31/m Before, inbetween, after

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nh1977

New member
Hi all, I came across this forum tonight while poking around for a bit of info on how to gain muscle weight without gaining fat, and I thought I would share some photos of my journey with you all.

I started early 2007, and at the time I was close to 190lbs at 5'9" tall. I cut out drinking soda and SLOWLY changed my diet from unhealthy things like steak and cheese subs and potato skins for dinner, to healthy alternatives like baked chicken, fruits and vegetables and whole grains. A couple of months into weight loss I also purchased a bowflex ultimate machine. I've never been to a gym and had no assistance through this whatsoever.

Had I listened to those around me I'd still be 190 lbs.

Assuming these display in order I uploaded them...

First picture was right before I started. This is me after 8 years of playing videogames and doing nothing much else. 190 lbs

Second is 4 months in, about a month after I bought the bowflex machine. 160 lbs or so

Third is 2 months after that, and me at my thinnest of about 135 lbs. My intention was to lose fat, and I didn't realize how much of it I had on me and how little muscle I actually had under it all. At this point I decided I was too skinny and tried to gain weight slowly.

Fourth picture is November of last year, 141 lbs. I was really happy at this point with the results.

Fifth picture is right after I turned 31 this year, about 14 months after deciding to lose the weight, and roughly 145 lbs.

I'm really happy with my progress, and if anyone has any questions or needs a bit of encouragement, I'm glad to help!
 
Holy crap

So would you recommend the Bowflex system? Also, predominantly, what exercises did you do?

I've lost about 65 lbs and have another 25 or so, and after that I'm looking to bulk up. Unfortunately, my work out is mostly cardio, so I'm looking for ways (after I drop the fat) to start bulking up.

Very nice work, man!
 
Um... dayum!!! :svengo::eek2: Great work on your physique... and a good testament for the bowflex. I was wondering if those things were actually effective.
 
Thank you for the nice replies!

One thing I noticed around this board last night is that everyone here seems so supportive of everyone else. What a great atmosphere : )

To answer the bowflex question, it worked well for me and I would recommend it but (and this is a big BUT here) you have to be diligent about using it, just like any piece of exercise equipment one would purchase. My brother purchased one shortly after I did and used it a few times and then used it as a coat rack when he didn't get results quickly. It took me about 2 weeks to start feeling results and 3 to start seeing them.

The exercises I kept to were very simple. Besides push ups and pull ups and crunches, I did the bowflex version of the bench press, chest fly, standing lateral shoulder raise, military press (I think that is what it is called, seated hands at either side of head pushing straight up?), and rope pushdowns for which I used the T-handle. The rope pushdowns were the most difficult to start for me.

I am currently considering joining a gym, though, because I think I've run into limitations on what the bowflex can do for me.

Also I did no cardio at all through this, but will probably start that this fall just to keep in good overall health. I've always hated running so I'm thankful I was able to lose the weight without it : )
 
Holy crap haha Care to tell your diet (like in a week chart so i can start lol - also how did u put on muscle without getting fater ????
 
You really should send your before and after pics to Bowflex. Who knows? They might pay you to be in one of their infomercials.

Once again, awesome job! I hope you aren't planning on getting any bigger because you look GREAT! Good symmetry.
 
I have no idea how to get those off to bowflex and get them to the right people. I had to order a new t-bar strap and asked the girl on the other end how I'd go about doing that and she said I should sign up for the bowflex owners club thing and put them there... but that has an annual fee. If anyone could point me in the right direction for getting them some pics I'm all for it : )

As far as my diet, right now it is really really simple (and probably not very helpful unless you can handle the same thing all the time). I eat baked chicken wraps with few exception day in and day out. I buy the large tomato basil wraps, cut up 1 large chicken breast into strips, and jam in 1 full heart of romaine lettuce (the kind that usually come 3 in a pack) and eat these 5 times a day... sometimes 4 sometimes 6, just depends on what I am doing. Mustard or steak sauce for more flavor if you want it. Half a daily multivitamin for breakfast and lunch and a calcium supplement and I'm good to go. I have no idea if this is particularly healthy or if it would work for everyone but that's what I've been eating for about 10 months now. : ) I like them because I can bake up a ton of chicken at the beginning of the week and it's ready to go, plus they are portable (I work on the road) and don't get soggy and gross. Add to that the fact you can buy boneless chicken breast really cheap on sale about every 4 weeks and you can cover your food costs every day for under $10.
 
I do have a tanita body composition scale and I range from 8% to 10% on that, although my lowest was 7.3%

I'm not sure it is entirely accurate but I am assuming it comes fairly close.
 
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