Unlike many of the guys in the H+F forum, I haven’t kept a journal or logged my weight changes during my progress, so I have decided to write a backdated report of my experiences (physical, mental, social, sexual etc) including what few pictures I have. I’m no expert and wouldn’t even call myself a bodybuilder; I’m just a guy who wants to get in shape and have merely followed the advice I learned on this forum, so see this as a motivational thread rather than a guide.
Before
The following picture is from 2001, but represents how I looked before taking on any form of physical improvement:
http://www.wade.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/miscstuff/1-before.jpg
I looked thin and weak and my state of mind matched my body. I took no pride in my dress, and see how my slumped shoulders scream awkwardness and low confidence. Also note the cigarette in my hand – I was a smoker for 7 years and gave up when I started bulking.
June, 2004
Tired of being patronised for being a “nice” and “sweet” guy, sick of being disrespected and walked over, I decided to take my first steps towards bulking up.
I followed Diesel’s bulking guide as a foundation for my diet and eating times. I signed up at my university gym and also bought my own bench and free weights so I could work out even if I couldn’t make it into the city. My routine consisted of a 4 day split and comprised free weight exercises such as squats, flyes, bench presses, curls, arnolds, military presses, pullovers and shrugs, plus dips, crunches and various abdominal exercises. I performed 4 sets of each exercise to around 10-15reps or to failure.
Unlike many guys here, my entire focus was on gaining mass only, not strength, and so I must point out that since I started lifting I have never exceeded 110lbs (barbell) and 50lbs (per dumbbell) during my workout sessions. If you hope to make strength gains, you will want to increase your weight regularly, but in my experience it is not essential to gaining muscle mass just as long as the weight you use provides adequate resistance.
October, 2004
http://www.wade.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/miscstuff/2-oct04.jpg
This is the peak of my gains. I packed on over 20lbs in just 4 months! I felt fantastic, I was getting a whole lot more respect, had women complimenting and touching my body, and as a former nice guy, I had finally gained some much-needed sex appeal.
While I was proud of my muscle gains and looked great in my shirts, I had gained more bodyfat than I cared for and was starting to look bulky and less defined. So I figured it was time to start cutting. Once again, I looked to Diesel for guidance and started following his cutting guide, while continuing my usual weight routine.
November, 2004
http://www.wade.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/miscstuff/3-Nov04.jpg
I was making steady progress cutting on Diesel’s guide. My chest was showing a little more definition, I was losing bodyfat and maintaining muscle mass. However, it was taking a lot of time and I wanted quick results. Big mistake!
At this point I decided to try a much stricter, low carb, low calorie cutting diet. I dropped almost all carbs, dropped my calorie intake to approx 1500 per day and added two days of cardio. In retrospect, the word “idiot” springs to mind.
January, 2005
http://www.wade.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/miscstuff/4-Jan05.jpg
I’d made it through Christmas without binge eating or drinking and was looking pretty good. I was aware of losing some muscle, but had lost quite a lot of bodyfat too and was feeling quite pleased with my new body. However, I was feeling very lethargic every day, felt lightheaded at times, had a very low sex drive, low motivation, lost my bold/masculine mindset and, strangely, I was feeling emotionally sensitive. Even my girlfriend started neghitting me by calling me a wimp/woman/pvssy/gay.
March, 2005
http://www.wade.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/miscstuff/5-April05.jpg
http://www.wade.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/miscstuff/6-April05.jpg
By now I had stopped cutting and balanced my diet, but a lot of my muscle definition had already been lost. In fact, I felt like sh1t physically and mentally, my confidence plumetted, I started getting insecure, lost motivation, started smoking again and stopped lifting! I felt like all my time and effort had gone to waste and just gave up on it!
As a side note, I want to add that the female attention I was used to stopped soon after too. Coincidence? Since I’d been lifting, women were all over me and now I couldn’t even get eye contact in a club. Many guys have spoken about the mental state bodybuilders have and the effect this has on their appeal to women, so I now believe it was more than just coincidence. I didn’t suddenly turn ugly overnight, but my state of mind had altered considerably.
Anyway, I continued smoking, being lazy and unmotivated for another month, when I finally decided to pick myself up and start bulking again from scratch. A few weeks later I rediscovered that special mindset - that bold and fearless state, the sense of determination and focus, the masculinity, high energy and high sex drive. Everything that is good about bodybuilding came flooding back to me and I even managed to kick smoking for a second time. Above all, I felt like I was back in control of my life!
July, 2005
http://www.wade.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/miscstuff/7-july05.jpg
This is where I stand now. I’m not in bad shape at all really, but the last few months of bulking has caused me to gain some extra bodyfat. However, instead of repeating my mistake of cutting and looking for fast results, I’m eating a balanced diet and adding HIIT to my offdays. My plan is to burn it away slowly, while increasing my general fitness in the process.
I am, however, very pleased to say that my determination and focus are at a peak right now, and so is my confidence and popularity with women.
I still have a lot of work ahead before I get to where I want to be, but hopefully this has inspired some of you (or at least warned you of the problems with intense cutting). Anyone who is contemplating bodybuilding, I recommend you go for it right now. If you feel dejected or in a rut, bodybuilding can give you a light at the end of the tunnel - a promise of more success with women, more confidence and strength, which draws closer every day. Just by having that something to look forward to, you can change your entire mindset, which in itself can bring improved confidence and success.
Thanks to everyone who has helped and inspired me so far by replying to my questions, posting photos, journals, advice etc.
To be continued…
Before
The following picture is from 2001, but represents how I looked before taking on any form of physical improvement:
http://www.wade.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/miscstuff/1-before.jpg
I looked thin and weak and my state of mind matched my body. I took no pride in my dress, and see how my slumped shoulders scream awkwardness and low confidence. Also note the cigarette in my hand – I was a smoker for 7 years and gave up when I started bulking.
June, 2004
Tired of being patronised for being a “nice” and “sweet” guy, sick of being disrespected and walked over, I decided to take my first steps towards bulking up.
I followed Diesel’s bulking guide as a foundation for my diet and eating times. I signed up at my university gym and also bought my own bench and free weights so I could work out even if I couldn’t make it into the city. My routine consisted of a 4 day split and comprised free weight exercises such as squats, flyes, bench presses, curls, arnolds, military presses, pullovers and shrugs, plus dips, crunches and various abdominal exercises. I performed 4 sets of each exercise to around 10-15reps or to failure.
Unlike many guys here, my entire focus was on gaining mass only, not strength, and so I must point out that since I started lifting I have never exceeded 110lbs (barbell) and 50lbs (per dumbbell) during my workout sessions. If you hope to make strength gains, you will want to increase your weight regularly, but in my experience it is not essential to gaining muscle mass just as long as the weight you use provides adequate resistance.
October, 2004
http://www.wade.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/miscstuff/2-oct04.jpg
This is the peak of my gains. I packed on over 20lbs in just 4 months! I felt fantastic, I was getting a whole lot more respect, had women complimenting and touching my body, and as a former nice guy, I had finally gained some much-needed sex appeal.
While I was proud of my muscle gains and looked great in my shirts, I had gained more bodyfat than I cared for and was starting to look bulky and less defined. So I figured it was time to start cutting. Once again, I looked to Diesel for guidance and started following his cutting guide, while continuing my usual weight routine.
November, 2004
http://www.wade.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/miscstuff/3-Nov04.jpg
I was making steady progress cutting on Diesel’s guide. My chest was showing a little more definition, I was losing bodyfat and maintaining muscle mass. However, it was taking a lot of time and I wanted quick results. Big mistake!
At this point I decided to try a much stricter, low carb, low calorie cutting diet. I dropped almost all carbs, dropped my calorie intake to approx 1500 per day and added two days of cardio. In retrospect, the word “idiot” springs to mind.
January, 2005
http://www.wade.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/miscstuff/4-Jan05.jpg
I’d made it through Christmas without binge eating or drinking and was looking pretty good. I was aware of losing some muscle, but had lost quite a lot of bodyfat too and was feeling quite pleased with my new body. However, I was feeling very lethargic every day, felt lightheaded at times, had a very low sex drive, low motivation, lost my bold/masculine mindset and, strangely, I was feeling emotionally sensitive. Even my girlfriend started neghitting me by calling me a wimp/woman/pvssy/gay.
March, 2005
http://www.wade.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/miscstuff/5-April05.jpg
http://www.wade.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/miscstuff/6-April05.jpg
By now I had stopped cutting and balanced my diet, but a lot of my muscle definition had already been lost. In fact, I felt like sh1t physically and mentally, my confidence plumetted, I started getting insecure, lost motivation, started smoking again and stopped lifting! I felt like all my time and effort had gone to waste and just gave up on it!
As a side note, I want to add that the female attention I was used to stopped soon after too. Coincidence? Since I’d been lifting, women were all over me and now I couldn’t even get eye contact in a club. Many guys have spoken about the mental state bodybuilders have and the effect this has on their appeal to women, so I now believe it was more than just coincidence. I didn’t suddenly turn ugly overnight, but my state of mind had altered considerably.
Anyway, I continued smoking, being lazy and unmotivated for another month, when I finally decided to pick myself up and start bulking again from scratch. A few weeks later I rediscovered that special mindset - that bold and fearless state, the sense of determination and focus, the masculinity, high energy and high sex drive. Everything that is good about bodybuilding came flooding back to me and I even managed to kick smoking for a second time. Above all, I felt like I was back in control of my life!
July, 2005
http://www.wade.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/miscstuff/7-july05.jpg
This is where I stand now. I’m not in bad shape at all really, but the last few months of bulking has caused me to gain some extra bodyfat. However, instead of repeating my mistake of cutting and looking for fast results, I’m eating a balanced diet and adding HIIT to my offdays. My plan is to burn it away slowly, while increasing my general fitness in the process.
I am, however, very pleased to say that my determination and focus are at a peak right now, and so is my confidence and popularity with women.
I still have a lot of work ahead before I get to where I want to be, but hopefully this has inspired some of you (or at least warned you of the problems with intense cutting). Anyone who is contemplating bodybuilding, I recommend you go for it right now. If you feel dejected or in a rut, bodybuilding can give you a light at the end of the tunnel - a promise of more success with women, more confidence and strength, which draws closer every day. Just by having that something to look forward to, you can change your entire mindset, which in itself can bring improved confidence and success.
Thanks to everyone who has helped and inspired me so far by replying to my questions, posting photos, journals, advice etc.
To be continued…