Updated May 15...


Looks like Ill be the first to make a thread! My transformation began on Nov 17, and has been going strong ever since!

My initial pic on Nov 17 :

http://www.gettingripped.com/statuspics/nov17b.jpg

My most recent pic, May 15

http://www.gettingripped.com/statuspics/may15b.jpg

So far, 39.8 pounds down and a loss of nearly 17% bodyfat. Woo Hoo! Here is a graph depicting my weightloss and bodyfat % change to date:

http://www.gettingripped.com/wl2003_chart_files/wl2003_12925_image001.gif


More pics can be found at http://www.gettingripped.com/pictures.php

AWESOME....

yay - my avatar works!

Looks good, d00d!

Really notice the difference in the face, too. Keep up the good work!

Yeah corbint, I have checked your page a few times. You're making great progress! Keep it up!

Good Job my man!! Keep at it and you will be rewarded with all the things a great body and healthy lifestyle can give you!!

Blind180

great work, huge improvement in a short time, and probably the hardest time too, over christmas!

keep it up man, you'll be glad you did!

Thanks for the replies!

Great job.

Great job, corbint! I was looking through your recipes on your page, I think we may have to try some of those :)

Very nice job indeed. It's amazing how much difference 17 lbs makes. Very inspirational.

Wow, I even got props from John today in his morning update. Wooooop!

:claplow:

There's nothing better than feeling alive and able to improve! :gl:

Way to go, Corbint. Looks like you're doing great. IM off to see your site now. :db:

Very sweet advance, many will envy you :tu: keep up the great job!

nice site btw!

Nice job!! I start my journey on Monday and will try to post my "before" picture as embarrassing as it will be!

wow! u are doing great. your stomach has gotten waaaaay flatter

jerzguy : as embarrasing as it may seem, the beginning pics are critical for motivation. i actually have my front/side beginning pic setup as the background on my work pc. its a constant reminder of how far i let myself slip, and that i wont slip that far again. even if you dont show anyone the beginning pic until months into your transformation, you still need that baseline from which you start!
us2rocks : thanks man! im slowly but surely working it off!

KhamikaZe : thanks man, i appreciate the kind words!

AndiMAC : thank you!
Suzuhara : its amazing how different i feel now. the clarity in my mind, the happiness, etc... its great!

Hey your really crankin away! Good luck and great progress you've made!




Looks like Ill be the first to make a thread! My transformation began on Nov 17, and has been going strong ever since!

My initial pic on Nov 17 :

http://www.gettingripped.com/statuspics/nov17b.jpg

My most recent pic, Jan 17

http://www.gettingripped.com/statuspics/jan17b.jpg

So far, 17 pounds down and a loss of nearly 10% bodyfat. Woo Hoo! More pics can be found at http://www.gettingripped.com/pictures.php

New pics posted ... http://www.gettingripped.com/pictures.php
And another goal achieved!!! http://www.gettingripped.com/goals.php

Congrats! It's fun to see those gains (or losses, as it may be) :cool:

Wow! You look great! Your website is an inspiration. I am beginning my transformation today and I hope that I have as good of results as you have had so far. Thanks for the motivating post and keep up the good work! I will be checking back on a regular basis!! :claphigh:

lookin good bro, keep up the good work :tucool:

Good job :) Keep it up :db: :tucool:

I knew my 42" pants were getting baggy on me, but I never realized how much my body shape has changed in relation to the clothes I was wearing. My mom bought me a pair of 38" waist cargo pants for x-mas as a motivator. I tucked them in my drawer and havent looked at them since. I pulled them out this morning, and BOOM, they fit PERFECTLY. Amazing! Looks like I need to go shopping, especially since my belt is way past the last hole, and I ended up making my own(hey, i like this belt, i dont want to give it up ok!!!).

Time to get my shop on! Looks like Ill just get a few pairs of pants to tide me over until April.

Great job, keep it up and you'll be down to 34" pants in no time! :tu:

You must feel a LOT better! You progress is inspiring to many to keep at it! Keep us updated!

Hey Troy,

I know we've talked via email quite a lot, but I just wanted to say "welcome" to the forums and, of course, great job so far! I have a feeling that your transformation is going to be "one for the books". I guess I can sense the extreme dedication in you; it comes across on your web page and in all of your your emails. I'm enjoying watching your progress -- keep it up, every day gets you a little closer!

Hey Troy,

I know we've talked via email quite a lot, but I just wanted to say "welcome" to the forums and, of course, great job so far! I have a feeling that your transformation is going to be "one for the books". I guess I can sense the extreme dedication in you; it comes across on your web page and in all of your your emails. I'm enjoying watching your progress -- keep it up, every day gets you a little closer!


thanks for the post john, i appreciate it!

Wow. Very nice transformation. Like many persons when losing weight and increasing or toning muscle on the back, the posture will straighten out and is just one of the many indicators of a healthy change. (Of course, you have a lot of changes throughout your body but I Just wanted to point that out!):tucool:

Weekly Update!

Another pound lost, down 21 pounds total!
Updated pics - http://www.gettingripped.com/pictures.php

Updated weightloss stats - http://www.gettingripped.com/stats.php

wow... 21 more pounds? I have to say I'm jealous of your progress! You're making big leaps. Keep it up!

wow... 21 more pounds? I have to say I'm jealous of your progress! You're making big leaps. Keep it up!
hah i wish it was another 21 more pounds! nope, just 21 total, but im getting there!

Another few pounds gone! Down a total of 25 pounds, and now at 22.6% bodyfat! Woo hoo! I achieved another goal today of losing 25 total pounds, and also got a nice short haircut this week, and started my goatee. Ill probably shave the goat off in a month or so, just need something to help keep the winter wind off my face!

Happy V-Day everyone!

I have been tracking your progress since I joined this site...we are somewhat on the same level, except I may be a bit ahead. In any case, congratulations and keep up the good work. You look great!

bump! awesome work dude! keep it up!

Wow that is so awesome! Keep up the good work!

Troy, this morning I was checking out your latest pictures on your web site. You are really making amazing progress. I'm really proud of you for being so dedicated. It would be easy to make excuses and stop working out and eating right - especially with a new born child - but you are staying with your program 110%, and the results show it.

You are an insperation to us all, keep up the hard work. :tu:

Troy, this morning I was checking out your latest pictures on your web site. You are really making amazing progress. I'm really proud of you for being so dedicated. It would be easy to make excuses and stop working out and eating right - especially with a new born child - but you are staying with your program 110%, and the results show it.

You are an insperation to us all, keep up the hard work. :tu:
thanks bro, i appreciate the fact that you notice both my results, and dedication! this is baby #2 at home, my first kiddo is 3 1/2, so im definitely a busy daddy! every other night i do the midnight feedings, so im a bit groggy in the morning(i wonder how bad this is hurting my nighttime muscle synthesis, etc) but other than that, things are awesome.

i made a great post on my site about 5 minutes ago regarding motivation... i kicked ass today in the gym, more so than usual, because i was extra motivated. definitely a good read for anyone interested!

again, thx john!

That is just fantastic! It looks like you've lost more than 25 pounds, so you must really be packing on the muscle! At this pace, in a short amount of time, we're going to see some real definition (can already see some).
This is very inspirational. Thanks!

Another 1.4 pounds lost, down 26.6 pounds total!

Updated pics - http://www.gettingripped.com/pictures.php

Updated weightloss stats - http://www.gettingripped.com/stats.php

Another 2.2 pounds lost, down 28.8 pounds total!

Updated pics - http://www.gettingripped.com/pictures.php

Updated weightloss stats - http://www.gettingripped.com/stats.phpWooop! My goals are all getting closer each week that goes by!

You look like half the man you were! :tucool: You must be really happy with your progress, you can really see a huge difference there... keep it up! :db:

Great job! You are one of those lucky guys with a frame that can carry some massive muscles. :claphigh: :tu:

I wish I had some photos of what I looked like at 235 (I'm 5'11" and now 174) when I started my weight loss in Nov of 2001. Just to have around as a reminder. I have little concept of how unhealthy I must have looked. There are a few pics around of me with my family when I was around that weight, and my face is so massive that I can't even believe it was me. Plus, I still have my driver's license photo with huge chipmunk cheeks. I'm mortified every time I see those images.

Great job man!;) Keep up the hard work. I speak for myself and everyone else as I say that also...haha!:D

Once again, great work corbint! Keep it up man! :claphigh:

Weekly update completed, and my first plateau reached! No weightloss this week, but both my cardio style was changed the past week along with beginning to lift at home. I'll continue with my same diet for another week to see if my intake is the culprit, and adjust as necessary. Oh well, it happens to everyone at one time or another... I wont let it get me down. Time to keep charging!

Updated pics - http://www.gettingripped.com/pictures.php

Updated weightloss stats - http://www.gettingripped.com/stats.php

Oh well, it happens to everyone at one time or another... I wont let it get me down. Time to keep charging!
Here's a guy who is not going to let anything get in his way. Ladies and gentlemen, take note: Troy's attitude is a perfect example of what it takes to make it happen.

Keep it up, Troy! :tu:

Here's a guy who is not going to let anything get in his way. Ladies and gentlemen, take note: Troy's attitude is a perfect example of what it takes to make it happen. corbint's continually positive attitude amazes me. Just about every post I've seen has been up-beat, positive, and 100% motivating. I don't quite understand being able to maintain that level of motivation. Maybe it's a brain chemistry imbalance ;)

Good job dude!

Another Saturday, and another photo (http://www.gettingripped.com/pictures.php)and stats (http://www.gettingripped.com/stats.php) update! I lost 1.6 pounds this week, just .4 pounds away from achieving another goal! Oh well, I should hit my next goal of 30 total pounds lost by next Saturday! I did better than last week, but I still tend to think I may be stuck in a plateau, we will see. I'm going to give my diet another week before I make any drastic changes, just to see if this plateau has really been broken, or if I'm still stuck in the 217 to 219 range. I'll keep you all updated on how I progess!

corbint, you're doing really well and I don't feel you've hit a plateau. Now you've lost a good amount of fat you wouldn't really want to lose more than 2lbs a week anyway. If you want to keep your muscle that is and at best gain some new muscle.

Photoshop works wonders doesn't it?;) Just kiddin'!:)

Great progress! The tummy is wiltering away from that side profile. Keep up the hard work.

I think it's way too early to tell whether you've plateaued-particularly when you're probably adding muscle. Continue to take your measurements but I wouldn't worry about your weight nearly as much as you are. Don't condemn your diet based on what the scale is telling you if you know it to be a good diet. Weight isn't a very good indicator in the short term-the best indicator is your photo's and whether you've been eating right and following your training schedule. If you do all these things and you gain 2 pounds, it doesn't mean you're not making progress-you may have a different level of water retention or you're building muscle. In the early stages when you had a massive gut it made sense since there was so much fat to lose-you're no longer obese so get used to gradual changes in weight.

well, last weeks measurements showed literally no change in body composition, fat lbs, or lean mass lbs. not a problem, the body is an amazing piece of machinery and can and will do weird things! i did resume fat loss this week, with zero change to diet and workout routine, but honestly, i havent tuned or changed my diet since i initially started losing at 247 lbs... with that said, eventually, im going to be forced to tune my diet to my new weight, or change up my cardio, etc. im still undecided about my stuck weight, but in all honesty, the fact that I continue to improve my health, lift weights, and perform regular cardio to add longevity to my life is way more important than shrinking the tire from my hips. thats the key here, that i have made a lifestyle change that i adhere to, because its just so damn easy! the fat will come off, muscle will be added. i have no due date for that to be completed, because im not in a hurry. im going to be on this earth for a long time, so maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a positive outlook on everything is much more important now than getting chiseled abs(but damn they would look nice!).

but thank you all for the motivating replies, i truly appreciate it!

Those chiseled abs will come. Just keep training hard and eating well.

Weekly pics (http://www.gettingripped.com/pictures.php) and stats update (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/www.gettingripped.com/stats.php) completed, and I have met another goal (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/www.gettingripped.com/goals.php)! It looks like I broke through my stalled progress in a big way this week with a whopping 3 lb loss. It's tough to stay motivated through a fat loss stall, but if you stay strong, you can conquer all! Now that Ive successfully switched up both my workout program and eating patterns, my upcoming results should be interesting, to say the least!

Pics - http://www.gettingripped.com/pictures.php

Stats - http://www.gettingripped.com/stats.php

how did you break through your plateau?

Excellente job, Corbin. You've come a long way and it's showing! I like your mind set. Stubborn but committed! :D

how did you break through your plateau?
i switched up my cardio, lifting, and diet with the assistance of Chris Janusz "SwoleGenix" program ( www.gotswole.com ).

Excellente job, Corbin. You've come a long way and it's showing! I like your mind set. Stubborn but committed! :D
stubborn? me? nahhhhh!!! this fat, yes, me, no! ;-)

stubborn? me? nahhhhh!!! this fat, yes, me, no! ;-)
Dude you're about to break through the 40 inch barrier on the waist. That's a huge milestone. when's the last time you wore 38 pants?

Dude you're about to break through the 40 inch barrier on the waist. That's a huge milestone. when's the last time you wore 38 pants?
my favorite pair of pants right now is a pair of khaki cargo pants, waist 38, length 29 from The Gap. Why do they fit? I like to wear my pants low on my hips, so they fit damn good. Ive never worn pants on my stomach, as you are supposed to do with dress pants. this is what always caused me to have a nasty belly hang-over effect when i was at my maximum density of 247... i was wearing 42 inch pants, VERY tight, and my gut literally poured over my belt, which was at the last notch.

ive got the same belt, but im creating my own holes as i go. my wife says thats cheap and tacky but i use it as a mental reminder daily of how large i was. same thing with my pants. most of the pants i wear to work are my same fat pants... another thing the wife rides me about. i dont want to spend any $$$ on new clothes until im at my goal in a few months, so she understands. yeah, my pants are mega baggy now, and my boss and others at the office notice, but they know why!

but to answer your question... the last time i PROPERLY wore a pair of 38 inch trousers was in early 1999, right after I got out of the Marine Corps and put on my first 10 lbs of fat. i still have my Marine Corps trousers... i hope to put them on one day and have them fit as they did when i was in... or fit even better!

Your kicking serious ass dude! :tu:

i hope to put them on one day and have them fit as they did when i was in... or fit even better!

Judging by your consistency and education in the fitness/nutrition arena I'd say you're definitely not going to change back to your old ways. I think you're a perfect example of what happens to so many American males. Having been in the military, you were in great condition in your low 20's. But working in IT and the business lifestyle (travelling, eating out, sitting around on planes and in meetings) is conducive to gaining 10-15 lbs every year.

Once you reach your final goal of being a certified trainer think how much more relatable you will be to the average fat slob who wants to improve but doesn't know how to make a plan and stick to it-your before/after alone should sell them!

The next big milestone is 200 lbs-that may take awhile if you've been adding muscle mass.

Daaammnnn Corbint! Seriously looking great! Before today I hadn't checked out your pics for a few weeks....you're looking amazing.

Just read your daily update too, your flat bench went up 40lbs today???Damn, talk about pushing yourself!

Daaammnnn Corbint! Seriously looking great! Before today I hadn't checked out your pics for a few weeks....you're looking amazing.

Just read your daily update too, your flat bench went up 40lbs today???Damn, talk about pushing yourself!
thanks! yeah, i was being a wuss when it came to benching. no idea why. well, i do know why. i was scared of hurting my rotator cuffs, blah blah. but ya know what.... if we dont surpass our goals each and every time we hoist that cold iron into the air, we are wasting our time. my pecs feel absolutely awesome and full this morning, and i havent had this sort of pump from a chest workout in a LONGGGGGGGGGGGG time! next week i wont add nearly as much weight, maybe a 2.5lb plate on each side... but you never know. i found a comfort zone and stayed in it... gotta be uncomfortable to grow!

"if we dont surpass our goals each and every time we hoist that cold iron into the air, we are wasting our time."

What a great quote! I remind myself of this everytime I step into the weight room...and with every set, every rep....it's all about progress.

Corbint-Once again great job (and great website BTW, love the url, design, flow, etc.) I look forward to your progress!

You are another great inspiration to people. There's a group of guys here at my work that are always making bets for losing weight. They all go on these crazy diets, use laxatives etc just to win the money, they all lose some but as soon as the bets over they put back on the weight and more. I try to talk to them, they see me eating my tuna, rice, chicken breasts, yogurt, etc all the time and just laugh.

Keep up the great work man, you've made an amazing transformation so far. :db:

You are another great inspiration to people. He sure is. :tu:

You rock Troy.

Yeah, it won't be long now - soon you're going to be RIPPED. :nod:

Pounds continue to fall, albeit a bit slower lately because of a changed eating method. No biggie, body composition still continues to change! The plan continues, we shall see what the next chapter brings us. I can't wait to get to my first bulking phase, I have a feeling I can put on mass(muscle and a bit of fat) easier than I can strip away pure fat due to my body type. That is sure to be an exciting time...

Stay tuned for further updates!

Another successful week, with a slight drop in bodyfat percentage, and a loss of 2 lbs. I had a less than stellar week of lifting this past week, but my cardio was on point. I'll be improving my lifting this afternoon and throughout next week to match the intensity Ive had in past weeks. New pics have been uploaded, as well as an updated graph. You know the url!

Stay tuned!

Another week, another handful of pounds dropped! My wife kept insisting I needed a tan, so I decided to try a "sunless tan" with the results being less than favorable... Check out my pics, I almost look jaundiced! Oh well, Im inching ever so slowly toward the 200 lb mark, should be there within weeks!

Stay tuned!

Man you are doing awesome! I always like to check out your updates. Helps me stay motivated. :tu:

What is you height? I havent seen it anywhere on your site. I also hope your %bf is correct as if it is then i am not 19.5% but more like under 17%.

height is 5'10.5"

my bodyfat % is only as accurate as my calipers.. every time i do my weekly measurement i actually do it 3 times to ensure i get the same numbers.

Your site is awesome Corbint. Everytime I go to it I get inspired. I love your goals page specifically. It's something I haven't really given enough thought about. A goal of mine will definitely be to run a half marathon. Maybe marathon, but I think that kind of distance actually puts a lot of hurt on the body, will see.

I never realized how much my face had changed... Ive pot my work id card photo next to a close-up of my face from last weekend, and WOW the changes are really apparent! This makes all the effort even more worthwhile!

Wow, that is a huge change (for the better, no offense).

I like the site as well. I have been keeping up with your blog. Good to see what other people are doing.

Ugh! I missed my goal of 40 lbs total weight loss by a whopping .2 pounds this week! I should definitely hit it next week though! I've updated my photos page (http://www.gettingripped.com/pictures.php) along with my stats page (http://www.gettingripped.com/stats.php), and things continue to stay on course. I did my usual morning cardio today, and had to be at the office right afterward to begin our network upgrade which had a few issues that had to be sorted out... Nothing like a good increase in cortisol due to stress on a Saturday morning! I'm doing a back workout this evening, and can't wait to get at it...

And tonight is.... CHEAT NIGHT! Thank God! :eat:

Stay tuned!

That is a striking difference. I have my most recent drivers license and it's from my fat period. Whenever I don't feel I'm making good progress I hold it up side by side in the mirror.

Keep on rocking dude. I'm rooting for ya! :tu:

Here is a cool back comparison, although Im standing at a funky angle in the pic on the right. Ive got the separate pics, both left and right, in my album at http://gallery.gettingripped.com/troy .


http://gallery.gettingripped.com/albums/troy/back_merge.jpg

Left image is from Nov 17, right image is from May 15.

:spaz:

Here is an old photo of "when I was skinny" during my enlistment in the Marine Corps... Im the Corporal on the right. This was taken the night of the Marine Corps Ball in November of 1997, when I was stationed at Camp LeJeune. What a motivating photo to keep me on my transformation path!


http://gallery.gettingripped.com/albums/troy/troy_and_niers.jpg

So how long did it take to get from that picture to 245?
What things did you do to gain that weight that you would never do now? How much were you eating? Working out? Drinking? What's been the biggest key? or have they all been equally important?

So how long did it take to get from that picture to 245?
What things did you do to gain that weight that you would never do now? How much were you eating? Working out? Drinking? What's been the biggest key? or have they all been equally important?
All fantastic questions!

I'd say that I easily ballooned from a healthy low-bodyfat 182 pounds(my weight in that photo, maybe even 179) to 245 pounds over a 7 month period once I got out of the Marines.

Factors that contributed to my increase in bodyfat include :
- I stopped working out completely after I got out
- My diet got worse over time
- I worked long hours
- I got little rest.
- I also got married near the end of my enlistment, so perhaps my evening meals got better(and bigger!). :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:

It's funny you mention drinking... We all drank a lot in the Marines, it's just part of the experience I guess. Since I got out, I haven't really drank at all, nor do I feel a desire to. I might have a few beers over the course of a year, at a few select social functions.

I think the biggest factor was just a total disregard for myself, a drop in self esteem, and a focus on more material things (i.e. generating larger income) than focusing on my and my personal well-being.

What have been my biggest keys so far in successfully getting back on track?
- Support from friends, family, and co-workers
- Lots of research :read:
- Correcting my diet in a way I can maintain for life, not just to lose weight. :eat:
- Acknowledging that I created my problem, and Im the only one who could fix it. :o
- Constant cardio and resistance training.... Very key! :db: :bb:
- Maintaining a positive outlook on what Im doing, even when progress slows or pauses for a few weeks. :D

Im sure there are more keys, but its time to head out of the office! :jumping:

Our line of work sure takes its toll quickly, eh Troy? ;)

You sure look sharp in your uniform!

Hey Troy,
I just read your website for the last week's postings. Wow, your journey is almost sounding like the opposite of what that dude did in "SuperSize Me" movie.

Hope all turns out. I had an experience when I first start lifting about 12 years ago. Whenever I would exert myself during squats or pullups, I would get this pressure in the back of my head. I would almost pass out. I went to the doc. I had a CT scan. It didn't show anything and the doc did not think that it was serious enough to put dye into my blood. He beleived that it could be a small anureism (sp?). SERIOUS!?!?! Anyways, I just layed off the weights for a couple weeks and have not had any problems since.

Good luck.

Thanks for the message Banditfist! I personally think the headaches are just related to lifting in my hot garage, so I decided to move all weights to my newly-emptied basement. The ambient temp down here is around 64 degrees, versus 180 degrees in my garage. Apparently heat can help cause exertional headaches and since the weather has been progressively warmer here, Im hoping thats what it is. Im going to get in a nice heavy chest workout this evening, so Ill find out first-hand if it helped! Doing cardio in the basement isnt half bad either, its so damn cold I dont even need a fan!

You mentioned aneurysm, which is something I though about as well. I just attended a funeral for someone that passed away due to an aneurysm bursting in their brain, so I immediately freaked and thought I was going to die. How ironic, death by weightlifting-induced aneurysm, while trying to get physically fit!

It sucks to lay off the weights, in fact has kinda gotten me down, hence why Im going to test out the chest workout this afternoon. If all goes well, Ill call the doc and let him know whats up!

Our line of work sure takes its toll quickly, eh Troy? ;)

You sure look sharp in your uniform!

haha, you're telling me, and i only work <20hours a week! the stress alone is enough for me to drink myself retarded :whistle:

I decided to move all weights to my newly-emptied basement. The ambient temp down here is around 64 degrees, versus 180 degrees in my garage. Apparently heat can help cause exertional headaches and since the weather has been progressively warmer here, Im hoping thats what it is. Im going to get in a nice heavy chest workout this evening, so Ill find out first-hand if it helped! Doing cardio in the basement isnt half bad either, its so damn cold I dont even need a fan!



I've always liked working out in a colder gym-I think it takes longer to fatigue and the muscles seem to have more spring to them-but you have to be extra aware of warming up each muscle group. I now do a Max-OT style warmup of 4 or 5 quick sets before really starting in on a muscle group, especially for the shoulder area.