i used to weigh over 18stone about 18 months or so ago, i got down to 12stone but have piled a stone back on with drinking and eating crap. i have the skinny fat look which i hate and really want to change this so im taking up weights to help me with a cut down to 12stone then going to start bulking afterwards to imrove the way my body looks im not looking to get stupidly massive just get agood body

I might aswell chime in here.
 
I'm 21, and my reason for doing weights is because I've been able to get my illness under some degree of control (Crohn's disease) and am gaining weight. I am able to gain as much as I want at the moment, depending on how much I feel like eating each day. Obviously without doing weight training, this will all just be fat.
 
I'm completely out of shape and unfit and I want to have a body to be proud of. I'm 5'10.5" and currently around 140 lbs. Going back 2-3 months I was at an all time low of 120 lbs which is very thin for me. My average weight before my illness was around 156 lbs (70k), but even then I was thin in the arms and legs and fat on the stomach.
 
I've never been in good shape so I'm finally making the decision to do as much as I can to change that, become fit, and have a body that looks good.
 
 
George.

George_88


I might aswell chime in here.
 
I'm 21, and my reason for doing weights is because I've been able to get my illness under some degree of control (Crohn's disease) and am gaining weight. I am able to gain as much as I want at the moment, depending on how much I feel like eating each day. Obviously without doing weight training, this will all just be fat.
 
I'm completely out of shape and unfit and I want to have a body to be proud of. I'm 5'10.5" and currently around 140 lbs. Going back 2-3 months I was at an all time low of 120 lbs which is very thin for me. My average weight before my illness was around 156 lbs (70k), but even then I was thin in the arms and legs and fat on the stomach.
 
I've never been in good shape so I'm finally making the decision to do as much as I can to change that, become fit, and have a body that looks good.
 
 
George.

Great stuff, George.  You will find this topic useful.

James Collier
Like MuscleTalk.co.uk on Facebook

Hey there!
for me, now 34, I've noticed over the last few at least I've gradually been putting on the pounds. *Much harder to eat junk food and get away*

I'm not that overweight though am consious of my body and would love to have a physic I'm proud of.

I've started going to the gym regularly and am really enjoying it, currently doing a 4 day split routine along with getting into the world of sups to help me on my way.

I'd love to get to around 14.5 stone, mainly as I have a friend at that weight and he looks fantastic.

I'm a mere 13 stone at the moment so a long way off.

looking forward to posting progress and learning from you all.

All the best for 2010!

I decided to move out and moved from carlisle in cumbria to central london. I have only been here 5 months now but since it was a new place and i knew no one i thought it would be a great time to get in the gym

Always been self concious about being so thin so rather than moan i started to fix it. Even though i have put on some size i think its more the training now that has given me the confidence, that plus moving to a huge place and taking control of my own life.

So yeah thats about it really, just to add i do have friends now lol none of them go to the gym though, they all think im mad. Horses for courses eh!

I'm very insecure about my body. I have Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes and I had a liver transplant 2 years ago. I'm 27 about 5'10'' and weigh 54kg

I want my body to be stronger and grow much bigger muscles.

I eat three meals a day plus 2 Dymatize Elite Whey and 4 build up drinks that contain 1,000 calories prescribed by the doctor

I'm currently doing a program set by the gym trainer doing 2x 20 reps and a whole body workout 4 times a week

Burn


I'm very insecure about my body. I have Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes and I had a liver transplant 2 years ago. I'm 27 about 5'10'' and weigh 54kg

I want my body to be stronger and grow much bigger muscles.

I eat three meals a day plus 2 Dymatize Elite Whey and 4 build up drinks that contain 1,000 calories prescribed by the doctor

I'm currently doing a program set by the gym trainer doing 2x 20 reps and a whole body workout 4 times a week

Welcome, Burn

That's a lot of medical history!  What are the build up drinks - name?  Do you struggle with eating or is it easy enough?

James Collier
Like MuscleTalk.co.uk on Facebook

Yeah I only said about my medical stuff just to give a better picture. I do struggle with eating when unwell (chest infections) but at the moment I’m eating fine.
 The build up drinks I take are Scandishake which is mixed with 240ml of full fat milk, and I mix 100ml of Calogen with that

I worked as a clincial dietitian for several years and left the NHS in 2002.  I know both supplements.  I think you should eat 4 meals per day plus your supps.  Post your current diet plan up (maybe in a new topic) and I'll advise from there.

James Collier
Like MuscleTalk.co.uk on Facebook

Might aswell chuck in my bit.

I've basically grown up around weightlifting/fitness orientated people, and whilst ive wanted to be bigger, i was always more interested in playing basketball/BMXing etc. Once i got a licence that all changed and ive became extremely lazy and very unfit.

Im pretty skinny for my height (although i dont think im too bad considering my weight!), which has always annoyed me and kicked my confidence a bit.

I think over the past few months ive given myself a drive to start weightlifting and get in shape. I think its been a culmanation of a few things - how unfit ive become, to boost my confidence, to promote a healthier lifestyle to my son and to create a better bond with my dad.

Im not bothered too much by the looks (although obviously they come into play a bit), im more interested in strength and overall fitness. My dad used to compete in decathlon and then was a powerlifter, and hes always badgered me to let him train me (hes always reckoned i had a good body shape to build on). Seein as we both need the motivation to get into a gym and keep going at it, ive decided to take him up on his offer, and maybe one day i wont be living in his shadow - quite literally as hes only 5'9" but always over 17 stone whilst training lol my long term aim is to try and compete in highlands games, even if i just manage it once.

I guess in short, its partially for confidence and looks, but mostly to improve my fitness and strength, and in a strange way, give my father something to be proud of it as weightlifting has always been his domain.

(Sorry to waffle on there a bit! lol)

Thanks for the post barclay - welcome and it sounds like you have a lot of fitness around you!

James Collier
Like MuscleTalk.co.uk on Facebook

Yea, looking back there has been alot, even some i didnt notice at the time. Quite a few of my cousins are into lifting, few mates from back in school are into powerlifting too as i used to go to their comps.

Most definetly the biggest influence has been my dad, always growing up thinking "i want to look like him" lol I guess i seem to be follwing a similar route to him too - he was supposed to compete in commonwealth games when he was young but broke a few vertebrae in his back and gave it up, consentrated on lifting after then, eventually going on to run a gym with his cousin. Hes trained alot of people, from bodybuilders to boxers, so would be silly of me not to take advantage of what hes offering and to learn what he has picked up in his 40+ years of training.

Hi, i have lurked for a while and only just seen this thread so thought why the hell not.

28, about 13stone, 6'2 and still have some muscle on my arms and shoulders, but just generally fat round my stomach and pecs, and stringy on my legs.

Previously weight lifted and got big, met someone who i thought i loved who was just a wannabe WAG in disguse, then one thing or another i ran out of steam, attempted a number of times to get back into but just didnt have the motivation.

Then 10 months ago my personal life went down the pan, g/f left me who i had bought a house with and thought i loved very much, couple of finacial problems kicked in, so i turned to the booze, junk food and partying becuase that is what i thought i needed with the wrong group of friends, which then turned into the drugs, and the continous spiral downwards of pills, powders and liquids.

Then november time this year i met the most fantastic woman ever who is very much into sport and things that i always used to do before meeting the previous g/f (running, climbing, walking etc) which has spurred me back into getting healthy and having a new vibe for life!!

So, as of today i am five days drug free, moving back to my parents next monday to start again, kicked the bad friends, diet getting back on track, back to running on the road and having motivation to go out and get on with life. Work is alot better, people notice i am happier, i have less stress and i am going to the gym for the first time tomorrow to restart my training regime. and i appear to have the most fantastic woman ever interested in me! whoop!

ive chosen to hit the weights for 3 reasons, to look and feel my best, improve my proformance at work(200meters of 10mm T&E cable is a pain in the ass to work with lack of strengh slows me down a bit) and to put on more weight.
im 6.2ft and about 10 n a half stone and 20 years old  yep quite young &skinny :P  

i started hitting the weights about a month ago with a mate he lost intrest but ive kept it going i havent put on weight as such but i have noticed more definition

recently gave up smoking for new years and slowly starting to cut out the junk that i put in my body. im not sure as to what i should be eating but i have found a new love for tuna pasta!

Great stuff guys, welcome to both of you

James Collier
Like MuscleTalk.co.uk on Facebook

Well I'm 36 years old, 5ft7, weight about 11.5 stone and a little chubby.
 
I'm originally from the UK, but moved to the USA 5 months ago (my wife is American) I'm still waiting on my Work Visa to arrive, which can take another 6 months.... so in the mean time I thought I would workout (in the apartment complex gym, not great, but its free lol)
 
Tomorrow (Monday 11th) will infact be my first day at the gym working out with weights... just been doing cardio so far. I think I finally got my supps sorted out as well (will also start them tomorrow).... still not sure how much & what supps to take on my days off tho, still learning, but I'll get there lol
 
Anyway thats my story :-)

OK... I just went to the gym in the apartment complex this morning, and did my first workout.
 
Theres is basically only a few machines there for the following.... Biceps, Triceps, Chest, Shoulders & Lats, thats it, nothing more....  There are some free weights, but these are more for the girls (different colours, & only go from 1lbs to 10lbs)
 
My main problem is for working my back, just the Lat machine which is not enough (And the machine seemed to do most of the work for me)... Like I said the heaviest free weight is 10lbs.... so I'm not sure what to do. Any ideas? lol.

Hi Jammie.  Is there a chin up bar?

James Collier
Like MuscleTalk.co.uk on Facebook

James


Hi Jammie.  Is there a chin up bar?

No theres not, nothing but those five machines, some free weights, and two tredmills.... nearest proper gym is 5 miles away, and with no car, its hard to get there and back.... the public buses here are def not as good as back home, thats for sure lol.

I was thinking about buying an EZ Curl Bar at Walmart, along with some cast-iron weights (Not to heavy)
 
Pack the weights in my bag, grab the EZ Curl Bar, and walk to the gym (its only a short walk to the complex gym, 2 mins tops).... I know it sounds silly, but at least this way I could do some Bent Over Rows.

Jammie Dodger

James


Hi Jammie.  Is there a chin up bar?

No theres not, nothing but those five machines, some free weights, and two tredmills.... nearest proper gym is 5 miles away, and with no car, its hard to get there and back.... the public buses here are def not as good as back home, thats for sure lol.

Then, you're going to have to go hardcore!  Can you find a tree with a low but sturdy branch and do chins?  Or purchase a hope chin bar for the doorway.  Or you'll have to buy yourself some heavy dumbbells to row.

James Collier
Like MuscleTalk.co.uk on Facebook

James

Jammie Dodger

James


Hi Jammie.  Is there a chin up bar?

No theres not, nothing but those five machines, some free weights, and two tredmills.... nearest proper gym is 5 miles away, and with no car, its hard to get there and back.... the public buses here are def not as good as back home, thats for sure lol.

Then, you're going to have to go hardcore!  Can you find a tree with a low but sturdy branch and do chins?  Or purchase a hope chin bar for the doorway.  Or you'll have to buy yourself some heavy dumbbells to row.

No trees, well not small enough ones to reach a branch.... I might look into the chin up bar for the doorway tho. 

I'm 6'1" and weigh 133lbs, 18 years old, would like to bulk up a bit

I'm not interested in looking like hulk, I just want to stay healthy and look good at the same time. at the moment I don't like my body because i have a really small waist which makes my hips look big. or maybe i just have big hips, but i dont like them!

I'm also really weak, i struggle to beat my mum in an arm wrestle.

Im not in any sports team and i choose to play computer games rather than doing excercise. i hope to turn this around

my facilities are a rowing machine (water rower), a weights bench with 25kg of weight with the leg curl thing, a virtual cycling thing, and swimming pool. obviously running is an option aswell.

i would be grateful for any advice !

Hi Hawk - welcome!

Best place to start is here: http://articles.musclet...cle-beginners-guide.aspx

James Collier
Like MuscleTalk.co.uk on Facebook

My turn!

 39 years old(the big one this year!!!!) 6ft, 15 stone.
 Been using a gym on and off for about 5 or 6 years. The last 2 years with a lot more consistency and have lost about 2 stone and have noticed strength and size gains.  Have never stuck to a strict high pro diet, only supplemented with shakes etc so this is part of my aim for 2010. Got into training for fitness and the sense of purpose I feel when heading to the gym after work.
 I plan on making full use of the resources available on this great site.

Welcome, Riches!

James Collier
Like MuscleTalk.co.uk on Facebook

Hi i'm Matt 6ft & 12st. Age 21.

I mainly started because it would fill long lunch breaks from college and also I was having really bad night's sleep and thought it was about time I got myself up and did more. Now i've been going a month and i'm totally addicted and really enjoying the changes already

I've totally changed my diet and feeling so much better for it. I'm looking to work hard towards a having nice body and would be nice to fill the arms in my t-shirts haha.

Really like the forum and have taken in alot of advice from here already so cheers!

Hopefully speak to some of you soon

Great stuff, Burney - look forward to hearing updates of your progress!

James Collier
Like MuscleTalk.co.uk on Facebook

Hi All

Well, im 45 and at the New Year i weighed in at just over 20 stone(im 5ft11).
Ive spent most of my life in and out of gyms, but the last 7 years have been the laziest and unfittest of my life. 7 years of beer,takeaways, huge portion sizes, eating late at night have resulted me to high blood pressure, cholesterol problems etc etc.
The straw that broke the camels back is when i had to purchase a pair of 44" waist jeans.

The second week of January i decided, enough is enough, i would really like to see my 50th birthday(albeit 5 years away). I started dieting and then joined a local gym close to where i live. Advise that i have read on this site has helped me, and reminded me of what i used to do years ago, so its 5-6 clean meals a day inc a couple of protein shakes, and NO beer ;-) just plenty of water. I have Saturday nights off, still eat sensibly but enjoy a few pints.

Currently im 18st13lb, my 42" jeans are very very comfortable and the 44s are in the bin! Ive set myself a goal to lose 5 st by August.

So, a big thanks to this site, as it really is a inspiration.....

Ill keep you updated of how im getting on, on a regular basis

Regards

Paul

Welcome, Paul - why not run a TROG on MT to monitor your own progress?

James Collier
Like MuscleTalk.co.uk on Facebook

A beginner's section of the forum, how apt to my needs!

The story goes that I am a 24 year old software developer that is currently having a bad patch of unhealthy eating, lack of exercise and over past 2 years - since I've stopped playing five-a-side football - been piling on the weight which is leaving me feel most depressed at my man boobage. (Although, they are nice to touch!)

I stand at 6 foot 1, and weighing in at 106kg. My ideal weight to get back to would be around 85kg, but the long term goal is mainly to loose the excess flab and get fit for the new football season after summer.

The hardest part of the journey at the moment is finding the time to workout in some form due to a 5 month old baby in the house and other commitments.  But there-in-lies the sacrifice I'll need to achieve the goals I set!

Having a good look through the forums at the moment for workouts, diet advice and other great resources/advice which will hopefully let me set a regime to follow over the coming months.

May be tempted to start a TROG, will see how things go over the next few days o/

Welcome to MT Celeborn.  Feel free to ask any advice and you may find a TROG will help you stay focused

James Collier
Like MuscleTalk.co.uk on Facebook

well I am 16, and am 5ft 10 and weigh 8 stone 3(115lbs) and want to get bigger as friends have been takin the mick and also i play golf and want to hit the ball further

I'm 25 and 5'8.
I was 15stone in January last year. I've never been so out of shape in my life where I was actually very fit two years before that.
After a year of healthy eating and occassion gentle and cardio exercise I have lost 4 1/2 stone and am now 10stone 5lbs (145 lbs). Now I have lost the fat I wanted to lose, I would like to bulk up.
At the moment I am doing 100 press ups a day in five sets of 20, working different parts of the arms/chest. My dumbells I have are only 12.5kg each, so I do 3 sets of 12 with them until I buy more weights. I also do 3-4 chin ups as I've only just started putting them into practice.
I really need to step up the mark, I guess.

Start weight: 15 st 
Got down to: 10 st 0 lbs  
Current weight: 11 st 7 lbs

I'm Reece and am 24years old. Currently weigh 61kg and 6ft1 tall.

I am very thin and looking to bulk up. I have tried a few times before in the last year where I have gained upto about a total weight of 66kg but I lost motivation everytime as was too tired from work to go home get the weights bench etc out at home.

However I am determined to change this. I haved changed my diet totally 2 weeks ago and been doing a basic small push/pull/legs split at  home until the new gym near me opens in 2 weeks. The gym is a 24 hour gym which appealed to me as this means I can go soon as I wake in the morning without disturbing the family.

Will bestarting a TROG soon to try and keep me on track

I trained martial arts for years then moved onto boxing/muay thai and after alot of reading on the internet realised i could increase my performance using weights and other forms of conditioning/athletic style training.

also to get bigger at the same time though:).

Been using this site for about a month now and find it useful.

I'm 24, 10st 5lbs, 5' 9"... Wanted to bulk for years now. Long term I'm wanting to pile on 2st of lean muscle. Have tried in the past and failed by losing motivation after 3/4 months. I've always been the little guy and want to change that. 

I've started using the TROG facility and believe it's a good motivation tool. 

Have been enjoying my routine, could maybe do with increasing my intake of food. Alcohol is an issue as well, weekends in the past have been written of because of hangovers. It's really tough to cut out though when my mates only hobbies is drinking. 

Thanks guys - keep them coming!

Good to read some of the TROGs too

James Collier
Like MuscleTalk.co.uk on Facebook

Hi Folks,

I am 36 and have never really been a regular gym going person before, i played ball for my country at u21's but started djing and drinking and by 25 lost my long distance runners body..:)

I drink quite often and eat fried food all the time and after gaul stones i thought forget this for a life its time to get in to shape!

I have changed my diet to inc lean steak, chicken breast and tuna etc inc fresh fish and fruit and veg and i have cut down on the drinking one heck of allot!!

I am training 3 times per week and this will be my first proper week of a routine i am doing, i have to admit i feel abit silly looking for 2x10's to put on for my squats....as i am 6'1 and 210pounds.

I am prob looking to drop a stone and tighten up so thats my main goal.


Top site this is though fair play!!

Alright Guys & Girls

Just recently joined a gym after abusing my body with alcholol and fatty foods for the past few years.

Im 29 and always used to weigh 12 1/2 stone until I changed my job and became office bound and did not help being located next door to a Pork Farm Factory Shop where i could get pasties and pies for 10p so I quickly pile don 2 stone in a few years, also drinking every night didnt help the cause.

So time to get a grip with my life again cut out all fatty foods and sugar out of coffee and feeling better for it.

Found loads of advice on this forum, just concentrating on losing weight and bulking up a bit