Sharing my progress so far...

[Kerpal]

I first started training about 1.5 years ago. I don't have a picture from back then but I was skinnyfat, weighed about 165-170, no muscle at all. I started training more seriously about 6 months ago.

Now I am about 6'0 and 175-180 lbs.

Here is a recent picture:

Here is my progress:

1. Squat:

3 x 5 @ 95 lbs to 3 x 5 @ 285 lbs

2. Deadlift:

1 x 5 @ 135 lbs to 1 x 5 @ 350 lbs

3. Power Clean:

5 x 3 @ 95 lbs to 5 x 3 @ 175 lbs

4. Overhead press:

3 x 5 @ 60 lbs to 3 x 5 @ 125 lbs

5. Dumbbell bench press:

3 x 5 @ 40 lbs (each hand) to 3 x 5 @ 75 lbs (each hand) (this is my worst lift)

6. Pull ups:

Went from being able to do 1 to being able to do 15+, can do 10+ with a 25 lb weight vest

7. Turkish get-up:

1 x 10 @ 20 lbs (5 per side) to 1 x 10 @ 60 lbs (5 per side)

8. Conditioning:

My conditioning sucked when I first started, I could literally barely jog to the end of the block without collapsing. The first few times I trained BJJ I got dizzy and sick.

It's kind of hard to measure conditioning, it's not like strength training where you can say "I lifted X amount last week, now I'm lifting Y amount". But it is exponentially better now, I have pretty good endurance on the mats, and I can do 100 burpees in just under 7 minutes.

This was done while also training BJJ/MMA, if you're only training for looks and your diet is good (mine sucked until very recently) you'll be able to make much faster progress on the weights and in the mirror. I also have gynecomastia which is why my chest looks ****ty, once I get surgery it should look much better.

 

[Quagmire911]

Congratulations with your progress, good to see some variety too.

I hope those squats are ass to grass

 

[Kerpal]

Yup, always ass-to-grass.

 

[Quagmire911]

Yup, always ass-to-grass.

Nice

 

[Fuglydude]

Awesome progress. You got good shape.

Keep doing what you've been doing and try tanning/shaving and you'll look a lot leaner/harder.

 

[Kerpal]

Yeah I do need to get a tan, I'm ridiculously pale, I never go outside though, I'm always either in class, a gym, or the library I dunno about shaving though, seems a little over the top to me, lol.

 

[Fuglydude]

Yeah I do need to get a tan, I'm ridiculously pale, I never go outside though, I'm always either in class, a gym, or the library I dunno about shaving though, seems a little over the top to me, lol.

Trust me man shaving will make you look a lot leaner and harder. I shave my body like 3 times a week...ya its annoying to have to do it but if makes me look that much leaner with that little effort, I'm all for it!

 

[Mad Manic]

Other than needing to add mass all over your upper pecs and lats need some work. But you've got a good foundation there, nice and lean with a bit of muscle for starters. Good luck.

 

[Kerpal]

Thanks. My upper body does kind of suck. My presses (overhead and bench) are weak relative to my lower body lifts. I've always had big legs, even when I was a kid, and I took to squatting really well and love doing it, it's my favorite exercise. Bench pressing is my least favorite exercise.

I should post a picture of my quads. They've gotten ridiculously big, in fact it's become a problem because now I can't find pants that are large enough around the thighs and small enough around the waist. I'm wearing 32" jeans right now and they're a good compromise, but a little too big around the hips. 34"s were tight on me before I started working out.

Another thing I've noticed is that weight training has really helped me in BJJ/MMA. Everything from power of kicks, to takedown/takedown defense, and locking in submissions (triangle, arm bar) with my legs have become much stronger.