~120 days of progress

Aaron_K123
Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
in Success Stories
I have been counting calories and exercising now for about 120 days. I am about 1/2 way to my goal of stripping the fat to about 12% bodyfat before moving on to maintenance or surplus and a little body building to bulk out a bit (I'm a little scrawny).

I am quite pleased with my progress thusfar and a little past the half-way point wanted to share a bit. I am a bit shy so I'm not including my face in these pictures just showing my torso which is where I carry most of my fat anyways.

The pictures were very different lighting so to try to compensate for that I dimmed them and raised the contrast so they looked as similar as I could make them. Unfortunately the day 1 pic is a bit out of focus nothing I can do about that.

This was Day 1, February 22nd 2014. I weighed 188 pounds, was 39.25'' around my navel and estimated my bodyfat at about 27%.

140222_Torso_contrast.jpg

This was yesterday, Day 113, June 15th 2014. I weigh about 171 pounds, am about 35'' around my navel and estimate my bodyfat at around 18%

140615_Torso_Contrast.jpg

I don't think I've increased my muscle mass but I don't think I've decreased it either based on measurements. In appearance I have gained a lot of definition and vasculature especially in my shoulders and across my chest but that could just be uncovering from the loss of fat.

For the first few months of this I had to rely on just my faith in the system because I wasn't really perceiving any changes in my body. At this point with the pictures and looking back I am pleased to say there is now definite improvement.

Replies

  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Great progress! :drinker:
  • 45thin
    45thin Posts: 67 Member
    Great job!! Lookin' good!!
  • Joyfulkneves23
    Joyfulkneves23 Posts: 79 Member
    Keep up the good work. Great progress :)
  • them_and_me
    them_and_me Posts: 60 Member
    Rad! Congrats, I bet you feel wonderful (:

    How do you go about getting your estimated body fat %?
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    Rad! Congrats, I bet you feel wonderful (:

    How do you go about getting your estimated body fat %?

    Thanks <grin>. Two methods for measuring bodyfat. One is just a tape measurer around my abdomen and neck and use of this calculator:

    http://www.machinehead-software.co.uk/bike/training/body_fat/body_fat_percentage.html

    The other is use of bodyfat calipers administered by my SO on 7-sites and use of this calculator:

    http://exrx.net/Calculators/BodyComp.html


    Basically I don't think any of them are particularly accurate but as long as they are administered the same way everytime I trust in the trend and the trend is definately downward :-)
  • MrTolerable
    MrTolerable Posts: 1,593 Member

    This was Day 1, February 22nd 2014. I weighed 188 pounds, was 39.25'' around my navel and estimated my bodyfat at about 27%.

    140222_Torso_contrast.jpg

    This was yesterday, Day 113, June 15th 2014. I weigh about 171 pounds, am about 35'' around my navel and estimate my bodyfat at around 18%

    140615_Torso_Contrast.jpg


    Congrats bro - great great work
  • markiend
    markiend Posts: 461 Member
    4" of belly gone in 4 months ... great work
  • them_and_me
    them_and_me Posts: 60 Member
    Rad! Congrats, I bet you feel wonderful (:

    How do you go about getting your estimated body fat %?

    Thanks <grin>. Two methods for measuring bodyfat. One is just a tape measurer around my abdomen and neck and use of this calculator:

    http://www.machinehead-software.co.uk/bike/training/body_fat/body_fat_percentage.html

    The other is use of bodyfat calipers administered by my SO on 7-sites and use of this calculator:

    http://exrx.net/Calculators/BodyComp.html


    Basically I don't think any of them are particularly accurate but as long as they are administered the same way everytime I trust in the trend and the trend is definately downward :-)

    Awesome, thanks for the info. And - lol - I would never let my SO near me with body fat calipers, I'd probably end up with tiny pincer bruises all over. Downward trends are awesome when it comes to weight loss.
  • nehushtan
    nehushtan Posts: 566 Member
    Looks like you sprayed on some moobs-b-gone !
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    Yeah the man-boobage is pretty much gone now, still have probably 12-15 pounds or so of fat to lose off my belly and thighs. 3 years ago I was fairly fit and down at about 155 pounds so I know that despite sounding very light that 155 is about where I start to look quite lean.

    At that point I figure I will say adios to the weight loss and transition to either maintenance or if I feel up to it some body building with surplus and heavy lifting. Wouldn't mind dropping to 155 and then climbing back up to 170 while keeping my bodyfat low over the course of a year. I think 15 pounds of muscle is a lot but being untrained I'm not sure its a huge ask to accomplish in one year.
  • Keepcalmanddontblink
    Keepcalmanddontblink Posts: 718 Member
    Wow! Fantastic results!
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Yeah the man-boobage is pretty much gone now, still have probably 12-15 pounds or so of fat to lose off my belly and thighs. 3 years ago I was fairly fit and down at about 155 pounds so I know that despite sounding very light that 155 is about where I start to look quite lean.

    At that point I figure I will say adios to the weight loss and transition to either maintenance or if I feel up to it some body building with surplus and heavy lifting. Wouldn't mind dropping to 155 and then climbing back up to 170 while keeping my bodyfat low over the course of a year. I think 15 pounds of muscle is a lot but being untrained I'm not sure its a huge ask to accomplish in one year.

    According to the Gaining Weight forum, it's not really. Also...

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/muscle-gain/initial-body-fat-and-body-composition-changes.html

    I don't really know anything at all, but I'd guess that it should take you a total of about 30 weeks of bulking, and you'd want to do a cut about half-way.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    Yeah the man-boobage is pretty much gone now, still have probably 12-15 pounds or so of fat to lose off my belly and thighs. 3 years ago I was fairly fit and down at about 155 pounds so I know that despite sounding very light that 155 is about where I start to look quite lean.

    At that point I figure I will say adios to the weight loss and transition to either maintenance or if I feel up to it some body building with surplus and heavy lifting. Wouldn't mind dropping to 155 and then climbing back up to 170 while keeping my bodyfat low over the course of a year. I think 15 pounds of muscle is a lot but being untrained I'm not sure its a huge ask to accomplish in one year.

    According to the Gaining Weight forum, it's not really. Also...

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/muscle-gain/initial-body-fat-and-body-composition-changes.html

    I don't really know anything at all, but I'd guess that it should take you a total of about 30 weeks of bulking, and you'd want to do a cut about half-way.

    Yeah I think I'm going to give a bulk/cut cycle a go, really mostly for having that experience. Not sure I will be really unhappy with how I look once I lose the fat, I don't really think I look that scrawny have decent muscle just not a lot. Curious to see how I would look and feel with some more muscle though so worth a try I figure. Also having goals will keep me on track, if I don't set one I'll probably just slip back into bad habits.
  • Michelle_Padgett13
    Michelle_Padgett13 Posts: 417 Member
    I'd like 2 tickets to the gun show, please. (Translation: I like the new definition in the arms and shoulders.)

    Nice work, Aaron! :drinker:
  • Chickaboo2014
    Chickaboo2014 Posts: 136 Member
    Great progress! So important to take pictures no matter how scary that thought is! It's much easier to take pictures to gauge progress when you have something to compare to.
    Congrats!
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Yeah the man-boobage is pretty much gone now, still have probably 12-15 pounds or so of fat to lose off my belly and thighs. 3 years ago I was fairly fit and down at about 155 pounds so I know that despite sounding very light that 155 is about where I start to look quite lean.

    At that point I figure I will say adios to the weight loss and transition to either maintenance or if I feel up to it some body building with surplus and heavy lifting. Wouldn't mind dropping to 155 and then climbing back up to 170 while keeping my bodyfat low over the course of a year. I think 15 pounds of muscle is a lot but being untrained I'm not sure its a huge ask to accomplish in one year.

    According to the Gaining Weight forum, it's not really. Also...

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/muscle-gain/initial-body-fat-and-body-composition-changes.html

    I don't really know anything at all, but I'd guess that it should take you a total of about 30 weeks of bulking, and you'd want to do a cut about half-way.

    Yeah I think I'm going to give a bulk/cut cycle a go, really mostly for having that experience. Not sure I will be really unhappy with how I look once I lose the fat, I don't really think I look that scrawny have decent muscle just not a lot. Curious to see how I would look and feel with some more muscle though so worth a try I figure. Also having goals will keep me on track, if I don't set one I'll probably just slip back into bad habits.

    Yes. You look good.

    I'm planning on doing a bulk starting in November, just to see what my body is capable of and get the experience of learning how to feed my muscle, instead of always trying to be lighter and less than.

    Even if I never do it again, knowing myself from that dimension will be invaluable.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    Yeah the man-boobage is pretty much gone now, still have probably 12-15 pounds or so of fat to lose off my belly and thighs. 3 years ago I was fairly fit and down at about 155 pounds so I know that despite sounding very light that 155 is about where I start to look quite lean.

    At that point I figure I will say adios to the weight loss and transition to either maintenance or if I feel up to it some body building with surplus and heavy lifting. Wouldn't mind dropping to 155 and then climbing back up to 170 while keeping my bodyfat low over the course of a year. I think 15 pounds of muscle is a lot but being untrained I'm not sure its a huge ask to accomplish in one year.

    According to the Gaining Weight forum, it's not really. Also...

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/muscle-gain/initial-body-fat-and-body-composition-changes.html

    I don't really know anything at all, but I'd guess that it should take you a total of about 30 weeks of bulking, and you'd want to do a cut about half-way.

    Yeah I think I'm going to give a bulk/cut cycle a go, really mostly for having that experience. Not sure I will be really unhappy with how I look once I lose the fat, I don't really think I look that scrawny have decent muscle just not a lot. Curious to see how I would look and feel with some more muscle though so worth a try I figure. Also having goals will keep me on track, if I don't set one I'll probably just slip back into bad habits.

    Yes. You look good.

    I'm planning on doing a bulk starting in November, just to see what my body is capable of and get the experience of learning how to feed my muscle, instead of always trying to be lighter and less than.

    Even if I never do it again, knowing myself from that dimension will be invaluable.

    Exactly, I feel the same way. Need to learn my body by experience and why not have all sides, weight loss...controlled weight gain and maintenance. The weight loss I feel like I have a good handle on, the other two will be learning experiences for me.
  • dwarfiegodsmack
    dwarfiegodsmack Posts: 317 Member
    great progress!

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