Three years and a whole load of weights later...

Hi guys,

This is my first post on the MFP forum, but I’ve been a member for a while. I’m posting as I thought I’d share my story with you. I’ve found the reading of other peoples experiences on MFP to be motivational, inspirational and sometimes very poignant. I have been very moved by the warmth and support that fellow MFP members show to each other.

My personal experience with fitness started three years ago as I left University; I hadn’t exercised much at all before that. I’d led a typical boozey student life and by the end of my studies, I was horribly skinny and couldn’t run a mile without wheezing and getting stitch.

I decided then that drastic changes needed to be had and that I wanted to get into shape. I joined a gym, started lifting weights and completely over hauled my diet. Initially my performance was pitiful, but I persevered and gradually started making headway.

That was three years ago, and looking back it brings me great pleasure seeing how far I’ve come and what I have accomplished. I have realized some major personal goals such as being able to dead lift 100kg, or incline press 32.5kg dumbbells for four sets of eight reps. (You may be asking, ‘bro, do you even lift?’, but this is coming from a guy who three years ago couldn’t do a push up!)

Through my focus on training and eating right, I have learnt a lot about myself and changed my life for the better. I no longer smoke and am now t-total.
I’m currently training six days a week and have just started boxing training (if you haven’t tried it then I recommend you should, its great!) I know I still have a long way to go, and an infinite amount more to learn, but if anything this makes me more excited for the future.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post; I hope it was insightful. I have included some before and after pictures below. If anyone wants to be mates then feel free to add me, I’m always willing to talk (and learn!) about training and nutrition!

Cheers,

Otis


2010




2013 February weigh in

EDIT: For some reason I can't get these pictures to show without being clipped. They aren't over 250kb and are a max size of 550 on PhotoBucket, can anyone advise? Thanks!