John Stone's Picture Gallery and Video Archive

[John Stone]

Everything is cool with the throat - as it turns out it's just the incredibly high pollen count causing some irritation. It's nothing infectious or serious. So it's business as usual for me - I have an "all clear" from the doc.

I'm pretty beat right now and I'm about to go to bed. I'll write about it on more detail tomorrow morning when I do my update.

[Devery]

That's good to hear. Hopefully the doc took a swab just to be sure. When I was in Iraq last year a Navy doc gave me some sinus meds for what he thought was a sore throat, but I felt like something wasn't right after a few days of feeling miserable, so I went back and he did a field test right there in front of me with a swab and this peice of paper that turned a certain color to indicate strep, and he said "well I'll be darn, you do have strep." He admitted it fooled him the first time around.

One benefit I like about working out and eating right is I don't get sick hardly at all, and I think fitness plays an important part in this, and of course, proper rest.

[John Stone]

I know some of you don't read the main page, so I thought I'd put up this month's progress picture compared to my January 13, 2003 picture here. I always love comparing myself at the same weights, but looking drastically different. In fact, I actually weigh less in the fat picture!

Here I am at 206 pounds and 206.4 pounds, respectively:





Here's something I didn't put on the main page, but I'm very proud of the accomplishments I've made in this area.

My whole life I've always had a very flat butt, and hated it. It's genetics, but you know what I always say about genetics ("F*** 'em!"). I've made a lot of progress with my glutes over the past two years. I know a lot of you guys and girls would like to firm up and maybe add some size to your glutes, and I'll tell you how I did it: LUNGES, LUNGES and MORE LUNGES! Get to work!

This is July 2004 vs. April 2006.

[M@]

No idea what to say about the Day 0 - Present pictures. That's simply staggering. As for the side-shots, the size increase in your glutes is awesome...and I mean that in the most heterosexual way possible.

M@ - Who needs to do more lunges.

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by M@

No idea what to say about the Day 0 - Present pictures. That's simply staggering. As for the side-shots, the size increase in your glutes is awesome...and I mean that in the most heterosexual way possible.

Hey, glutes are muscles, too--there's nothing sexual about them in this context.

Thanks for the comments.

[Devery]

I thought maybe you had on a pair of those buffed underwear you can buy that add to your caboose...just kiddin. But there is definitely something going on back there!

The before and after pic is really cool to look at...what a change! You look so much healthier now, not to mention a lot of quality, hard earned muscle.

[Silver]

Hey John, are you sucking in those pics? I think I read somewhere (FAQ or something) that you aren't, but just seeing my flab gut hanging out when I'm not sucking and what feels like my stomach (the actual organ) hanging out causes me to wonder...

Lookin' good. First thing I noticed, before I even read the post, was the glutes. Once I get to the appropriate stage, I'll be gunning for lunges, as a fellow flat butter.

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by Silver

Hey John, are you sucking in those pics? I think I read somewhere (FAQ or something) that you aren't, but just seeing my flab gut hanging out when I'm not sucking and what feels like my stomach (the actual organ) hanging out causes me to wonder...

Well, let's talk about this for a second. I think there are two kinds of guts on most guys: some guys, like Brad Pitt, can relax their abs and still look pretty ripped up. Other guys (like me, for example) look like their insides are going to spill out when they totally relax their abs no matter how low their body fat percentage is. You may be that type, too.

So, in answer to your question: No, I'm not sucking in my gut at all, but I am flexing my abs and actually pushing out against the flexed abs, if that makes sense. I've actually developed the habit of keeping my abs flexed pretty much all the time. Sitting here typing this, I'm sitting up straight and flexing my abs without even thinking about it.

[Silver]

Awesome, thanks for the info (if you look at my journal - "Don't wanna be a fat lawyer...", you'll see that my gut is probably similar).

Interesting to know, helps me understand why my gut is always hanging out, hah. Or it might be because I'm still fat. Y'know, whatev!

I, too, always suck in. Habit to make people think I'm not as much of a lardbutt as I actually am (actually works, too, you'd be amazed!)

[Merk]

Originally Posted by John Stone

Well, let's talk about this for a second. I think there are two kinds of guts on most guys: some guys, like Brad Pitt, can relax their abs and still look pretty ripped up. Other guys (like me, for example) look like their insides are going to spill out when they totally relax their abs no matter how low their body fat percentage is. You may be that type, too.

So, in answer to your question: No, I'm not sucking in my gut at all, but I am flexing my abs and actually pushing out against the flexed abs, if that makes sense. I've actually developed the habit of keeping my abs flexed pretty much all the time. Sitting here typing this, I'm sitting up straight and flexing my abs without even thinking about it.

Whew! I am glad I am not the only one.

[1FastGTX]

Looking good all around John, as always. Most notable and impressive to me, STILL, is your upper legs! Dude, your quads look VERY impressive; I am straight up jealous!!

[uRi]

looking great this month ! far better than the last 2 monthly pics in my eyes. shaping up very well. just keep it up. but we all know: WWJSD? nothing else than keeping it up and increasing the pace.

[SwoleCat]

Very good work man, very good.

U never cease to amaze me!

~SC~

[oohchild]

Looking tip top and amazing.. I am looking up to you as a role model where fitness is concern. I noticed that in your training log you stated that you have a shoulder injury between aug'03 to apr'04 and yet from the picture archive, your body still maintain it's muscular form despite a whole 9 mths break from upper body workout. Very impressed , how did you managed to do it? What's your secrets?

[Nico]

Originally Posted by John Stone

Well, let's talk about this for a second. I think there are two kinds of guts on most guys: some guys, like Brad Pitt, can relax their abs and still look pretty ripped up. Other guys (like me, for example) look like their insides are going to spill out when they totally relax their abs no matter how low their body fat percentage is. You may be that type, too.

So, in answer to your question: No, I'm not sucking in my gut at all, but I am flexing my abs and actually pushing out against the flexed abs, if that makes sense. I've actually developed the habit of keeping my abs flexed pretty much all the time. Sitting here typing this, I'm sitting up straight and flexing my abs without even thinking about it.

you're engaging the transverse abdominus, which is the 'power corset' that keeps your inards in. guys with big guts and swaybacks generally have lost the ability to even engage them at all.

[Devery]

Originally Posted by Nico

you're engaging the transverse abdominus, which is the 'power corset' that keeps your inards in. guys with big guts and swaybacks generally have lost the ability to even engage them at all.

Yeah...what he said

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by Devery

The before and after pic is really cool to look at...what a change! You look so much healthier now, not to mention a lot of quality, hard earned muscle.

Somehow I missed your post when I replied before - sorry, and thanks for the comments!

Originally Posted by Silver

Interesting to know, helps me understand why my gut is always hanging out, hah. Or it might be because I'm still fat. Y'know, whatev!

Check this out. In the below picture, which was taken the morning of my hernia surgery (April 2004), I'm extremely lean... probably 7% or 8% body fat:



After my surgery I could not flex my abs, even slightly, and it looked like I was pregnant! It's just my body type, and NOT an indication of my body fat levels. Of course you can actually be fat and still have this body type, so don't use it as an excuse!

Originally Posted by 1FastGTX

Looking good all around John, as always. Most notable and impressive to me, STILL, is your upper legs! Dude, your quads look VERY impressive; I am straight up jealous!!

Wow, thanks Chris! I am starting to notice some separation in my quads, and it's a great feeling--especially now that my legs are in pretty good proportion to my upper body. My legs are almost solid muscle at this point and I still can't fit into "normal" jeans, which I'm now going to call "chicken leg jeans" to make me feel better.

Originally Posted by uRi

looking great this month ! far better than the last 2 monthly pics in my eyes. shaping up very well. just keep it up

I like bulking, but I have to admit that I feel better and more comfortable with lower body fat levels. I can't stand walking around with a puffy face and feeling bloated. Thanks for the comments!

Originally Posted by SwoleCat

Very good work man, very good.

U never cease to amaze me!

Thanks, Chris! I'm just working hard and putting your plan into action.

Originally Posted by oohchild

I noticed that in your training log you stated that you have a shoulder injury between aug'03 to apr'04 and yet from the picture archive, your body still maintain it's muscular form despite a whole 9 mths break from upper body workout. Very impressed , how did you managed to do it? What's your secrets?

No secret - I lost a lot of muscle during that time period. Not being able to do any upper body work, muscle loss was unavoidable. I just maintained very low body fat levels, so I still looked ripped. By the time I was able to lift again I was very small: for example, my arms were just 13.75".

[SteveO]

Wow! Your quads are REALLY showing through.
Like Chris said "Very Impressive!"

Your results continue to inspire me.

-SteveO..

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by SteveO

Wow! Your quads are REALLY showing through.
Like Chris said "Very Impressive!"

Your results continue to inspire me.

Thanks a lot, Steve!

[John Stone]

Excellent chest/abs workout tonight!

I took a couple of pictures: first one is a semi-relaxed B&W shot; the other one is more intense, and is meant to show my cuts and vascularity.