Lifting heavy turned my back into an angry troll!!!!!

jstout365 · July 2013

Really, I worked so hard to build my strength up with Strong Lifts 5x5 and then I find out that when I flex, my back looks like an Angry Troll Face!!!!

AWESOME!!!!!

Now a little disclaimer.....I am not tan at all. This image was darkened to remove the background. Actually, I'm about as pale as they come. The darkening did help highlight the shadows to give a clearer outline of the muscles that I really do have.

Here is the original with a pre-Stronglifts comparison:

And before the "bulky" debate starts, I'd like to point out two things to start with 1) I still had a good amount of muscle pre-Stronglifts (I had done 6 weeks of iso lifting before SL) and 2) I am in full flex in an effort to make my muscles look big (yes, it does take effort!).

I'm not going to say I am or am not "bulky." I think it is a subjective ideal based on personal perspectives. In other words, feel free to think what you wish of my physique because I understand that tastes vary among people and it isn't going to hurt my feelings if someone doesn't think an angry troll back is cool.:drinker:

The truth is, I work hard in the gym and this is how my body is responding to what I do. I enjoy heavy lifting and get a lot out of it. I still throw cardio into the mix for a personal balance to my fitness, but I enjoy that part of it as well. I have lost a total of 23 lbs since the end of May 2012. I started this round of weight loss at 153 lbs. I got down as low as 125, but am now sitting around 130. And no, the 5 lbs that I've gained back don't bother me because I still fit into my pants and in reality, I don't look that far off of my lowest weight.

Right now I focus on the weight I put on the bar rather than my weight on the scale. Lifting has given me both physical and emotional strength. I can deadlift over 1.5 times my body weight and almost bench my weight. I am also more confident and find that I can handle things outside of the gym with a better sense of self. Lifting heavy is not for everyone and I understand and respect that. I am just happy to have found something that I know will keep me active for decades to come so I don't have to think about starting over for a 4th time.

Yanicka1 · July 2013

Good job

DragonSquatter · July 2013

That is awesome! Congrats!

RedRita32 · July 2013

Nice muscles and 6 pack! Fantastic job!

happycauseIride · July 2013

Wow! Great job and the comparison pics are amazing! Keep up the great work!!

tootoop224 · July 2013

Quite a transformation. You look great. Congrats!

DUCKIEGYRL · July 2013

Awesome.

Crazy4Healthy · July 2013

Nice work!

russbittles · July 2013

Angry troll! That's awesome! I can't wait to sport an angry troll, instead of a lazy ogre.

minizebu · July 2013

Do you mind if I ask you your height? I'm thinking that you may be a shorty like me (5'2"), but it is hard to tell from the pictures. Every body is different and my overall shape is different from yours, but you have given me a glimpse of what can be accomplished with lifting. That's why I was wondering about your height, because if you are the same height, then I am at a point very close to where you were when you started in September, 2012 (as far as height/weight/body fat).

Oh, and, I forgot to say, Kudos! You look great!