FY2016/2017 was not a good year for me for a number of reasons as outlined briefly below:

A) Contracted ross river virus

B) Realised a circa 65k capital loss as well as a significant paper loss

C) Stopped lifting often. Cancelled gym membership, OTP etc.

D) GF proved she is a slut

In saying that I couldn't really give a f*ck about any of that shit as I firmly believe that everything in our lives is "predetermined" (although it's far too complex to model) and as such those events were always going to be what happened.

Anyway can't do f*ck all about A) above and already took care of D) so that just leaves points B) and C). It is my intention that this journal will become a chronicle of my attempted comeback with respect to these points and hopefully be in a better position physically and financially at the conclusion of FY2017/2018 (Aus I.E. July to June) than I was at the end of FY2015/2016.

Anyway talk is cheap. Will update when I actually do something material.

Before
Now 
 

This is a record of what I have been up to lately. Taking it light and building up to some good squat weights.  Working weights three times a week with a light and heavy day same exercises just x 5/6 or x 10 with reduced weights. All weights in kg.

Squats ATG

60 x 6

100 x 5x3

120 x 5 

Rack pulls

100 x 5

180 x 5

220 x 3

300 x 1 missed

280 x 1

300 x 1

Bench press

60 x 5

100 x 5

120 x 5 x 3

Bentover row

80 x 5 x 4

DB Incline

35 x 6 x 4

Straight arm lat push down

72 x 6 x 4

So yesterday I bit the bullet turned to my husband whom is a powerlifter and asked for help he took me straight to the gym and we signed up,  the lady asked me whom I would like to train me as I turned and looked at 3 pretty boys I said none of them thank you my husband will train me he looked proud so how can I say no to someone whom has genuine support for me.  Today after work is my first session I'm scared but excited at the same time.

Wish me luck x

Sorry much camera is a bit shit lol.

Currently 6'1 @104 kilos I live in the waikato(ham) pretty keen to train with any other heavier guys that'll push me

Pauline is promoting her Fighterdiet concept which is basically an advice to stuff yourself with low calorie, low GI vegetables so you can have large (&healthy) meals, reach satiety and not binge on crappy foods. And she sells branded supplements and expensive e-books on how exactly you should eat to get lean and stay that way.  There's even quite a variety of these e-books i tell ya! But "nothing new under the sun", and as she puts it - "you don't get fat from what you don't eat" so I believed that motto and never spent time studying the details of what she preaches, and never bought anything of her.

But now I did. I've joined this challenge, spent good 60 USD and intend to make them work for me, and record my progress.

The actual challenge starts on 1 August 2016, which is very conveniently a Monday (and it's always good to start a new virtuous habit on a Monday, especially when it's also the first day of a month!) Until then, I have no idea what the instructions will be - will it only be a meal-plan to follow, or workout schedule and plan too. I'd like to have a way to record how it goes and reflect on it later so for the moment I'll be posting this stuff here.

As part of this challenge I'll be taking weekly progress pictures -  which I believe is excessive but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do. So before these 12 weeks start on Monday, I'll submit my pics and stats.

Will keep this journal alive for the whole 12 weeks? Either here, or in a proper blog, or in my little green gym-notebook - I will.

Alright. DYD Dairy - 3 days to start.

P.S. Still haven't found a gym buddy girl, so I guess I'll be asking random strangers to check my form and help with the last few reps. (Who am I kidding, I'm not lifting that heavy. Not yet  )

I have not touched a weight or done any aerobic exercise (walking around the office doesn't  count) for four years and ten months. 

Zero, zilch, nada.

There were a few personal factors both physically and psychology why I allowed myself to get this horribly out of shape - but enough of that feeling sorry for myself bull sh#t, it is time to do something about it. I have had enough of looking like a butter ball.

I aim to lose 20 kg of fat and put on around 5kg of muscle in six months. So, when I step on the scales on April 24 2017 I want to weigh 85kg, and be fairly cut with it. I am not going to hang myself if I am a few kilos over, as long as I am near that weight with some good definition.

As you can see I am carrying a lot of around the chest and especially my waist where I look six months pregnant. Not a good look.

I will post photos and commentary weekly or so.

Wish me luck...it's going to be a challenge for sure.

As some of you know, i'm back on the path to being A MONSTER  in good shape again and already been working for 2 months. 

2 months ago my stats where:

150kg

60kg Squats

60kg Deads

40kg Bench

Now my stats are:

135kg

100kg Squats

100kg Deads

75kg bench

Goal:

Just get back to a stage where i'm happy with my body, there's always something you want to change, but a place where i'm 90% happy with my body would be great.

5 years ago I was:

100kg

220kg squat

220kg dead

120kg bench

Not saying I will get back there but it's good as a guide.

Currently eating about 2500 cals a day, cardio daily and weight on a day on day off pattern. I'm not in a rush to complete anything too quickly, I spent 5 years ruining my body, so if I have to spend 5 years getting it back, then so be it. 

So, moving on from the trangender in sport topic in general there was some genuine interest from people about training and weights etc so I thought I would start a journal and give people an opportunity to ask some questions. Potentially help me out some as well.

Background: 32 year old trans guy, 5 years into transition. Very on again/off again relationship with lifting, diet, exercise and weight. Currently (and will be forever) on testosterone.

I can't promise I will be 100% good at keeping this up to date but I will answer all questions etc at the very least.

Workouts currently consist of a stronglifts 5x5 type setup, food is better than is used to be but a bit average.

Starting point a year ago:

plus a photo from about 2 months ago.

Current 5x5 lifts:

squat 85

bench 65

OHP 40

dead 100 (having real trouble with grip strength, 120 used to be easy, not sure what's going on

I was at one stage 160kg when I was 21...largely muscle, largely water, all gear but strong as f*ck but dumb as shit nutrition wise

The journey was awesome and the results good for a first timer, now to pick up the game some and grow into the next show and see if i have what it takes .....................................................................What I took away from the whole thing thus far is below

Key learnings

• The "permabulk" just doesnt work. You might look huge in a tight t shirt but stand next to a ripped 80 kg guy with no shirt and youre just fat in bb terms- so either get lean and mean or stop claiming youre a bodybuilder when you dont compete
• Dieting with the right coach is easy , my prep was pretty easy and my strength remained solid right up until the last two weeks
• Trust the process, the changes in the last week with water loading etc was freaky

• Cardio, plus solid nutrition and training beats weights only and killing yourself with super strict eating - for me any ways 

• Steve Orton is a fucken cool guy and when I walked behind him I felt like I was at the Olympia - hes just that massive and lean
•  But...................................................the biggest learning was DONT HAVE A SHITTTTTTTY PIG OUT BETWEEN THE DAY SHOW AND THE NIGHT SHOW .....I KNOW THIS FOR THE NEXT SHOW!!!!!!!

Here are some progress pics............ Ill try update when I can

AM workout - 40 minutes approx.

Lat Pulldowns

Spent about 30 minutes here. Light weight at first stretching out tightness in the muscles. Tightness in muscle near spine by the lower left side scapula. I need to stretch this out more.

Went up to full stack for a few reps, and did a big drop set from there.

D-Handle Pulldowns

Eased into it with a few lighter high rep sets to feel it out and then I did a few sets of 10, really stretching out the back and concentrating on feeling the muscle the whole way through the negative.

Next similar workout I will start with close grip D-Handle pulldowns, and then do Lat Pulldowns from shoulder width grip to wide grip.

PM workout thoughts

This afternoon I will do seated rows, dumb-bell rows, EZ-Bar Curls, maybe hamstrings, and maybe shrugs.

Usually all I care about is 1RM's and consider 10 reps cardio, but this was after I mixed things up with a sprint training programme so conditioning currently on point.

180kg x 10 below, my 1RM sits around 225-230 (w wraps) but haven't tested for a while. Bodyweight is 77.0kg in the morning.

Interested to see how other's 10RM's compare with their 1RM's....

Bit of a closet forum member. Been lurking around for a while and know a few people from forums in real life. Decided to come out of the woods and use this as a place to record all my training etc etc.

Quick few notes: Powerlifting a couple of years, always been fit and done a mix of exercise stuffs. Best lifts in comp are 172.5/120/245 @ 79.9kg

Feel free to follow or not. 

Training from tonight:

Seated BarbellShoulder Press -

20kg x10 

30kg x10

40kg x8

50kg x3

62.5kg x7 (PB)

65kg x4

burn sets

Tricep Dips - 

bw x 10 x2

20kg x 10

30kg x10

bw x fail x2

DB Laterals and Rear Delts 3 x12

Vid from tonight

Been a bit of a strange one as I was dieting at my own speed just for general health and well being as I felt I'd got a little out of shape, but then got told I was working at BodyPower with Marc Lobliner, Mike Rashid and Doug Millar about 4 weeks ago so decided to step it up a notch as I have to try hold my own!

I'm currently on around 1900 calories a day maybe a little less and have this week added in 40 minutes cardio fasted in a morning, with 40 minutes steady state after each session in the gym...no complete rest days but hitting weights 5 times a week.

Usually I have done classic bodybuilding the last 3 times but I'm going down the Physique route as my waist comes down to 27" and I have a very wide back and symmetrical, thick abs with good delts so think I might do better in Physique (fingers crossed).

My diet is largely protein and fats (Udo's Oil) with only 60g of carbs a day with the exception of leg day where I up carbs to 130g and drop 30g fat to offset the calories.

I'm hoping to come in the best condition I ever have and realise this is a bit of a crash diet to an extent but all being well I won't waste too much muscle.

Anyway Pseudo said to keep a journal not sure if this is what he meant but thought I'd keep you all updated! 

This is me 5 days ago...5 weeks out from show!

I started this with a mindset of wanting to change my whole lifestyle, not because i wanted to diet and lose weight. I wanted to have more energy and be healthier as a person. So the steps i have taken have been more gradual. I don't have any amazing before and after photos. My achievement is that i have been able to sustain my effort. Something that i haven't been able to do previously. I do a mix of HIIT and weight/strength training. I haven't changed my diet massively, mainly because i didn't eat heaps anyway. I am always looking for ways to eat healthier and improve my diet. I'm in it for the long haul so not keen on drastic changes.

I thought i'd share some pictures with you because i have been feeling a bit uncomfortable about my body lately, especially in regards to the fat i carry around my hip area. I know i shouldn't compare myself to others, but i am yet to see any other "fitness" person who has a body shape like mine. I assume that i am just carrying excess body fat?

Anyway i'd be keen to hear your thoughts. Be gentle as i'm pretty self conscious about it ;)

September 2015

March 2016

always been a member of a gym even when i was in school

when i was in school i weight about 57kgs and was struggling to put on weight ..i did alot of running and cardio though 90 minutes of boosting around still do , now age 24 i weigh 63- 64 kgs dont know my exact body %

i was told i should get into body building

i know i have work to do but where do i start?

thanks for listening

Im around 120kg at the moment so plenty of weight to play with. I'm 175cm tall

Best comp lifts are 350 squat, 212.5 bench, 290 Deadlift. All PBs except for deads which I have pulled 300 in training.

Hoping to push Squat out to 362.5 which would be good enough for current World record, bench around 225 and add heaps to my dead. 312.5 would put me on 900 (assuming I get the other lifts) which is the goal total but really need to push out to 320 to be safe.

Any way I thought Id use this journal to post some videos in this section, probably some selfies too.

Heres a couple of lifting videos from the last couple of days

Squatting 260kg x 3 reps in knee sleeves + 240kg x 8 in knee wraps

Bench pressing 140kg x 19 reps

This one is a diet I did for a holiday in Tahiti - this is about 8 weeks of dieting - 119kg on the left down to about 104 or so on the right. Did 45 mins a day cardio, least I've ever had to do, stoked haha!

This one is just life in general gainz 2011 when I sorta went from cardio bunny and picked up weights properly til end of the diet pics I posted up above - well 2 weeks from actual holiday, did my usual "im lean now so might as well slack off" 

Anyways thats about that

Criticism welcome!

(Added a photo with better resolution, taken more recently with similar bf%)

i've been training a little over a year am 5ft7 or 1.7m,

i was 90kg wen started at 33% body fat

at time of this pic i was 72kg and 8.9% body fat