toast. I don't know if what I'm doing is good, it's just what I do.

By the way, you have had one heck of a transformation. Much more drastic than mine. But I agree that the building of muscle is harder than losing the weight. :bb:

If I am on creatine at the time, I take it before lifting. After my workout, I mix 1.5 scoops of Whey with water and ice (and some lowfat Hershey's syrup) for my PWO. I usually eat 3 sleeves of Smarties (for the dextrose). And I may have a banana or a piece of toast. I don't know if what I'm doing is good, it's just what I do.


Thanks for the compliment!
So when have you used creatine? All during your bulk? Do you contribute your muscle gain to using it? I'm curious because I have yet to experiment with it.

I know what you mean, when you say you feel weird giving advice. I'm the same way. I'm no expert, just someone who lost weight.

Thanks for the compliment!
So when have you used creatine? All during your bulk? Do you contribute your muscle gain to using it? I'm curious because I have yet to experiment with it.

I know what you mean, when you say you feel weird giving advice. I'm the same way. I'm no expert, just someone who lost weight.

I started using Creatine in the middle of July when I started working with a trainer. So I guess I have used it during my bulk. I don't know if it has helped me that much but I did gain about 3-4 pounds quickly and my weights at the gym seem to be going up. But I was making progress before that. I don't contribute my little bit of muscle gain to it. At the moment, I am off of it because I have to take a blood test on Friday and I don't want it to show up. I have lost 3 pounds since I stopped it last week. I don't think there is anything wrong with it. You might want to give it a try to see if you like it.

I started using Creatine in the middle of July when I started working with a trainer. So I guess I have used it during my bulk. I don't know if it has helped me that much but I did gain about 3-4 pounds quickly and my weights at the gym seem to be going up. But I was making progress before that. I don't contribute my little bit of muscle gain to it. At the moment, I am off of it because I have to take a blood test on Friday and I don't want it to show up. I have lost 3 pounds since I stopped it last week. I don't think there is anything wrong with it. You might want to give it a try to see if you like it.
Thanks for the info. Did you try it because you were curious, or did your trainer recommend it?

Thanks for the info. Did you try it because you were curious, or did your trainer recommend it?

Both. I had purchased the creatine and had it for about a month but was kind of afraid to use it. Then, when the trainer worked up my profile and told me what calories etc. I needed to meet my goals, he said creatine would also be a good idea. With that said, I decided to start using it. i've been using it ever since unless I had to take a blood test in which case I stop 10 days before the test. If you decide to try it, I can let you know a good way to take it that's not too horrible.

Great results. Your body responds very well it looks like to weight training.

Great results. Your body responds very well it looks like to weight training.

Thanks for the comment, jman. But maybe that's because my body spent 50 years with the heaviest thing being lifted was my bowling ball. :lol: :lol: