Before Shots...need feedback to continue on

Is there a special problem right now you need help with? I see you've lost 11 pounds.

Well that’s a very open question; or not even much of a question… unsure as to what sort of feedback you are after, but it is obvious you carry a few extra pounds. What are your goals, and how are you going about achieving them? Are you focusing on diet or exercise, or both? I’m a very similar body shape at the moment, having lost nearly 10Kgs I really relaxed and weight is creeping back on.

Are you still in the army? I would like to think they try to keep you guys pretty fit. Not sure what the nutrition is like, but one saying I keep seeing branded around here is “abs are made in the kitchen”.

Look forward to your progress, and mine!

Maybe try lower the body fat. You have very strong good legs btw!!

Your legs look fantastic, I agree with the cardio comment and also the comment of accepting your self for who you are. Iam 44 years old no matter how hard I work at this I will never ever look 24 again and guess what Iam ok with that, I just want to be the best 44 year old that I can be....love yourself

I see no reason for you to be depressed about how you look! You look very strong and muscular, and as others have said, your legs look great! But you do also carry some extra fat around your middle, which is typical for a male. My recommendation would be to weight train to maintain your current muscle mass ( and burn calories), plus some cardio and eating at a small deficit aimed at losing about 1/2 pound a week.

Looking at your frame you have the build of a potential powerlifter. I don't know how much you workout but I'd say carry on with the cardio but go to the gym and try doing some heavy compound lifts.

Things like deadlifts, barbell squats, bench press and overhead press will burn calories and fire all of your big muscles and raise your metabolism in the process. These are also very functional exercises so should help with your work in the military.

Google Stronglifts 5 X 5 for a good beginner programme and google 'exrx strength standards' for some goals to hit. Lifting heavy weights, combined with cardio, will help you shed those final pounds.

Good luck!

Your a little stockier than I but somewhat similar take a look at the body fat %
http://cdn.builtlean.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/body-fat-percentage-men.jpg

you look like a 30% and would look awesome at a 20% or even better

you look better than i ever got to be when i was in the Army from 2000-2011. spent most of that time being a nonpromotable SPC, managing to meet the tape test for 2 reeniistments.

i was almost always on the 1SG's special population PT group (typically lumped in with profile PT) to do more PT as the mission allowed in the workday (and more weekends than i'd wanted).

in the end, i could pass the APFT (averaging 80 points each event) but always be borderline with the BMI measurements. i could never grow my neck nor get my waistline skinny despite numerous NCOs coaching me through special pop sessions

Maybe try lower the body fat. You have very strong good legs btw!!

+1

Here's my comments. Thanks for your commitment and your service. Have a son just starting out and my prayer is that he lasts 17+ years!

1. Good underlying musculature. Looks like you have a good base built and while I'm not sure if you are currently lifting, you definitely should consider a good basic (read: compound movement program) going forward.

2. You are carrying a lot of fat. Because of your frame, you carry it reasonably well, but you need to look at your diet. The bottom line is that as we get older, it's tougher to maintain a reasonable weight and we have to work harder at it. Believe me, at 58 it's much more difficult than at 28! Here's the kicker...little changes can make significant long term changes. A slice of bread extra per day adds up to about 10 lbs a year! The reverse is also true. So being intentional about your intake, and paying attention to your calories in vs. calories out can make a huge difference in a little time. I lost a significant amount for me last year after deciding I needed to make my food intake something I paid attention to!!!

3. Running in your program is probably critical since the military includes your 2 mile time in your fitness evaluation. Guess you are pretty "up" on that already, but incorporating that regularly can also have an impact.

By the way, I think we can overdo appearance. Six pack abs and low body fat is fine, but being comfortable with how you look is much more important. Getting active and being able to exercise appropriately is a big part of feeling good about ourselves, and I hope you find the tools you need to assist you. Good luck.

Thanks for serving! Thats where my dad met my mother! Anyways, I agree that u look like youve already got a very solid underlying musculature. Im pretty much built the same as you ...frame wise ( basically short and stocky).

Overall you look good. Obviously there are some areas to improve on, isnt that why we are all here? To better ourselves.
looks like you have maybe 25# of fat you could stand to lose. Lowerbody looks good.....probably from humpin it all day with a full pack. I see some lovehandles only barely....and also abdominal area (all of it)....looks loke u have a 6pack starting.

Im guessing u workout regularly. If not ...start it.

I would start watching food intake. I know bases arent the most convenient places to try and put together a nutritional plan.
MREs are generally high in carbs.