Haven't really posted much at all since February 27 of this year, but I've been totally set into fitness since that date and have been visiting these forums daily.

I've been eating super-clean and counting calories and macros, yadda yadda. Lifting following Max-OT as of late, wannabebig.com routines before that. My cardio is high-intensity boxing(with a bag, not a person) or, more recently, some stationary bike.

I commemorated my start with pictures and have taken them sorta weekly, maybe a little more often since then. Finally thought it was time to post it and share with you guys. I have matching poses in as-close-as-I-can-get lighting lined up, old on the left new on the right. The right side pictures were taken this morning.


Standing, no flexing.
http://www.fuckyouanddie.com/pics/82787672.jpg

Standing and Flexing
http://www.fuckyouanddie.com/pics/32482670.jpg

Flexed Bicep
http://www.fuckyouanddie.com/pics/67481231.jpg

Flexing Quadriceps. I'm very happy seeing some definition here.
http://www.fuckyouanddie.com/pics/91453988.jpg

Flexing Calves. Ditto on the definition.
http://www.fuckyouanddie.com/pics/67989326.jpg

Flexing Back. I'm very happy to see a lot more here than I expected since I just don't really see my own back every day. :) Lats are definitely lacking though, but it's being worked on with the rest of my lackluster upper-body.
http://www.fuckyouanddie.com/pics/51448639.jpg

Flexing general upper-body.
http://www.fuckyouanddie.com/pics/89835970.jpg




That's me and my progress in two months. You'll hear from me again when I can see all my abs. Thanks for reading. :D

<edit>And since I haven't managed to go out and get pinch-tested for bodyfat yet, anyone wanna gimme an eyeball estimate? Make me feel like I'm getting close to seeing more than one and a half rows.

You've shown a great deal of impovement since your start a few montshs ago. Your muscle definition has really increased, and that you've lost weight as well as building muscle. From your first pict, to you last, it looks like your 6 pack will be arriving soon. You're obviously doing it right! Keep it going, and keep us updated!

derm, very nice work indeed. You've come a long way in just two months and you photo documentation of it is superb. Your looking great all over but I'm particularly impressed with your leg definition.

Another inspiration for us, keep up the good work.

Wow ! you are doing a fantastic job !
Great stuff :)

Very impressive mate, the muscles are really showing through now. Im sure it wont be long before the six-pack shows :)

Great job! The back shot really shows the loss of fat and the increased muscle definition. It's good that you took flexed before after shots, I'll have to try that.

Great progress so far Derm!! good definition in your back too!! Just a suggestion, but since the hair on your stomack seems to be the only hair on your upper body, you'd probly look even more defined in the stomach area if youd get rid of it! :tu:

Awesome work. Your leg definition is amazing.

Great Job!!

Thanks for the kind words fellas.

That's some awesome progress. Very nice. :)

It looks like things are coming together for you in your training. What kind of routine are you using? And what's your basic diet?

As for your b/f %, I would guess you're at around 11%. You would probably have a six-pack if your skin was a lot darker. That is what's holding you back, and it doesn't even require effort. You just need to get outside or under the sunlamps, or be resigned to being pasty and megacaucasian.

Don't take offense to this because you can look at my before picture and I'm an extremely white guy myself naturally-

The fact is that you can't look shredded without a tan and moist skin. People with really white skin and 8% bodyfat can look flat and unattractive unless the lighting is really good. On the other hand, someone with your physique and the right color skin would look pretty cut up.

(White) Bodybuilders would never think of competing without developing a freakishly excessive tan and smothering themselves with oil. There's a good reason for that. Right now your muscles are literally hidden from view without pigment and moisture to reflect the sun, the flash from a camera, or a light bulb.

Looking at John's before/after photos like the one below, you'll see that the tan and glisten had major effects on definition.

http://www.sportsmachines.net/Stone/johnstone_one_year.jpg

(White) Bodybuilders would never think of competing without developing a freakishly excessive tan and smothering themselves with oil. There's a good reason for that. Right now your muscles are literally hidden from view without pigment and moisture to reflect the sun, the flash from a camera, or a light bulb.
I totally agree about a tan giving you more definition. However, competing bodybuilders don't tend to have a freakishly excessive tan, they get a base tan (normally on a sunbed) and actually paint on a deep bronzing color which is built up in layers prior to the competition.

We wouldn't want derm laying under a cancer bed for hours on end to try and acheive that same look now would we? ;)

I totally agree about a tan giving you more definition. However, competing bodybuilders don't tend to have a freakishly excessive tan, they get a base tan (normally on a sunbed) and actually paint on a deep bronzing color which is built up in layers prior to the competition.

We wouldn't want derm laying under a cancer bed for hours on end to try and acheive that same look now would we? ;)

Yes that's very true. I definitely wasn't trying to imply that bodybuilders look that way all the time. My point was that in order to achieve maximum shred, they go for maximum tan. Even a lot of the dark-skinned black bodybuilders use tanning products pre-competition.

I think if derm just tanned twice a week for a few months he'd be at a reasonable base.

Wow derm, you've made excellent progress in all areas. Congratulations on all your hard work! You are looking great!