My transformation pics ~ From 165 to 238 and everywhere in between

[narcsarge]

Originally Posted by musclesntx

With that attitude, you're right bro, you couldn't... Me, Hank, Dante (DC training), and natural pro Layne Norton are all guys who aren't genetically gifted as far as size goes who are all at that weight or more (Dante pushes about 265 lean if I'm not mistaken)...

LOL - I still have small joints and long bones. From my shoulder to my elbow, elbow to wrist, hip to knee and knee to ankle areas are pretty damn long. I'm not lanky, but when you can only see my joints, I look pretty damn small. My ankles are only 11" around (my calves are about 19).

Boyd, you should know better then anyone, that I don't set limits. I do however know what it would take for me to reach such a size. Is it impossible? No, but given my current life style, it isn't feasible "without help". This is why I wish I had learned and practiced what I now know when I was in my 20's! You have read my journal, know my work schedule, all of this is open to viewing. All I am really saying is that anyone can change their physique. To what extent is only matter of education and DEDICATION! If I started a thread like this it would start:

My journey from 145lb to ... (177lbs right now)

[BiggerGuns=LongerDrives]

Originally Posted by narcsarge

Boyd, you should know better then anyone, that I don't set limits. I do however know what it would take for me to reach such a size. Is it impossible? No, but given my current life style, it isn't feasible "without help". This is why I wish I had learned and practiced what I now know when I was in my 20's! You have read my journal, know my work schedule, all of this is open to viewing. All I am really saying is that anyone can change their physique. To what extent is only matter of education and DEDICATION! If I started a thread like this it would start:

My journey from 145lb to ... (177lbs right now)

Bro, granted I was 24 at the time (still had my youth LOL), but I went from 165 to 228 in less than 1 year.
I was going to school at Grossmont College in San Diego (FYI That young baseball player that just died was going to Grossmont when I was there).
I also was working full time to pay the bills and going to school as well and lived out on my own. Now, of course I didnt have kids like yourself, but the key to the growth and size gains was that I was eating alot of red meats (steaks). I had a massive diet and just doubled up all my portion sizes for every meal (about 4 meals a day) and the diet was the key to the size..
The lifting was the gas that fueled the engine, but the engine was built in the kitchen.

If you want to get to 225, you can do it. Believe it, then go about finding the proper plan to do it, then get it done and this time next year you could easily be sitting at 230+ lbs. These are the facts buddy

[narcsarge]

Thanks BG! I do believe anything is possilbe since I buckled down 4 years ago. I have said it before, I am stronger then I have ever been. Bigger then I ever dreamed possible. And, it wasn't all that difficult to get there. Slow, but not difficult. Now that I am on a MUCH better schedule, I am sure that I can add another 20lbs in the next year. I know this because it took me 3 years to lose 33 pounds of fat and then, bulk up to my current weight.

What all the younger folks should take from all of this is that EVERYONE can make changes. Everyone can get bigger and stronger! Boyd, Tommy, Bulk, Vas, PJ, have all had a hand in making me what and where I am right now. For that, I am forever grateful...

[BiggerGuns=LongerDrives]

Originally Posted by narcsarge

Thanks BG! I do believe anything is possilbe since I buckled down 4 years ago. I have said it before, I am stronger then I have ever been. Bigger then I ever dreamed possible. And, it wasn't all that difficult to get there. Slow, but not difficult. Now that I am on a MUCH better schedule, I am sure that I can add another 20lbs in the next year. I know this because it took me 3 years to lose 33 pounds of fat and then, bulk up to my current weight.

What all the younger folks should take from all of this is that EVERYONE can make changes. Everyone can get bigger and stronger! Boyd, Tommy, Bulk, Vas, PJ, have all had a hand in making me what and where I am right now. For that, I am forever grateful...

You are a class act Narc and you are progressing, so thats all thats important and you have come along way.
I didnt mean to knock your progression, I was just letting you know you can do it at 24 or 44 or 64, it can be done.

But knowing it can be done and doing it are too different things as I KNOW I can make my diet 100 times better and progress twice as fast, but yet I sit here week after week lazily not adjusting anything and then complaining that I am too fat!

[POWERJIM]

Ive got a real heavy set bone structure and im naturally a big person in general, before lifting weights i was asked by most people what gym i went to etc, at the moment i bet im at around 195lb and todays measurements were 30inches round the waist and about 48inches round the chest, my ribs are sticking out ive gone down that far so that just shows you the kind of structure ive got, not suitable for bodybuilding at all really as im stocky looking at 5ft 8inches, anyway not that im Bodybuilding but im following a Bodybuilding style routine along with my cardio etc and my muscles should start to fill out again naturally since im no longer cutting, obviously with clean carbs still as im abit of a health freak these days.

[BiggerGuns=LongerDrives]

Originally Posted by POWERJIM

Ive got a real heavy set bone structure and im naturally a big person in general, before lifting weights i was asked by most people what gym i went to etc, at the moment i bet im at around 195lb and todays measurements were 30inches round the waist and about 48inches round the chest, my ribs are sticking out ive gone down that far so that just shows you the kind of structure ive got, not suitable for bodybuilding at all really as im stocky looking at 5ft 8inches, anyway not that im Bodybuilding but im following a Bodybuilding style routine along with my cardio etc and my muscles should start to fill out again naturally since im no longer cutting, obviously with clean carbs still as im abit of a health freak these days.

Well that Vaccum pose on your avatar IS SICK!!!!!!
Not many people can pull that one off, it's a testament to your 145 lbs fat loss

[POWERJIM]

Originally Posted by BiggerGuns=LongerDrives

Well that Vaccum pose on your avatar IS SICK!!!!!!
Not many people can pull that one off, it's a testament to your 145 lbs fat loss

I started doing vaccum exercises again at around 270lb and could hit a decent enough vaccum, always had strong stomach muscles.

[BiggerGuns=LongerDrives]

Originally Posted by POWERJIM

I started doing vaccum exercises again at around 270lb and could hit a decent enough vaccum, always had strong stomach muscles.

When I try that my stomach sucks in a bit, but my lower back and spine feel like that are disintegrated with every second as the burn is immense.
My abs suck, but they are under there, just not real prolific

[POWERJIM]

Originally Posted by BiggerGuns=LongerDrives

When I try that my stomach sucks in a bit, but my lower back and spine feel like that are disintegrated with every second as the burn is immense.
My abs suck, but they are under there, just not real prolific

I think it depends greatly on how your abs are shaped on how easy it is to do a Vaccum, my abs are long with not much width, or maybe its cos my body is overly wide? Im a strange shape altogether really mate.

[Noir]

Originally Posted by BiggerGuns=LongerDrives

For real though, your progress is extremely motivational and also can show people that you can turn skinny into brawn with a little commitment excellance AND alot of as$ busting workouts!

Think it takes abit more than a little commitment

[narcsarge]

Originally Posted by POWERJIM

Ive got a real heavy set bone structure and im naturally a big person in general, before lifting weights i was asked by most people what gym i went to etc, at the moment i bet im at around 195lb and todays measurements were 30inches round the waist and about 48inches round the chest, my ribs are sticking out ive gone down that far so that just shows you the kind of structure ive got, not suitable for bodybuilding at all really as im stocky looking at 5ft 8inches, anyway not that im Bodybuilding but im following a Bodybuilding style routine along with my cardio etc and my muscles should start to fill out again naturally since im no longer cutting, obviously with clean carbs still as im abit of a health freak these days.

PJ and I are Polar opposites, he is stocky and I am skinny but both of us have been able to change our physiques. PJ was a massive Powerlifter just a year ago! Now, he is a leaner physique. With PJ's help, I started to do lifts I had never considered. I started to lift weights I never thought possible. And this changed my physique. I have never been a diet or health "freak" but I try to eat wisely. That is why I am more convinced now, at my age, that diet has more to do with reaching one's goals...

[POWERJIM]

Originally Posted by narcsarge

PJ and I are Polar opposites, he is stocky and I am skinny but both of us have been able to change our physiques. PJ was a massive Powerlifter just a year ago! Now, he is a leaner physique. With PJ's help, I started to do lifts I had never considered. I started to lift weights I never thought possible. And this changed my physique. I have never been a diet or health "freak" but I try to eat wisely. That is why I am more convinced now, at my age, that diet has more to do with reaching one's goals...

As far as diet goes im not one for counting the exact carbs, protein and fats that i take in along with calories, ive done that in the past and its like planning to fail long term as you cant live a normal life as everything has to go down on paper and it sucks, i am however all about set meals throughout the day that doesnt include snacking for me, so those meals better be wholesome and contain what i need until the next meal comes along, no snacking should be needed, after a while it should just fall into place for you and obviously as your muscles get bigger you need more fuel much like a bigger car engine needs more juice than a smaller engine, just try and keep it as simple as posssible otherwise you will soon tire of it.

[narcsarge]

Damn PJ! You are starting to sound like me! I use the whole "car engine" anology all the time. I too can not be bothered with counting each friggin' calorie and I hater feeling "restricted" in diet. Therefore, just as you have stated, I eliminate all the unnecessary calories (sugars, sweets, fats, bad oils, bad carbs) and concentrate on whole grains, lean meats, and lots of fresh veggies and fruits. I too, eat several meals a day and all are about the same proportion of protein, carbs, and fats. I tend to read calorie counts and look at the protein/carb/fat breakdown on packaging. When I was following your heavy routine, I did as everyone suggested and ate like a mad man. I made gains and my numbers were going up constantly. Then, my schedule and routine changed to 19 hour days and there was no way to keep up the routine. So, I backed off to a maintenance diet. Again, no calorie counting, just less calories per meal. Sure my diet could be cleaner but I am not worried about being lean right now. Now, I want to get the numbers back up and the gains moving forward again.