John Stone's Picture Gallery and Video Archive

[George]

"Below you'll find my pre-transformation picture, my pre-2006 bulking picture and my current picture. These pictures are updated on the first of each month."

John, you might want to update this part.

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by George

"Below you'll find my pre-transformation picture, my pre-2006 bulking picture and my current picture. These pictures are updated on the first of each month."

John, you might want to update this part.

Thanks, George!

[Bitenose]

Originally Posted by John Stone

I think you misunderstood my update today. You might want to give it a closer read. I'm not talking about seeing my abs. Obviously I have a nice six pack at 8% body fat--you can see that by looking through my pictures. My abs were clearly visible back in 2003--did you see the pictures I posted today?

What I'm talking about is a small amount of fat below my belly button that remains even when I'm down to 6%. That's what I want to get rid of.

*shrug* I think most would regard that as the (lower) abdominal area. Nonetheless, I think it'll be gone.. Phsysiologically, you're pretty-much a different animal.

[Antimatter]

It will be exciting following your progress to reach a "fatless" abdominal region- but one question I have is, will going to 4% eliminate the spot permanently, if it did'nt would you try to reach 3-4% every time you cut?

[chris0374]

John, I think I posted that Tom Venuto ~4% body fat thingy. Here's the article.
http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/ar...body-fat-1.htm

He didn't really write the article on the subject. He kinda did, but then the ~4% thing he just mentioned it once.

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by Bitenose

Nonetheless, I think it'll be gone.. .

I don't think you're right, but I certainly hope you are.

Originally Posted by Antimatter

It will be exciting following your progress to reach a "fatless" abdominal region- but one question I have is, will going to 4% eliminate the spot permanently, if it did'nt would you try to reach 3-4% every time you cut?

No--and that's the problem. When I return to a more sustainable 7-8% body fat, it will come back. Maintaining 4% for any length of time is not feasible.

After talking with Mastover, I've decided against cutting to those levels. My 6% goal will remain. I'll go into more detail in tomorrow's daily update.

Originally Posted by chris0374

John, I think I posted that Tom Venuto ~4% body fat thingy. Here's the article.
http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/ar...body-fat-1.htm

He didn't really write the article on the subject. He kinda did, but then the ~4% thing he just mentioned it once.

Cool, thanks for posting that--it was a good read.

[beginner84]

you know its really weird for me to read about people WANTING to get to 6% bodyfat,
i was skinny as §$%! and mal/undernourished for years and before i
started eating properly and weight training i was around 5-6 % ..

i am actually trying to get away from that right now

[doordude42]

Originally Posted by John Stone

I think you misunderstood my update today. My abs were clearly visible back in 2003--did you see the pictures I posted today?

John, where are the pictures?

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by beginner84

you know its really weird for me to read about people WANTING to get to 6% bodyfat,
i was skinny as §$%! and mal/undernourished for years and before i
started eating properly and weight training i was around 5-6 % ..

i am actually trying to get away from that right now

Malnurished 6% is quite a different look than a muscular 6%.

Keep training hard!

Originally Posted by doordude42

John, where are the pictures?

[eleonardo]

Originally Posted by doordude42

John, where are the pictures?

aqui

[pedurrod]

John,

I made a short video (abt. 40 seconds) with your transformation pictures. Is it o.k. if I upload it to YouTube and put a link from this thread?

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by pedurrod

John,

I made a short video (abt. 40 seconds) with your transformation pictures. Is it o.k. if I upload it to YouTube and put a link from this thread?

There is already one up there of my early transformation. My current cut is not completed yet, so I'd really rather wait until then if it's all the same to you. I'm still carrying a lot of fat right now and not "in shape".

I'd still be interested in checking your video out if you'd like to email it to me.

[pedurrod]

Sure, I'll email it to you right now. It's abt. 764 kb.



Edition: I think Søren Ragsdale, with the plate stabilization technique can do a much better job. I'll enjoy watching the transformation video next summer.

[John Stone]

"Four 215s".

Comparison shots at roughly the same weight over the years.

[gazareth]

Wow, it's amazing how much "softer" you look at 13% and 14%. Staggering really!

[bagley61]

Looking good my man.
I think you have officially become my mental image of how I want to look physically when I get to my long term goal.
Awesome transformation - I love the side by sides at the same weight over the years.
Train hard and smart. Paul

I hope Turtle is feeling better this a.m.

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by gazareth

Wow, it's amazing how much "softer" you look at 13% and 14%. Staggering really!

I messed up on the 3rd picture--I was actually at 12% body fat (not 13%) then. I corrected it.

Originally Posted by bagley61

I hope Turtle is feeling better this a.m.

Thanks, Paul.

Turtle is doing surprisingly well today, which is amazing because the doctors said today would be her most painful day. She actually seems pretty comfortable! Must be the Valium and codeine.

[guava]

Originally Posted by John Stone

"Four 215s".

I love those comparison shots!

Very nice! Great progress.

[guava]

Originally Posted by John Stone

"Four 215s".

I'm curious about whether you consciously had different "focal" body parts, or is that just the way it worked out. I see a lot of growth in pecs, biceps and quads between the second and third photos, and more of a difference in shoulders and lats in the last photo. Is that due to your shoulder injury, different training styles, something else, or am I imagining it?

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by guava

I love those comparison shots!

Very nice! Great progress.

Thank you! I know you love comparisons, and I thought of you when I was putting it together this morning.

I see you have your and Steve's adjustable DB's pictured in your new avatar. Nice--enjoy!

Originally Posted by guava

I'm curious about whether you consciously had different "focal" body parts, or is that just the way it worked out. I see a lot of growth in pecs, biceps and quads between the second and third photos, and more of a difference in shoulders and lats in the last photo. Is that due to your shoulder injury, different training styles, something else, or am I imagining it?

Good question. Probably some of all of the above.

The 2005 post-bulk picture was right after my first bulk, which I'd started in August 2004 after about 8+ months of not being able to do any upper body workouts (shoulder injury). I was doing MAX-OT at the time, and made some nice strength gains, as well as some n00b mass gains. At that point I was just trying to pack on mass and increase my overall strength. If I recall correctly, there was no particular focus placed on any specific body part(s). I have to admit that I was worried about re-injuring my shoulder, and did not work my shoulders nearly as hard nor as effectively as I should/could have.

The 2006 picture was during my 2005 bulk (one month remaining). During that bulk I was focusing more on hypertrophy and less on strength gains. I remember wanting to really bring my back up, and I feel I did a good job there. I put too much emphasis on my arms and not enough on my shoulders, and that is very obvious in the 2006 picture. My legs grow if I even think the word "squat", so they didn't get any particular focus, but were worked hard. My chest growth came about, I believe, because I starting using lighter weight (but still challenging), doing higher reps/volume (4 sets of 10-12, 4 exercises) and focusing on the mind-muscle connection instead of just pushing the weight around. That made a huge difference.

I'll be the first to admit that the March 2007 photo still shows a lot of room for improvement in terms of symmetry, but it's clearly the best of the bunch. This past bulk I used the same exact principles that I used in the previous year's bulk, but I did place some added focus on what I believed were my weakest areas: shoulders, lats, traps and overall upper body width. That's not to say my other body parts got off easy!

I think my two biggest remaining weaknesses are my rear delts and my traps. My traps actually have grown quite a lot (many people don't realize that the trapezius is actually a much larger muscle group than "the two humps on either side of the neck"), but genetically I don't have a lot of height to my traps unless I'm doing a most muscular pose or something.

Right now I'm undecided about doing another bulk. I'm going to wait and see how I look after my cut is over. If I do another bulk, it's going to be much cleaner than the previous bulks. I put on way too much fat the past 3 bulks. In fact, I think I've been underestimating my body fat percentages for quite some time (including in my most recent picture). I'm going to talk a bit more about this in tomorrow's Daily News update.