It's been 20 weeks now since I first started my project. I'm down to roughly 260 lbs, and 17,6% BF. The BF is taken from a caliper test this wednesday. I feel I may be a bit lower, since the guy doing the test had problems with the fold on the thigh (which makes me think it read thicker than it is). Anyway, 212 lbs of lean mass ain't all bad.

The last few weeks have been hell, truly. I haven't seen the improvements that I wanted, so I've gone too much by what the scale has told me. BAD MISTAKE! This last week has been kind of a "get back on track"-week for me. I haven't stepped on the scale once since last sunday, which is a huge improvement for me. I won't do it for another week, and next saturday will be day one of my new project. I feel it's time for me to get more serious, and revise my plans. I know I've stated that I'll never count calories, but it's time to give that a go. Forgive me, I was young and stupid...and I'm still young!

The image shows what I've done these past 20 weeks. Or actually, 17. The first one is from week three, the second from today. I've added my back in my avatar, simply because I like the way my back is turning out. I have only one picture of my back to judge by, from about a month ago, and looking back, maybe I should have taken more...

Anyway. I'm ready to give my fatloss one last go. Then it's back to building even bigger muscles. Looking forward to that.

one last go? dude! your progress has been incredible! Just stay focused, blah, blah, blah(you know the drill :p ).

Counting calories is a good idea, and that's what I've been doing for the last 4 months, and it has worked out quite well.

Right now, I'm testing DietPower, and I'm qurious how that turns out. Right now, I hate the damn thing, cause it keeps telling me to eat more all the time...that f**cker wants me to eat 2600 k cal to loose 1.2 lbs a week, and I have problems eating as much as 2200 k cal :rolleyes:

Yep, one last go. It's time to lose the last bit of fat and get down to business!

I know the drill, but I won't drop and give you twenty. :p

Personally, I would have a problem with eating as low as 2600 kcals. I've been eating roughly 3000 kcals a day (I wouldn't know since I didn't count, but I did a quick check on an average day), and I could have easily eaten another 1000 kcals. I just have to find a sensible way of incorporating it into my day when it's time for serious bulking.

I know how you feel. I'm at the last stage trying to get rid of that last little bit and I'm finding it very difficult. I'm really having to knuckle down after some derailings. Your progress has been awesome so just keep persisting and you cant fail. :tucool:

Marcus :cool:

Excellent work man, lots of muscle there and the fat will be gone before you know it!

Your new avatar is great - your back looks very strong and powerful. Good luck as you continue!

I feel it's time for me to get more serious, and revise my plans. I know I've stated that I'll never count calories, but it's time to give that a go. Forgive me, I was young and stupid...and I'm still young!

Ha. I fell for it first, now your turn. We were the holdouts for "I don't count my calories, I just listen to what my body says"

So I counted calories for a week. It was informative and helpful, but it was also disruptive. I learned about where my extra calories were coming from (Don't touch that salad dressing!) but I didn't like the computer telling me how much I was allowed to eat. So I insisted on giving myself back the control the following week. I'm not sorry that I counted calories for that week, and, for you, it might work for longer than that.

Your back is amazing. Especially with that sepia tone in there, it looks especially artistic. Are you preparing for a future in modelling?

212 lbs lean mass :d_eek: that's quite some going. Congratulations knubb.

The difference between pics is great and must make you a smile whenever you look at them. keep up the good work.

I feel it's time for me to get more serious, and revise my plans. I know I've stated that I'll never count calories, but it's time to give that a go. Forgive me, I was young and stupid...and I'm still young!

You're looking great! I once said I'd never count calories and I don't have youth to blame for it! I started using Diet Power and it's far easier than I would have imagined. I wish I'd done it months ago. Like Duckman, the software was intitially telling me to eat way too much food. Take heart, Duckman, it eventually figures out your metabolism. You can get some really weird numbers from it the first couple of weeks but it eventually works.

Mate,

You're a beast !!! If you cut up to 10%, you'd look ripped to bits !!!

Get serious, count cals, enjoy urself and get the BF down to 10%. U'll look awsome mate, with 212lbs of lean mass, thats impresssive. You can see the muscles at 17% BF, that means they are big. Imagine what theyd look like at 10. Thats surely motivation enough.

Well done, im very impressed !!! :nod:

Marcus: Thanks for the encouragement. I won't fail, that's something I can tell you. Even though I might not get down to singel digit BF before I want to bulk again, I have a lot more knowledge know (much thanks to this forum), so I (probably) can bulk a lot cleaner than I have done in the past.

John: Thanks, but it's actually kind of an illusion. Even though I can't say that my back is weak, it's the one part of my body (after biceps, my biceps are really lame if you compare them to the rest of me) I really would like to strengthen. Also, as my...uhhm...behind, is also quite large (but firm, ey...), a thicker, broader back would balance this out. I do love how it looks, flexed, though.

guava: You're totally correct. When I first started, I expected to get through this without counting, but a lot of the views I had back in January has changed. I don't intend to write down every little bite I eat, but I will use counting as a way of having better control of what I put in my body.

Modewhatnow? I appreciate the kind words (yes, there's a reason to why I chose sepia. since I'm still quite pale, it kinda gives me better definition. as would black and white, but it looked better that way), but modelling would be...uhhm...I don't know...unrealistic? Even though I will look better with lower bodyfat, I've never seen a model as big as me. Models look like Chicanerous, not like me.

Craig: Yes and no actually. Even though I've come a long way, I feel every day that the road continues. You are your own worst critic, and I can find too many things that I want to change about my body. Thanks anyway. I'm looking forward to an even lower BF%.

ThatOldGuy: Well, I don't blame my youth, I blame my stupidity. Even though I consider myself a quite educated and logical person, my mind sometimes wanders. I won't be using any software though. As you say, they seem a bit untrustworthy.

Reno_1ted: Yeah! If you think I'm a beast in that pic, you should see me after a good workout in the gym. I still have a pure heart though, beast or not. I doubt that I want to go for lower than 12% (which would put me at about 242 lbs) this time. As I've stated over and over, I miss increasing my strength. Well, only time will tell...

Thanks all. Have a great day!