6 months in...feedback and suggestions?

I am 42 years old (almost 42) and have been over 300 pounds most of my life.  I finally decided enough was enough and switched to clean eating and exercise.  Started with all cardio and have added weight training in the past 2.5 months.

Starting weight 302
6' 0"
Waist 46 (almost 48)
BF  Don't know but it had to be high

Now 228
Waist 36
BF Caliper measured at 20%

Goal

205 lbs
32 waist
>10% BF

  May 20th, 2006



       

43 years old, I will have a 22 year old's body!!

hmmm you did lose alot of weight... The thing is though.. You dont really have alot of muscle...  What exactly are you eating? What are your calories at? your protein level? How often do you train per week?  On what days do you do what?  

Agreed. You have definitely lost some fat, but it's time to pack on some muscle.

6'2" - 206lbs
Max Bench- 265
Bicep- 15 3/4 Unflexed, 16 1/2 Flexed

Excellent job, i dont really think it matters that he doent have huge levals of muscle. as before he lost this weight he was probably putting his life at risk due to the fat he was carrieing, at least now he will be healthier. The next step is to hit the gym, and pack on some mass.  good job though it isnt easy to lose weight.

 

deadlifts: 550 lbs
bench press:370 lbs
militery press : 265 lbs
squat : 425
bw: 209

why are they following me?!!

"Sometimes to get to heaven you have to go through hell. But if hell is my heaven where do I turn other than live to feed this raging fire that is MY ADDICTION!"

Thanks for the feedback.  I agree that I need to pack on some lean muscle.  I now got to the gym 6 days a week.  I lift 4 days and do cardio the other two.  I am concentrating on my chest, arms, back, legs, and most of all, abs.  What can I say, I want what I have never had, a six-pack.
 
I am trying to get as much protein as possible but it is not always easy.  My 6 months has gone something like this:
 
May 20th, 2006 -  Changed to "clean eating", smaller, more frequent meals, more good protein (chicken, turkey, fish, shellfish), fruits and veggies, whole grain fibers (breads and pasta), beans and other legumes.  Non-Fat dairy products, skim milk and NF Yogurt, natural peanut butters
 
What did I cut out?  Anything with High Fructose Corn Syrup and Hydrogenated Oils ( I now read every label).  No butter, margarine, ice cream, etc.  Stopped drinking coffee, sodas, so-called sports drinks, white bread, pasta and rice, most all cheese except cottage (1%) and occasional parmesan (real, not green can) on a grilled chicken wrap.

I ran 2/10 of a mile the first day and nearly passed out, I was a fat sack of goo.  I stuck with the diet and just ran each day until I slowly built up to 2.5 miles a day.  It wasn't until October 1, 2006 that I actually started lifting weights and even though I really didn't know what I was doing.  I finally picked up some books and magazines to try and get it right.

I bought a blender and started doing protein shakes about 2 weeks later.  So now I went in and got a BF caliper test (only thing offered around here) and hope to have a better looking frame by summer.

You could say I am on the Kevin Spacey (American Beauty Plan).  "I wanna look better naked."

43 years old, I will have a 22 year old's body!!

Here is my latest pic.  I am getting close to the 1 year mark of starting this journey.  I'm 10 months in.  I started hitting the gym in mid-October '06 after doing just clean eating and running for about 5 months.

My weight is staying rather steady but it appears that I'm putting on some muscle.  Any thoughts?




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43 years old, I will have a 22 year old's body!!

WOW!! your doing great!!! Thats a pretty big difference so far! 

Thanks

43 years old, I will have a 22 year old's body!!

You've made great strides thus far!  How do you feel now compared to a year ago?  I've got to believe that your confidence is a lot higher now!

Stand Tall and Shake the Heavens

My 5x5 Journal:
http://www.discussbodybuilding.com/Swimmers_5X5_Journal/m_151211/tm.htm

I feel 1000% better.  I run farther, lift more, sleep better, and know that people look at me for different reasons now.  I have much distance to go before I can say that I have I feel as though I have crossed a threshold but for a 43 year old it ain't bad.

43 years old, I will have a 22 year old's body!!

dude, that is awesome. i love seeing people get healthy. keep it up man

22 yrs - 5'10'' - 180

work out and possibly live longer I don't think im ever going to stop working out.. I feel bad for the guys in their 50's suffering from all sorts of problems high blood pressure diabetes overweight enlarged heart cancer etc... So many people die off in their 50's its scary.. I guess its always been like that though... But when I see 83 year old bodybuilders lifting 300+lbs and their deadlifts and benching 300+ lbs that inspires me! Or the way some of these 50 year olds look... Like freaken dudes on the magazines...

rock on bro! lookin great and fantastic job thus far!

I appreciate the kind words.  Hopefully when the summer lake and river season comes around I won't be ashamed to take off my shirt.  Can't do much about by pale Irish skin but you can't have everything. 

43 years old, I will have a 22 year old's body!!

amazing. keep it up. just think how much uve done in one year. keep it up!

one speed: full speed

Your White Tee Well To Me Looks Like A Nightgown
Make Ya Mama Proud Take That Thing 2 Sizes Down

W00T!

Who was that sad fat dude in your before pics? Surely not the same person as that happy muscle-man in your more recent post! Check out those arms and those shoulders! Look how much fat you've lost, just in your face! These are the sorts of progress pics that keep me going any time I get frustrated or pessemistic. Nice work.

Now you just have to decide what's next. You could try to bulk up and pack on even more muscle, or, since you've got some nice fat-burning muscle now, you could focus on getting lean and mean for summer.

My Journal: Jheft's Heftorium

"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." -- Mark Twain

You know you have hit on my dilemma.  I am just stoked about the amount of weight I've lost and the fat reduction.  So I want to pack on muscle, BUT as was said in American Beauty, "I wanna look better naked." so therefore I need to get leaner.  I just don't know which side of the fence I am falling on.

but thanks for these great posts, they are very inspiring!!

43 years old, I will have a 22 year old's body!!

ORIGINAL: 42andDown

I appreciate the kind words.  Hopefully when the summer lake and river season comes around I won't be ashamed to take off my shirt.  Can't do much about by pale Irish skin but you can't have everything. 

I don't think you have anything to worry about. Strip away and get some sun!

You can't go wrong in your "dilemma." What is the ultimate goal, dimension/look-wise? (Which 22 yo do you want to look like?!?)

"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

omg my ass is killing from that sesh with me fella, i can feel the burn

also my lil bro sorry, im gonna kill the twat

im back, now get in line!!!!

Not sure what you're getting at bullet but OK.  Taylor Kitsch would be cool.  But since I am not 42 I'd go for Brad Pitt from Fight Club or Troy.  Ultimate nirvana?  LL Cool J - he's ripped where mere amateurs are never ripped.  I know I am looking at years and years of work and discipline but I'm mentally and physically prepared to make the journey.

43 years old, I will have a 22 year old's body!!

Here are some newer pictures.  It's been a couple of months since I posted anything.  Anybody want to throw out a BF% for my new pics?  I really have no idea.

I am down to 221 pounds, 36 waist from a 46 waist, from what I can tell I am getting some more muscle.  Since I am now 43 years old I can see how difficult it is to put on muscle.

Thanks

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n139/themacstack/DSCF2966.jpg
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n139/themacstack/DSCF2967.jpg

43 years old, I will have a 22 year old's body!!