Have i changed?

Ok, I posted pics a while back. any improvment? I have side and back pics now
 
http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr358/Kavergraith/063.jpg
http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr358/Kavergraith/061.jpg
http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr358/Kavergraith/060-1.jpg
 
Please comment
 

can you post the previous ones up to compare?



btw, off topic but where are you from =p?

V,
    You're the Clipart Photoshop GOD!

 

Texas. Sure man.

http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr358/Kavergraith/JJ057.jpg
http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr358/Kavergraith/JJ056.jpg
 
IMO, I got fatter :(

C,
    Did you have more "before" pics besides a front pic in March?  That's the one I found.  "Before" lighting is difficult, but the fact you had the exact same pose before/after is helpful.  I "think" I notice some improvement:  belly/love handles seem somewhat smaller, arms shoulders lats(?) developing.  What training have you been doing?
    How is your knee?  Do you have access to a pool and know how to swim?  Advantages to swimming are that the extra fat you're carrying will give you more buoyancy (I sink!) and it is very gentle on the knees compared to other cardio.  In fact my legs are so unccordinated that I power through the water with my arms.  You can do HIIT in the pool (High Intensity Interval Training).  Perhaps something to check out.  Supposed to be a good fat burner.  Can't wait to try it when I cut (I'm bulking now).
   Good luck!  You have intense motivation, which the vast majority of people can't say!  :)  You're an inspiration!  Thanks!  :)

Lol. Thanks man. that was a boost for me. I wish I would've been more insightful to get more pics from "before"

Yeah man, the knee hurts at night, and when I put pressure on it. (Thankfully) I can can still run, so long as i keep a good form.

I did have this notion that i might be able to burn fat and build up muscle intensly if i just worked out and ate good. So until recently, i was taking creatine and little cardio. I could've done better had i just stuck to cutting. Now I'm trying me best to do keto.

C,
   Just saw the side "before" pic and the coment that you think you may have gotten fatter.  IMO, I don't see that.  Lighting in the pics makes it difficult, but even if you did gain some fat, DON'T LET THAT DISCOURAGE YOU!  You're motivation is awesome!  You may have posted it elsewhere but what is your diet and your goal (lose fat I think as opposed to gaining muscle, difficult to do both at same time).
   Also the guys can confirm or correct, but it is my understanding that if one is lacking in muscle mass, starting a strength program will cause the muscles to get bigger underneath the fat layer, pushing the fat out and making it more prominent.  It may look like you're fatter, but it's muscle gains and not fat.  In particular people wanting to lose belly fat by doing a lot of ab work may think their belly is gettin fatter when in fact the abs are getting bigger underneath but still concealed under fat.  Listen to the other guys replies whether I'm right or wrong and follow their lead.  They are more informed.  Just something I read.
   Keep up the good work!  Congratulate yourself for getting up off you a$$ and doing something about what you see as your blemishes.   Keep that head high!  :)

C,
   I'm dying to hear if you're interested in the swimming.  Do you have access to a pool?  Or is swimming not your thing?

I can go to the pool when I'm at my mom's house, or my dad's apartment in Dallas. I do love swimming, I just don't like goin alone, and I hardly ever have anyone to go with.
But yeah, i really do need to start swiming

C,
   Lol, swimming is actually a nice break from other people to me!  I'm a stay at home dad with 3 boys:  When I swim, I love being by myself as if I'm in a different world!  A nice break from reality!  I would never swim without a lifeguard though, but I'm 45 (at my age you're never 100% sure that the ticker is going to keep ticking, if you know what I mean).  Do you see your mom and dad often?  Two or three swim sessions a week would do you a lot of good, imo.  Even just one.  Just my 2 cents!  Good workin' out!

I'm with my mom everyday except weekends, only at my dad apartment maybe 5x a year. He's comes to visit me and bro every weekend

Yeah, im gonna start this week, goin to his house

C,
   I just googled "HIIT swimming" and there's a lot of info out there.  Due to the high intensity, it looks like you need to ease into it, and should have a lifeguard or someone else watching you.  Perhaps as you're just getting into it, whatever you need to do to get your heart rate up is a good start.  Stay safe, have fun, and let us know how things work out.  :)

Thanks! I'll look it up too!

Heres some tips for the future if your wanting to compare progress/pics.

try to take it in the same spot, same distance, same lighting.

Dont post pics upside down, and try to keep them relatively same in size.

You look like your getting bigger (muscle wise)

Most important, give it time. Depending on what your doing it will be a while before you see significant gains. Just stick with it no matter how hard it gets.

6'3"  @213

Squat 1x20x275

press:200, Deadlift:475, Bench:300, P.clean:235, Squat:385

"The only failure that is final is to stop trying to improve"

Thanks Nm0ney34!

Yrah, i'm trying to get the hang of it, and i know i gained a few pounds of muscle, just I would've liked to have lost more fat than gain muscle

If your wanting to lose fat then, its simple.

Figure out how many calories you need a day, eat a few hundred to 500 less then that, add in some cardio 3-5 times a week (HIIT preferably) and you will burn the fat off.

Cutting is the hard part for almost everyone, just need to have the willpower to stick to it.

The way I see it you have a few options. Cut some BF now to make yourself happy.

bulk up and put some muscle on you, but you probably wont lose nearly as much fat as you want.

clean bulk...but IMO your better off doing one of the first two, because clean bulking is much easier after you have a soild base to work with.

CreaOtine


Thanks Nm0ney34!

Yrah, i'm trying to get the hang of it, and i know i gained a few pounds of muscle, just I would've liked to have lost more fat than gain muscle

6'3"  @213

Squat 1x20x275

press:200, Deadlift:475, Bench:300, P.clean:235, Squat:385

"The only failure that is final is to stop trying to improve"

I agree with N$, do a clean bulk. You can (if you get lucky) burn small fat while bulking, especially if you're new to cardio and strict nutrients.

When you add muscle mass, you get a muscular appearance that masks the appearance of a lot of (or slightly) obesity. So if you have 20% bodyfat, you're 6'0" and 300lbs, are you going to look fat or muscular? The muscle hides it (depended upon the bodyfat to muscle mass ratio).

ACE-CPT, NASM-CPT, AFPA-Nutrition Consultant 

In addition to what has been pointed out, see the forum/thread on how to pose.  Have some BB poises will help with before and after.   Also your camera should have a delay setting on it, so you don't have to hold it....that will help as well.   From what I can tell, you have packed on some beef.   Just rid yourself of that belly or you'll end up with a waist like mine...lol

Height 5' 8" Weight  200 lbs Body Fat 16%
Bench 315-Squat 365-Dead 405
Chest-46"/Bicep-16.5"/Waist-37"...UGGH
Thigh-24.5"/Calves 16"

    

Theres definatly more muscle.  Keep clean bulking and get more to work with.  Hit the core exercises hard and keep adding weight, dont worry much about small bodyparts for the moment.  Get that squat up!  Get them hormones goin.  You could gain sooo much lbm within the next year. Once you get a base you can decide where you wanna go from there. 

working on explosive phase
vertical: 35
weight: 206

Big 3: 300/440/515

Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.

RS,
   Was my advice to him to hit the pool sound, or should he focus as you say on building lbm and have that on board to up his metabolism?  Maybe a combination?

JMBS


RS,
   Was my advice to him to hit the pool sound, or should he focus as you say on building lbm and have that on board to up his metabolism?  Maybe a combination?

Swimming cant hurt.  And if its something he enjoys it would be senseless to avoid it.  He just needs to make sure he has energy to lift as well and eat enough to not go catabolic while hes swimming. 

He probably has a better chance of burning some fat while bulking if he swims on top of gaining strength and getting enough protein or bcaas before or swimming.

working on explosive phase
vertical: 35
weight: 206

Big 3: 300/440/515

Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.

And too much of the cardio swimming won't leave anything to build the muscle no matter how strong he is or becomes, right?  Moderation.

Thanks guys.

N,
I've been swimming daily at my dad's since I posted about 3 days ago. I feel so great.
Also, got tired of muscle milk, got myself some whey. Feel great.

Also, I got some animal pak multis. Anyone care to explain the stuff to me?

creaotine,
    Awesome news about the pool!  Now build on your "feeling great" and you'll soar!  Good workin' out!  :)
 
Keep us in the loop, please!

Try starting strength. And do HIIT. You should feel get more muscular, and might burn a little fat.


I can definitely see more muscle. Its because you've never trained and your body is now being beaten up so its adding muscle to better handle the stress.

Red PittBull's Log.

BTW, can anyone give me a bf% estimate?

HEy, don't wanna sound desperate, but could someone PLEASE give a Bf% est? I lost my tape measurer, so I'm at loss to know

I would say 17-19%

Take that with a grain of salt, im not that great at estimating BF%, why I have others do it for myself.

6'3"  @213

Squat 1x20x275

press:200, Deadlift:475, Bench:300, P.clean:235, Squat:385

"The only failure that is final is to stop trying to improve"

Wow, I don't think I realized how young you were I thought you were like 16, how old are you? I would guess 16%, but like Nmoney I am not very good at bf guessing.

Goals by end of 2009:
Bench 205
Squat 255 ATG
Squat Clean 185

"There is no elevator to success, you must take the stairs."

Im 14, bout to turn 15 in bout 4 months lol.
Thanks guys. Hope some more more will give estimates, but I think u guys are pretty close.

Oh, then your like a month or 2 older than me..whats your max bench/squat/deadlift and power clean if you do cleans?

Goals by end of 2009:
Bench 205
Squat 255 ATG
Squat Clean 185

"There is no elevator to success, you must take the stairs."