Let's hear your story

Matt · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 10:07 AM

I heard about John back in June or July of 2003. Honestly, it was a huge inspiration, because at the time, I just wanted to slim out and wanted a quick way to do it. I knew deep down it was going to take a lot of work, but I didn't have a model to base my nutrition on.

I started reading bb.com and talking with some people on other forums and got my plan together. Initially, it was just a copy of John's program, but it slowly evolved.

I went from 204 @28% bf in July to 178 @12% today. I was down to 9.5% a few weeks back, but that's the lowest I've been. I did through strict nutrition, consistent exercise, and dedication to a new me.

Lately, I have been hanging between 180-176 and have a lot of trouble breaking to the next level. I'm getting ready to try a one to two month stint on CKD to see if I can drop the last couple pounds of fat. If that works, great, I'm going to start a bulking cycle after that. If not, well, I'm going to bulk in that case anyways. The purpose of getting to 8% or so, is to see what it does to my body and how it reacts. I don't think I have ever been that low in my life, so I need to see it for my own eyes.

Like many others, John has been a huge inspiration and gave me visual evidence of how it should happen. Thanks John.

Now let's hear from the new members.

-Matt

Chris_Otto · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 10:15 AM

A friend of mine lost 60 lbs. over the course of 4 months. He posted on our private forums and asked if anyone else had been working on a similar transformation. I was surprised at all the responses and luckily someone that had been doing research found John's site.

Since November I have been doing massive amounts of research into nutrition, equipment, and trying to set up a good plan. My wife and I got started shortly after the New Year holiday.

Needless to say, John's site was one of my primary areas of research thanks to his meticulous documentation and outstanding links to other high value information sites.

I can't count how many huckster sites I happened across in my researching, I was lucky to have clicked that link to good ole twowiresthin.com.

OH! I totally forgot to pimp my web page. My hope is to actually have time to continually add more information and dress it up, but it will always be updated regarding my journal and charts.

http://chrisotto.home.comcast.net

TheWhoRocks · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 10:25 AM

Hi, I found this site around Late August, Early September, and this site is the sole reason why I started my fitness program. 2 years ago, I had my body fat measured, and it was about 18%. I would guess that it had gone up since then, but I really didn't have any motivation to diet or anything. I'm 17, and I didn't want to get picked on by others for making any attempts. I have always loved running, so since January 1st, 2003, I would run about 4-5 miles about every day. That maintained my weight, but I would still drink plenty of cola and junk food throughout the day.

When I discovered the site, I saw what kind of change can be made through not only exercising, but dieting. I still didn't plan on changing my diet, but sometime in late November, I decided that I would write myself a PHP/MySQL script that would allow me to keep track of my food intake and tell me what my protein/carbs/fat ratio is. I didn't work on it daily, but I would put some time in here and there, and a little after Christmas, it was ready. I ordered some whey protein from bodybuilding.com, and continued researching on how I would go about my program.

When January 1st came, I was ready to start, and I've been doing it ever since. I have stuck with it everyday except one day when I went skiing, but I planned it out so I won't let that happen to often. I am also not one to binge eat, so I really didn't have any problems with continuing the next day. I have lost about 8 pounds since then, and I am aiming for about 150 pounds. Once I get there, I will probably do a clean bulk and then possibly do another cutting phase. After that, I will probably be more liberal as to what I eat, but I will still watch what I eat.

If it weren't for this site, I wouldn't have made these changes to my lifestyle.

Matt · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris_Otto

OH! I totally forgot to pimp my web page. My hope is to actually have time to continually add more information and dress it up, but it will always be updated regarding my journal and charts.

http://chrisotto.home.comcast.net

Chris, I noticed you're in MI. :thumbsup: I'm about an hour north of you. Where 75 and 23 meet up.

Looks like you've got some nice equipment for the home gym. That should certainly help in the long run. I've burnt out a $500 Reebok Elliptical and have moved onto a convertable stepper/elliptical system. Its still cheap, but it gives me some variety of motion for us that are snowed in. I'm getting ready to build a house in Fenton, and I plan to upgrade a lot of my equipment at that time.

Matt · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWhoRocks

When January 1st came, I was ready to start, and I've been doing it ever since. I have stuck with it everyday except one day when I went skiing, but I planned it out so I won't let that happen to often. I am also not one to binge eat, so I really didn't have any problems with continuing the next day. I have lost about 8 pounds since then, and I am aiming for about 150 pounds. Once I get there, I will probably do a clean bulk and then possibly do another cutting phase. After that, I will probably be more liberal as to what I eat, but I will still watch what I eat.

If it weren't for this site, I wouldn't have made these changes to my lifestyle.

WR,

Awesome, keep at it. Having a "system" in place to track your physical progress and your nutrional intake can be a good or bad thing. I read about people that get discouraged by it, and not seeing the fat moving fasting enough. I'm always confused by that, because if I don't see it represented on paper, it can be tough to see it in the mirror sometimes!

I took John's spread sheet and added a load of graphs, plus other tracking info for my own purposes. I've now gutted a portion of it, as I am getting ready to start a CKD diet for month or so.

Kepp at it, and you'll hit your goals.

-Matt

Jim · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 10:57 AM

I started in October. Fed up with what I looked like I decided to change, On a forum I had just joined someone linked to this Website, I checked it out and was in disbelief about what he was doing.
I was 250, and 17, terrible. I seen that and on October 2nd I started planning out and done my first workout and all that, started eating right and the weight dropped off me fast, more like Newbie loss. I'm 224 right now, and since I first found this site I've been reading it every day. Probably the website got kept me going. I emailed John a few times and he gave me his advice, and it's worked great for me.
My goal however, isn't as far as Johns right now. Eventually I will, But right now I just want to 170-180 pounds with a a nice look to it. Then I'll decide what to do.
I know I'll get to my goals, like everyone will.

Chris_Otto · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 11:03 AM

I went to GMI so I'm VERY familiar with the area.

Congrats on the house, I am glad we have ours. I used to live in Ann Arbor and had a membership at Bally's. I think with the home gym I've gotten more workouts in than the whole year I had that membership.

We picked up the Precor from Fitness Experience in Novi. I think we saved like $600 off the MSRP and got the heart rate monitor thrown in (its the chest strap type). I know there is a new competitor to FE opening up in the Fountain Walk mall in Novi next to Galyan's. Sounds like they're offering pretty good deals and financing on high quality equipment.

One thing is for sure, I need a bigger room for this stuff in my next house. I want a leg press sled, a pull-up/dip station, and on and on and on...

Matt · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris_Otto

One thing is for sure, I need a bigger room for this stuff in my next house. I want a leg press sled, a pull-up/dip station, and on and on and on...

It never ends does it? We are planning on building 9' ceilings in our basement, but I keep thinking that a 10' ceiling would be so much better! Then I can have a fitness room, an indoor golf net, my brewery ( I brew my own beer), and my football room.

BTW, having hobbies like homebrewing and fat loss goals are very difficult to continue simultaneously. >

LaynePink · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 11:13 AM

I'm in the middle of a transformation program. I have already lost 15 pounds (I started at 220) and this site has been very inspirational to me. It helped me realize that it can actually be done with hard work and dedication. The daily pictures and the slow change in them are a cool and motivational thing to look at for even the 100th time. Thanks John for all of this info, your site is great.

Chris_Otto · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

It never ends does it? We are planning on building 9' ceilings in our basement, but I keep thinking that a 10' ceiling would be so much better! Then I can have a fitness room, an indoor golf net, my brewery ( I brew my own beer), and my football room.

BTW, having hobbies like homebrewing and fat loss goals are very difficult to continue simultaneously. >

I built a 12' x 21' purpose built home theater in the basement. I'm sorta wishing I used that room for the work out room considering I swiped the cash I was saving for the projector to buy all the weights/Smith/flooring/etc. I purchased a fridge to sit outside the theater and have a keg tap installed in the door.

The bad thing about this diet is I've cut out the beer... Anyone know if Gatorade comes in kegs?

So now I have a theater not being used, a keg fridge not being used, and I've crammed all my equipment into a spare bedroom. Oh well, at least I'm getting in better shape.

Matt · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris_Otto

The bad thing about this diet is I've cut out the beer... Anyone know if Gatorade comes in kegs?

Funny you should mention that. I was just talking to someone about that the other day. You can convert your keg system from the commercial sanke connectors to a cornelius system. Cornelius systems are the old firestone or soda kegs, usually 5 gallons, but can be from 2.5-10gallons. Mix up your gatorade from powder and serve. You could use serving pressure (which will carbonate slightly) or fully carbonate it! You could also use a nitrogen system to push it, but I don't know how that would effect the gatorade. :\

Matt Gordon · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 11:59 AM

I found a link to this site in John's post at the Home Theater Forum on his 1-year anniversary on his transformation program. After being very impressed with his hard work, dedication, and results, I began thinking about my own life...

I'm 29, and already starting to feel like an old man. Acid reflux, aches & pains, and a decline in my ability to focus and concentrate were the big symptoms of my body telling me that I'm not treating it right. I'm not "fat," at 6' 1" and 170 lbs., but I'm definitely out of shape. So, for the first time in my life, I'm seriously researching exercise and nutrition.

My transformation won't be as dramatic as that of others, but I know I'm going to put myself into the best shape ever.

Matt · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Gordon

I found a link to this site in John's post at the Home Theater Forum on his 1-year anniversary on his transformation program. After being very impressed with his hard work, dedication, and results, I began thinking about my own life...

I'm 29, and already starting to feel like an old man. Acid reflux, aches & pains, and a decline in my ability to focus and concentrate were the big symptoms of my body telling me that I'm not treating it right. I'm not "fat," at 6' 1" and 170 lbs., but I'm definitely out of shape. So, for the first time in my life, I'm seriously researching exercise and nutrition.

My transformation won't be as dramatic as that of others, but I know I'm going to put myself into the best shape ever.

I think our age has a lot to do with it, at least it did for me. I'm 28 and had been thinking a lot about how I had been changing with two kids, a wife, a stressful job, etc. I was blimping up and not really making any real progress at changing the way things were going. I would diet every year for a month or two, take off 15 pounds and work my way back up over 200 pounds. I didn't look obese, but I felt like it.

I made the goal of getting healthy and fit by 30 (two full years from when I decided to start) and get the ever elusive abs showing. I spend a lot of time at my FIL (Father In Law)'s vacation house on a lake and being the fatty of the family was not cool in my eyes. Right about the same time that I was motivating myself to make a change, I found john's site and that was the end of it. I have been charging ahead like crazy. It just becomes easy after a while. (Still sore, but easy to follow the plan.)

CuttinKing2183 · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 12:36 PM

I have been battling bad habits for a while now. I am 20, in 2001 I was tipping the scales around 300. After getting a physical job at UPS, over time I dropped to 250 (used fat burners). Stayed around 250 till late August where I decided I was going to lose all of this excess fat. I set up a three pronged attack.

#1) Atkins - I used the Atkins approach for rapid weight loss. From 8.25.03 to 12.23.03 I went from 245 to 200. Pant size went from 42-36. Step 1 = SUCCESS

#2) Cutting Cycle - On 1.19.04, I started this cutting cycle, eating healthy...We will see how long this takes but my goal is to be 180-185 by 5.1.04.

#3) Maintainence - I wanna keep my weight while getting bigger at the gym. Goal weight for life is 190 with 10% BF. Give or take...

I am so glad I have changed my way of eating and feel I can have success doing this. I feel better, look better, and it's just awesome hearing compliments about yourself by different people every day of the week. You know you've made a great change when people ask you for advice on how to drop quick pounds or what I do at the gym....

Matt · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CuttinKing2183

I have been battling bad habits for a while now. I am 20, in 2001 I was tipping the scales around 300. After getting a physical job at UPS, over time I dropped to 250 (used fat burners). Stayed around 250 till late August where I decided I was going to lose all of this excess fat. I set up a three pronged attack.

#1) Atkins - I used the Atkins approach for rapid weight loss. From 8.25.03 to 12.23.03 I went from 245 to 200. Pant size went from 42-36. Step 1 = SUCCESS

#2) Cutting Cycle - On 1.19.04, I started this cutting cycle, eating healthy...We will see how long this takes but my goal is to be 180-185 by 5.1.04.

#3) Maintainence - I wanna keep my weight while getting bigger at the gym. Goal weight for life is 190 with 10% BF. Give or take...

I am so glad I have changed my way of eating and feel I can have success doing this. I feel better, look better, and it's just awesome hearing compliments about yourself by different people every day of the week. You know you've made a great change when people ask you for advice on how to drop quick pounds or what I do at the gym....

Are you post over at bb.com? Your stats and the way you post dates looks familiar.

Glad to see you are making some progress. When you did atkin's, did you have touble dealing with side effects of induction? hazy/foggy head? That is my question du jour.

CuttinKing2183 · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

Are you post over at bb.com? Your stats and the way you post dates looks familiar.[/quote[

Yes, I do post over at bb.com but I don't like it because there are 'too many' people and no one answers my questions...

Glad to see you are making some progress. When you did atkin's, did you have touble dealing with side effects of induction? hazy/foggy head? That is my question du jour.

I felt like crap in the beginning because of the sugar withdrawal...but other than that...everything was great. I loved the weight loss, even though some was muscle...some was water....seeing your weight drop from 245-200 without even 'trying' was awesome.

I can't see anyone's signatures....but the post you just made indicates you can see mine...

Matt · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CuttinKing2183

I can't see anyone's signatures....but the post you just made indicates you can see mine...

No, actually I can't. Are you referring to my sig? "I hate signatures, but love irony"

There are a couple of people that really helped over at bb.com. DerekMac, Emma-Leigh, Sawastea, and there is at least one more that I am forgetting. The toughest part was being able to tell if they were saying something backed up by fact, experience, or just pulling something out of their a$$.

My comments and opinions come almost exclusively from experience in my own transformation. That is good and bad. Good that I know how things worked for me, but bad because everyone reacts differently. I try to keep that in mind when I post and let people know "that is how it worked for me".

corbint · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 02:16 PM

I used to be in shape in the military, but after I got out, I stopped working out and just got fat. Very fat! I gained 60 pounds in like 6 months. I let myself go for 4 years, and just turned into a plain unhealthy mess, but didnt realize it. I stumbled across Johns url the first week of November 2003, and thought "if this guy could do this, why cant I?". I began my research about proper diets, working out, etc, and put the plan into motion that fateful Monday morning(Nov 17). I havent looked back, and everything is going as planned. I feel so much better now, its amazing that I didnt know how crappy I felt while I was sedentary. I also had no idea how unhappy I truly was, or how many other things in my life were affected by my unhappy unhealthy self. Im grateful to John for the dedication he put into his online diary of everything he went through, because its what got me off the couch.

More of my story is documented here :: http://www.gettingripped.com/why.php

Matt Gordon · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 02:48 PM

Nice site, corbint!!! I'll be following your progress and cheering you on!!!

corbint · Wed, January 21st, 2004, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Gordon

Nice site, corbint!!! I'll be following your progress and cheering you on!!!

Thanks Matt!