4 months into working out from home gaining muscle

Hello all. First time post on here so thought I'd introduce myself by sharing my progress so far and a bit of my backstory.

I've been training exclusively from home since Oct 2011 after by and large 3 years of laziness. Don't get me wrong, I work 50 hour weeks in a demanding job. I have a busy life outside of work, what with two young kids and the responsibilities that come with being a family man. But leading up to my mid 20's eating was replaced by large amounts of caffeine and cigarettes as I began to seriously neglect my health more and more as the responsibilities mounted up. It wasn't until my fiancee Nicole and me were looking through pictures of us in the early days, when my lifestyle was much more active and healthier that I finally realized the sharp contrast. Hell, I even took less pride in my general appearance. Getting ever closer to 30 it was time to make a change. But what with a wedding to save for and Christmas coming up, I didn't have spare money to join the local gym. So time to dust off the old irons in the shed and training from home it was. At least I wouldn't have to wait around for any equipment and I could train uninterrupted.

EQUIPMENT: A lot of mismatching cast iron plates picked up on the cheap from all over the place years back (140kg worth), one straight barbell bar, two dumbell bars, standard bench with a preacher pad, a squat rack I picked up on the cheap beginning of last month, a couple handgrips and whatever else I can use, whether it be a chair for my dynamics or a wrapped towel above and behind my head to rip my shoulders, or simply my own bodyweight.

MY APPROACH: Starting up my training again, I realized the stark contrast to my approach now as compared to years beforehand when I'd hit the gym. I'd just get in there and all too often lift without real aim or structure. With little care for diet or injury. But now I wanted to live healthily, develop a body that would not fail me in the years to come and fitness that would not desert me. So when it came to training this time around and my priority being taking care of my body, many principles of bodybuilding really caught my attention. Care for proper form, balanced diet, the fitness it promotes as well as growth. However, instead of honing and showcasing adonis like aesthetics, strength is much more my forte. But I did want to shape my muscles while gaining strength too. So, for example, I will combine high intensity compound exercises followed by lower intensity higher rep sets.

NUTRITION: With a wedding to save for and a family to provide for it's all about eating smart! My own weekly food budget on top of regular meals devoted directly to my training racks up to roughly 25 quid a week extra, pretty much the same as when I started. No brand names, currently saving as much spare doe as possible. We're talking economy, but still quality. Plenty of eggs for the whites and tuna in brine for the protein (as well as the Omega 3 with the latter, always in brine to keep the blood nice an healthy) or maybe some Salmon trimmings instead Brown rice and Oats for my complex carbs for energy, as well Vitamin B1 to promote growth and strength. Nothing like a hearty bowl of porridge in the morning to keep you going through the early morning. Two large economy chickens steamed with brocolli and spinach to keep me topped up on my protein and calcium intake between breakfast and lunch and then lunch and tea. My snacks, a variety of nuts and fruit (my favourite in particular at the moment, Apricots, full of Beta Carotene that keeps your immunity in good check). If I'm lucky, I'll have a nice bit of lean steak on a Saturday. You get the idea. When it comes to cutting, I have not gone for any intense cut yet. Over 4 1/2 weeks in Dec I progressively cut back on my calorie intake just to shed a few excess pounds, while upping my cardio. Nothing complex. I'm not particularly obsessed about becoming ultra lean, but to bulk and cut as sensibly and progressively as possible. I'm on no supplements. Perhaps with more spare doe I would have gone down that route when starting out? But as it stands I haven't and still don't. The closest I have to a protein shake is my post workout tipple of a pint of milk.

MY AIM: Well that's simple. I'm not interested in getting ultra cut - I'll never be some super ripped poster boy for the gym and that's just not what I'm aiming for, but full respect to those who achieve it. Nor do I have any aspirations to get ultra big either- the most important muscle in your body is your heart, so why have all that weight pulling down and straining the hell out of it? Neither am I interested in living by some specialized all consuming program where working out takes over my whole life. Again, full respect to those who eat and breathe lifting every second of the day. And I'm dedicated, don't get me wrong. In many ways every day is a training day. If I'm not lifting, I will be researching nutrition, bodybuilding tips etc. But I'll still have a beer on the weekend along with some "naughty" treats. I'm working out so I can simply enjoy a better quality of life, my goal to keep fit and strong, alert and sharp and to allow my body to naturally and healthily evolve.

http://i1321.photobucket.com/albums/u559/AdamTrue1985/Untitled1-1.jpg

Above: August 2012 - Current

(following pics all taken on rest days)

http://i1321.photobucket.com/albums/u559/AdamTrue1985/2november040_zps94e78d51.jpg

Oct 1st (182lbs) (before first day of training)

http://i1321.photobucket.com/albums/u559/AdamTrue1985/028-1.jpg

Dec 1st (204lbs) Bulk was clean, but put on too much weight. I think my body was literally that starved it stored as much as it could. I slowly cut down on my calories over a five week period, upped my cardio and got to just under 200lbs.

http://i1321.photobucket.com/albums/u559/AdamTrue1985/picmonkey_image1_zps80e7a2bb.jpg
http://i1321.photobucket.com/albums/u559/AdamTrue1985/picture192_zps9ee7d662.jpg

Now (201lbs)

http://i1321.photobucket.com/albums/u559/AdamTrue1985/back123_zps56899344.png

Back pics from Oct to Now.

(Wheels are doing good in terms of size. Thighs are 24inch, calves 16, solid. But need much more definition. I've been working them every week, but since only getting a squat rack last month they haven't had the real seeing to they deserve, so current pics are more "before" pics)

Cheers for taking the time to look and any comments welcome.