Last Visit: Today, 6:42am Last Forum Post:Never Last Photo Upload: Dec 21, 2008 7:56pm Last Profile Update: Nov 19, 2008 7:35pm Last Blog Post: Jan 3, 2009 8:41pm
"Goal for Summer '09: Be the neighbor who mows his lawn with his shirt off!"
Personal Info And Background:
Real Name:
DA
Sex:
Male
Age:
44
Location:
Occupation:
IT Guy
Personal Website:
Gym:
Home gym
Gym Location:
Um, at home...
When I Started:
How I Started:
I was always a chubby sort and was teased unmercifully in elementary school about it. I was also clumsy as a kid so sports participation was pretty much out. Things improved as I got older -- lost the baby fat somewhat, wasn't as clumsy, etc. -- but by then sports were out of my life until after college so I had no outlet for burning off the fat or being fit.
I slimmed out some in college (lots of walking, no car!) but chunked up again after college. I've never been hugely fat, but then again I was on the road to that, and have never been particularly athletic looking, either -- I've never seen my abs, yet. I took a conditioning class in college and was introduced to lifting, but not for size, and while I liked it, I didn't stick with it after the class ended. I was too intimidated by the jocks in the weight room and too unsure of my own ability and potential to go it alone w/o the support of the class instructor... those elementary school bullies really affected me.
Shortly after college I got enough courage to play hockey in an adult (beginner) league and that helped to keep the weight down, but there were too many juvenile-acting NHL wannabees in that beginner's league that there was sometimes no room on the ice for all the egos out there! Between that and not being enough time and money to pursue both hockey and a masters degree (had to to keep my job!), I dropped out of the hockey and got chunky again.
Years later (too many years later) I started doing some lifting on my own and saw some very modest changes. I did the usual buy-the-cement-weight-set-and-hope-for-t he-best that many have done, but I spent far too long not really knowing what I was doing, and never sticking at it that seriously. I think like most guys starting out in BBing I thought that after three workouts I'd be ripped and awesome... yeah, right. So I didn't make any big gains; I just toned up a bit -- though not that you could see it under all the fat... see my early "progress" pix! I also wasn't eating right, which of course doesn't help at all, so the BF% never went down and slowly kept climbing. Talk about a formula for failure. I finally discovered bb.com and found real workout plans and made the commitment to sticking with a decent routine and minding what I eat and I appear to be finally on the road to making some progress.
Why I Love It:
The pump, and seeing the progress in the mirror and in pix. It's a physical activity I can do myself and not have to put up with or rely on others (and their attitudes) like in the hockey league. I have also found that it is a great stress reliever and a lot of frustrations get pounded into submission with each rep.
How I Stay Motivated:
The mirror, progress pix, and comments from other BodySpacers!
BB Accomplishments:
So far I've dropped over 20 lbs of fat, and gained several lbs of muscle, and have had a few BodySpacers tell me that my progress has been an inspiration to them. For someone who was always the tubby kid that got picked on, that is just awesome.
Forum Signature:
"I may not be as big/buff/ripped/awesome as many BodySpacers, but I look a whole lot better than 90% of the general population" -- Me.
Last Updated: Nov 19, 2008 7:35pm
Progress Pictures
Jul 7, 2004
Dec 21, 2008
OMG... the 40-yr-old blob. No idea of wt or BF% here, but both #s were significant, I think...
Front double bi 12-21-08. Wt. 167, BF% down a few mm, chart says it's about 10% now. Seems like I have too much belly fat for it to be 10%.
Goal for Summer '09: Be the neighbor who mows his lawn with his shirt off!
Goal (Long):
I didn't want to fall into the trap of most people my age (and younger!) where the body just keeps getting bigger and bigger -- or more accurately: wider and wider. I also didn't want to be just another fat computer geek. I was headed down that road and finally decided it had to stop. I am not necessarily looking to be like a fitness model, but who knows! After 30+ years of being, um, overbulked, I never thought I would have made the progress I have already!
What is your favorite cardiovascular exercise? Why?
Can't say that any cardio exercise is a favorite.
- Updated Jul 30, 2008 7:56pm
What is your cardio exercise plan?
Through the winter I was doing no cardio. Now with summer around I am spending some time on the bike and also swimming. Nothing major or serious, only 4-5 miles at a time on the bike running errands, and maybe 10 mins or so swimming when I'm at the cottage. Better than nothing!! Probably when winter rolls around again I'll go back to no cardio. The swimming will stop when cottage season is over.Through the winter I was doing no cardio. Now with summer around I am spending some time on the bike and also swimming. Nothing major or serious, only 4-5 miles at a time on the bike running errands...more
Well, the holidays are about over :( and I have managed to not add a bunch of weight! :) In fact, it is looking like I am coming out of this a mere pound heavier and up a half millimeter in the body fat pinches for Christmas/New Year's and down two pounds for the entire Thanksgiving-New...
Hey man, awesome progress! You have true dedication!! I just met a guy that shaved his head in school so that he would study and not go out... you seem to have that same dedication! Keep it up and you will hit your goals no problem!
First time ever, both Jan King and I are competing in some sort of fitness competition. In 34+ years of working out I have never competed as a bodybuilder.
Jan is a 49 yr old mom of 7. She started with me 1/2/2008, 1 year ago. See great photos of Jan: http://www.creativecommonsense .us/b4after.html#janking
Please vote for us in World Physique Modeling Contest at: http://www.worldphysique.com/c ontests.
