page 12

1/25/2012 2:20:37 PM

Quote :

"I still don't understand other guys' obsession with simply putting on weight . I guess maybe I'm the weird one; I've never tried to gain weight even though I'm 5'8 135. I just like to stay lean but athletic for my size."

I don't think anyone just wants to gain/lose weight. The goal is typically recomposition, even if it's not stated. Everyone has their own goals as far as how much fat they're willing to gain while bulking, or how much muscle they're willing to not gain when cutting.

It's nearly guaranteed that you'd look better if you started lifting and gained 20 lbs. There's no way you'd look fat, you'd just look more built. Guys always look better with lean mass. We're not talking powerlifter status, just the muscle you'd get from 6 months of barbell training.

Quote :

"nutrition-wise, lets say I am getting in 200g protein daily while working out during a strength training series for 8 weeks. (male, 29, 6'4", 202lbs) but the calorie number is around 2100-2200/day when it prob needs to be in the 2600-3000/day range. Will I still see muscle gains and the body uses fat reserves to burn for energy, or will my body just burn the protein for energy instead of using it to build muscle. keep in mind i have no clue what im talking about here, so nutritionists of tww I apologize in advance and try not to cringe too much reading that. thanks! "

Even 2200 on a non-training day is low for your size. For me at 6' 3", I've estimated 20% under maintenance to be about 2400 calories. On days where I do lift, I'll eat closer to 3200-3500 calories. It's high protein whether it's a training day or not, but post-lifting meals should be high carb too. The no-carb/low-carb thing is probably fine most of the time, but not around your training.

[Edited on January 25, 2012 at 2:37 PM. Reason : ]

1/25/2012 2:31:16 PM

^See, I think I must just have hollow bones or something keeping me this light

I lift regularly, and am very happy with the amount of muscle mass I have. I could have more, but I really don't need to anymore. Obviously everyone has different goals though, like you stated.

I used to carry a little more muscle in all my years of wrestling but I just don't really feel I need the extra now. Could be my own weird perception but I like the lean look I can attain while clothed (athletic without any sense of bulkiness), while still remaining relatively strong for the weight I am at. For example, even though I weigh 135, my last workout yesterday consisted of:

Flat Bench
8x155
8x185
4x205
2x210

3 sets of 15 wide, angle grip pullups
2 sets of 20 chinups
2 sets of 50 pushups
4 sets of 25 body weight dips

While studying for my PE test last year (mainly summer into late fall), I definitely slacked a lot on my workouts. It was really the mental fatigue of working all day and studying all night but it kind of manifested itself in a physical form and I slacked for several months on working out. I don't have many workout/progress/inspiration type pics period so this is the most recent one I have which is from November, right after my test was finished. It was kind of my starting point for myself for winter workouts, just as a reference after a few months of slacking in the gym.



And, at least to me, even after losing some definition over those few months I was ok with the amount of muscle mass I had.

[Edited on January 25, 2012 at 3:26 PM. Reason : ]

1/25/2012 3:25:58 PM

I think we need some more pictures so we can truly assess the definition

that's all I have to contribute.

1/25/2012 3:56:36 PM

Great job Morphine Boy! Huge difference between the photos

1/25/2012 4:14:24 PM

^I missed the pictures since it was the last post on that page. Morphine Boy excellent job. You should repost on this page!

1/25/2012 4:20:46 PM

40 lbs of weight loss is great in a year

40 lbs of weight loss in a month is
1) suspect
2) DANGEROUS AS FUCK

1/25/2012 4:41:53 PM

Well, the first ten pounds of weight loss could be water + weighing yourself after an Xmas NYE binge. Then, another ten pounds would be healthy weight loss of 2 lbs per week.

So 20 lbs wouldn't be too crazy just after the holidays. 40 lbs, however, is . Maybe not the healthiest fluctuation. Be sure you're rehydrating!

That said, your pics look great!

1/25/2012 4:46:31 PM

2lbs per week is still a what, 1000cal/day deficit?

1/25/2012 4:53:23 PM

I thought he meant the second photo was his "before" for this year and the one on the left was from last year. But maybe I am wrong and y'all are right in being all wtf.

1/25/2012 4:59:24 PM

Yep, and doctors say that it's safe to lose 2 lbs per week. Any faster than that, and you're more likely to gain the weight back. And you may not be eating enough for your body to thrive ... which means your body may start "eating" your organs and muscles. So, key is to make sure that you're eating enough to sustain healthy muscle mass while burning fat.

1/25/2012 4:59:42 PM

Ain't nobody here lost 40 pounds in a month. Y'all are dumber that I thought, and I already thought you were pretty dumb.

1/25/2012 5:00:30 PM

I think you could lose 40 lbs in a month. If you weighed 800 lbs and were on biggest loser. Or you had a baby. LOL

1/25/2012 5:01:23 PM

the people on the show survivor probably don't even lose that much weight during the course of the season

1/25/2012 5:02:06 PM

I once lost 10 lbs in 3 days. The result of backpacking in 3rd world countries. And brushing my teeth with the water.

If you have extra weight, like the folks on Biggest Loser, it's not that surprising to lose that much. But those folks are also 400+ lbs.

1/25/2012 5:04:18 PM

Check his posts. Dude's been doing the weight loss thing for months now. He did P90 Masters before P90X. I think that's a before all the weight loss picture. He lost a significant amount of weight before starting P90X.

see this page, scroll for pictures: http://www.thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=606924&page=105#15145188

[Edited on January 25, 2012 at 5:08 PM. Reason : ]

1/25/2012 5:06:44 PM

when i lost 100lbs in 08, the first month i lost something like 30lbs, 20lbs the next, 10, 5, etc IIRC

1/25/2012 8:30:20 PM

I started out my weight loss on Jan 5th.

All I am doing is honestly tracking my calories. It's all completely public for everyone to see:
http://www.fatsecret.com/member/Noenflux

So far I've lost 11 pounds.
But there's also a gap in my records because I've been sick as hell.

I know once I kick this ($*&% cough and get back to skiing, and start working out regularly, I'll be in a rythym in no time.

Honestly though, just keeping track of what I'm eating has made a tremendous difference already.

1/26/2012 5:52:48 AM

My friend did Survivor twice and the first time she lost so much weight that it affected her metabolism for a while after. It's pretty dangerous to lose a lot of weight quickly.

1/26/2012 7:12:49 AM

MinkaGrl01:

^ yes I definitely have specific examples of that happening to people I know. Messed up metabolisms can take a longggg time to recover too.

1/26/2012 7:44:37 AM

Oh yeah, the picture on the left was from January 2011 before I began working out at all. Not 40 lbs in one month. lol

Good call Beethoven86.

I actually just became a Beachbody Coach too, so if you have any questions about Shakeology or P90X etc, just let me know.

(25% discount and free coach status for military!)

1/26/2012 7:51:11 AM

in that case the results look really good. congrats dude.

1/26/2012 7:54:39 AM

if you burn >3500 cal/day more than you take in, you can def burn ~30 lbs/mo.




I lost 15lbs over a weekend once. But I was super sick

1/26/2012 8:33:38 AM

CalledToArms,

Do you plan on putting on a little more weight? We're actually pretty similar in height and build (do you have a waist the size of a child that makes it hard to find pants that fit like I do??), except my ideal weight is right around 150...maybe a little less.

You look to be in great shape with muscle definition everywhere...but maybe a tad on the too-thin size?? Just wondering what your thoughts on your body size are.

1/26/2012 9:08:30 AM

Quote :

"I actually just became a Beachbody Coach too, so if you have any questions about Shakeology or P90X etc, just let me know."

how do you become a beachbody coach?

1/26/2012 9:36:16 AM

^^I'm pretty happy with where I am. I am obviously never trying to lose weight as I am definitely on the thinner side as you pointed out, but I'm really never trying to actively gain weight either. In general I just focus on eating very healthily, hitting or maintaining certain strength goals in the gym, and I still play several intramural sports. As long as I do that and I perceive myself to look and feel healthy I'm happy. I don't have as much drive to potentially bulk up since I'm not competing really competitively in sports anymore. I guess I'm going for more of a utilitarian build; I've found a fairly happy medium between health, strength, athleticism and the amount of effort I have to put in to achieve a certain level of each.

I do have a small waist (30") which makes it very hard to find nice pants that fit in waist and inseam while not being super expensive or tailored(I've had decent luck at Banana Republic over the years). I actually find it hard to buy shirts often as well because of the fact that my upper body to my waist tapers a good bit. The majority of dress shirts that fit me through the chest and back get baggy on my sides and where I tuck them in mainly because of my stupidly small waist. I have found the Arrow Slim fit, Apt 9, and Marc Anthony shirts from Kohls to be a good quality and good cut for my body type in a non-tailored and reasonably priced shirt. Not sure what your style is though.

I'm guessing you might think I look a little too thin based on being able to see some of my ribs/bones? I've pretty much always been like that since HS. Not sure if it's because I don't carry enough fat or if that is just my body-type.

[Edited on January 26, 2012 at 9:51 AM. Reason : ]

1/26/2012 9:50:52 AM

down below 250 for the first time in almost a decade! 248 today.

Also, i bought a pair of 38 inch jeans!

1/26/2012 10:17:05 AM

I definitely have the same problems buying clothes as you...although I'm a little heavier, my waist is actually a little smaller (around 28/29). But your torso as a whole seems to be a bit more narrow than mine. Finding dress shirts that fit has been difficult, but I've found a good style at Jos. A Banks (that I can't remember).

I was as high as 165 in college when my goals were to bench and squat as much as possible...and although it was all muscle, it became less appealing to me and I've slowly shed off 20 lbs over the years. I'm extremely happy being around 145 to 150...which is what I think I'm at in this picture:



But in the last few years I've tended to put on about 5-10 lbs every winter and start floating around and above the 160 range and look like this (bear with me, I'm having to go through photo galleries):





I've already taken about 7/8 lbs off of those pictures and am maybe 5 lbs away from the top picture. I just hate fluctuating every friggin winter. And the surprise trip to the Bahamas this New Years was a wake-up call in the "you're getting fat every winter" realization.

1/26/2012 10:17:22 AM

your girlfriend is really pretty

1/26/2012 10:26:02 AM

She is a cutie. We love to eat too much though and usually "fluctuate" together.

1/26/2012 10:35:16 AM

Cute pics! Y'all are adorable. And it's nice to have a partner in crime for eating. Better to fluctuate a little bit with someone who has a balanced attitude toward life, food and fitness than to be with someone who's your polar opposite. (health nut with glutton)

And if you're drinking too much wine on occasion, or indulging in too much gourmet cuisine on occasion, it's not that bad. On the other hand, some couples share their Bojangles and Papa Johns binges ... which definitely leads to massively adding on the pounds in a short amount of time. That stuff is cheap and addictive!

1/26/2012 11:20:11 AM

Yeah...it's definitely wine and the food we cook. Since New Years we've either cooked much lighter/lower portioned meals and/or made healthy sandwiches for lunch on a daily basis. We splurge a little bit on the weekends...but that's about it. We both don't buy sweets or eat fast food and we both get angry at the other one if somebody goes for a run or works out while the other doesn't.

[Edited on January 26, 2012 at 11:31 AM. Reason : .]

1/26/2012 11:31:02 AM

it's worth the money to get dress shirts and slacks tailored to fit right. I'm just glad my neck isn't as big now as it was when I wrestled, because dress shirts were impossible to buy then. shirts with a 21.5" neck would fit the stay puft marshmallow man before being tailored.

1/26/2012 11:39:14 AM

Yup, I pretty much have to buy the slim fit dress shirts to get one that doesn't give me a fabric muffin top, and with the slim fit shirts they're usually tight in the shoulder/across the back and/or in the arms. Apparently most guys who wear my size are significantly fatter than me. Now that I don't have to wear a tie to work every day and fuck up my dress shirts I'll probably invest in some nicer shirts and get them tailored to fit. Probably going to drop a grand or so at Brooks Brothers when I get my annual bonus in March.

1/26/2012 11:59:22 AM

I enjoy the relationship bonding that comes with weight fluctuations quite a bit actually. We both accept that sometimes it's OK to go through periods where you eat more or crappier food than normal (i.e., holidays), or sometimes you have phases where you just aren't quite on with workouts. We are fine with picking up a few pounds when that happens, because we know we'll turn around and use that to motivate us to get better than we were before the fluctuation. And we always both kind of reach that "hey we're getting fat" place at the same time and do some kind of challenge or something together to motivate us. (I feel like I posted this same notion last year, but don't feel like checking that).

1/26/2012 12:05:56 PM

^ On a similar note, it's also nice to be with someone who enjoys SHARING food and exercise. I've dated guys in the past who would say, "Are you sure you want to eat that? You'd really look better if you lost 20 lbs."

My bf likes to go for runs together and share meals and wine and desserts. So nice to be with someone who sees a girlfriend as a partner and not just a piece of arm candy.

Though not a bad thing to call out a sig other if they're getting truly unhealthy. But there's a difference between caring about health and being grossed out if your sig other gains 5 lbs over Christmas.

[Edited on January 26, 2012 at 1:43 PM. Reason : f]

1/26/2012 1:43:08 PM

Quote :

"My bf likes to go for runs together and share meals and wine and desserts."

The gf doesn't particularly care for deserts...MAJOR obstacle to our future!!

[Edited on January 26, 2012 at 1:56 PM. Reason : .]

1/26/2012 1:45:48 PM

im the worst influence for my gf in terms of eating right

1/26/2012 1:54:06 PM

I don't have much of a sweet tooth either (massively crave salty, spicy foods) but I bake cookies when the bf is craving something sweet. And when we go out to eat for a special occasion, we'll share something awesome like Creme Brulee or Bananas Foster. He and I have had this discussion ... sometimes he wants really wants dessert but won't order it if he has to eat it alone. So I'll share it with him. It's not an everyday occurrence, but it's nice on occasion.

1/26/2012 2:01:09 PM

i've been so much better about not wanting sweets compared to last year. i just find that avoidance is the best for me because i can't just have a little bit of something. also it helps that i can't have chocolate anymore

1/26/2012 2:06:44 PM

^ I'm the same way. I don't keep processed sweets in the house. Too convenient ... and it's kind of throwaway calories. Oreos and sweet snacks just aren't as satisfying as a decadent dessert. Would rather have one AWESOME dessert out than a bunch of oreos at home.

Bummer about chocolate though. Love some super dark chocolate.

1/26/2012 2:10:10 PM

i keep a bag of dove dark chocolate bites in the fridge for emergency cravings. Usually at the end of hte day when i get dessert cravings

1/26/2012 2:41:21 PM

I keep a bag of Mozartkugeln Mozart Chocolate Balls in my desk my boss gave me from his trip to Austria earlier this month.... so hard not to give in and eat one. I know one day I'll have a craving, give in and in a blink of an eye half will be gone

1/26/2012 2:45:54 PM

Here's a really good article released yesterday on intermittent fasting from a former skeptic:

http://artofmanliness.com/2012/01/25/intermittent-fasting/

You'll never stick to a diet where you feel like you're constantly depriving yourself of things you want.

1/26/2012 2:56:16 PM

Quote :

"I still don't understand other guys' obsession with simply putting on weight . I guess maybe I'm the weird one; I've never tried to gain weight even though I'm 5'8 135. I just like to stay lean but athletic for my size."

Because we are substantially taller then 5'8" and weigh(ed) near 130lbs..... The most annoying of us are ectomorphs so we can get away with dietary murder. Although I think it does take a toll on your body outside of the image!!!

Quote :

"im the worst influence for my gf in terms of eating right"

I often feel this way because I need to consume larger amounts of calories and cant eat as much in one sitting. Oh well....she is jacked so I cant be too bad an influence.

1/26/2012 8:05:45 PM

Dropped 30lbs in three months, and 3% bf....

1/27/2012 4:43:23 AM

"Before" pictures are up above with me sitting down on the boat. Here are my "midway" pictures:










Don't know my actual weight because I quit my gym and don't have access to a scale anymore. I'd guess my above pictures are in the 162-65 range. These are probably in the 155-57. Trying to get down to 145-48 range.

I think I'm about 7-10 lbs away from where I want to be. Need to trim the midsection up a bit and I actually want my arms to get smaller (don't know how I'm going to do that without losing more weight than I want to). But I'm happy with where I'm at compared to where I was at the beginning of the year. I think I can hit my goal by the end of February if I keep up with what I'm doing.

1/27/2012 8:08:56 AM

Ugh, desserts are my ultimate weakness. And Eric isnt as big of a sweets fan as I am, so if we get a dessert I usually end up finishing it - granted, I eat like 2 or 3 times more than he does anyway

Quote :

"Though not a bad thing to call out a sig other if they're getting truly unhealthy. But there's a difference between caring about health and being grossed out if your sig other gains 5 lbs over Christmas."

That's the point we got to recently (meaning, I had to tell him). It really sucks having that talk with your SO but I think hearing it form someone who loves you makes it more real and shows you should do something about it. Our problem is we enjoy working out together and stuff but it's hard to be as motivated when you live a few states away. I think once we are able to live together it will be much easier to keep that motivation up and eat healthier, since we'll be making more meals at home and stuff and I can make his lunch.


Ps, jbrick your girl is very pretty!

1/27/2012 9:10:57 AM

Quote :

"I often feel this way because I need to consume larger amounts of calories and cant eat as much in one sitting."

im kinda the opposite.

since new years ive been doing intermittent fasting (quasi leangains-y), with one small meal and one balls out crazy meal per day. macro goals dependent on rest/lifting day.

if i train in the am fasted, i'll supplement with bcaas then go to town about 1230-noon, and have a smaller meal about 6pm. if i train in the afternoon, ill have a smaller lunch, then go crazy after working out.

so like, yesterday, i had a burger with 4oz beef on a bun plain for lunch, to break the fast about 1pm. at 3pm leaving work, i had an apple and black coffee. worked out, till about 530, got home, and while watching the game (central time zone) had 32oz 2% milk (spread out), 1 scoop ON whey, 16oz 100% grape juice, tuna salad with 3 cans of tuna/ 3 tbspn lite miracle whip/relish/dill/celery salts on two more hamburger buns, 3 cups frosted mini wheats (with some of the milk), another apple, 1 cup cottage cheese, and a few bites of ice cream. all before finishing the feeding window at 730.

she had some leftover quesadilla and was watching me... "seriously... ice cream too?"

"IT FITS MY MACROS GAH"

I almost threw up. that'd have defeated the purpose.

~3000 cals, ~210gprotein/~420gcarbs/~65gfat. ~2500 of which coming from dinner.

today, i shall eat low carb on a deficit.

who knows if doing this will work. all i know is i've gone down about 5 lbs in january, and added 30lbs (and counting) comfortably to my squat.

1/27/2012 9:59:49 AM

Quote :

"Ps, jbrick your girl is very pretty! "

Thanks, I agree! I don't even think that's a good picture. We were bloated and drunk the whole New Years trip...it was wonderful!

1/27/2012 10:01:37 AM