Former Marine Looking For A Lifestyle Change

[Nickels326]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Jim. I'm a prior service member and now just a blue collar family man. I'm 28yrs. old and I'm married with a son. Okay so now onto the my goals and current status. I am 5' 7" and weigh a hefty 221lbs as of this morning. I'm sure my BF% is 30+. Like most I was a lean kid all through school and my 5yrs in the Marines. I averaged 165-170lbs in the service and when I got out I fell apart. My weight gain has been steady since May 2004 when I was discharged. I don't have the first clue about bodybuilding or nutrition other than what's obviously good and bad for you. I've tried lifting on and off since high school but never took it seriously. My longest stint with weight lifting has been these past 2yrs but my diet is extremely poor and my routine is very generic.

As for my goals they're obviously to build more muscle and lose weight but I don't know how to do this effeciently and effectively. I know I'm not ready to try steroids right now because I know my body needs a ton of work and my brain needs a ton of knowledge. I think I have a good frame to support a lot of muscle and I'm pretty sure I'd be considered a Mesomorph but I'll let you guys do the talking.

My biggest downfall like most is discipline but I've been working on that. So now that I'm a member here I hope to surround myself with people who will help me and support through this change and give me the knowledge to make the right decisions. I'm gonna post some pics as soon as I finish this initial post to show you guys where I'm at physically. Please feel free to comment good or bad. I need the tough criticism and the honest opinions from serious bodybuilders as yourselves. Thanks for checking out my intro and I hope this is a step in the right direction.

[The.Student]

Great to have you here and you've found the right place! There's a ton of knowledge to be had on these forums; check out the educational threads. As well a bunch of really great guys here that are more than willing to be of help as you need it.

So welcome, enjoy, learn and lets get in top shape!

[Big]

welcome, nice to have you

[Times Roman]

Cheers!

[Nickels326]

thanks for the welcome. i've updated with pics. hopefully you guys aren't eating, you may choke while checking out those chubby shots...haha.

[MaNiCC]

Welcome to the board.

If i was you i would visit the diet section of the forum and begin reading the stickies and educating yourself on the subject of diet, the stickies should help you understand diet better and help you build yourself a diet.

If you are able to do this then post the diet up for critique in the diet section for us to help, If you get stuck feel free to ask for help but make sure you have the read the stickies to avoid asking questions with easy answers.

Glad to have you here

-MaNiCC-

[Nickels326]

thanks manicc. i'll be sure to read plenty. i may be a noob here but not to forums so i'll do my best to find the answers myself. i look forward to providing to progress pics in the upcoming weeks.

[Bertuzzi]

Welcome to the party

[MusclemanC]

welcome.

[Nickels326]

not sure what some of you guys think of doing ECA Stacks but I started it today. I definately feel the effects but nothing too intense. I'm only doing 1 dose a day to start. I've been dieting and running 2-3 miles a day along with my usual 45min of weight training in the afternoon. I'm gonna run this for about 15 wks doing 3 on 3 off and I'll either update with progress pics or start a new thread. Any criticism is welcome. For those wondering what I stacked, here it is. Bronkaid, No-Doz, Aspirin. I'm keeping a clean diet and I've just added the cardio a week ago so we'll see what happens. Thanks again guys.

[tballz]

Welcome!

[Nickels326]

thanks tballz. i'm really excited to finally change my look. I was at a crossroad where I felt depressed that I spent my 20's as an overweight slob and feel like I've missed out on part of my prime that I'll never get back. I had to make a decision and it was to change so hopefully I'll keep my head up and stay healthy

[danimal79]

welcome to the board, and congrats on your new lifestyle. just stick with it! and don't try to go too hardcore right off the bat. most people who quit training, do so because it's too tough on them. start small, and after you start to see some results, you'll become EXCITED to up the intensity. but the most crucial thing for you to do right now, is to just stick to a realistic plan for a while. good luck!

[sundown1]

Welcome

[n00bs]

Welcome mate,

First thingi reccomend anyone to do is get a decent medical done..

Have you seen action? Been under much stress ect.. All these things can wreak havoic on you mentally and show up as problems with your endocrine system.

Of course if you know you eat bad then that is something else but if you find yourself trying and it doesnt work then its always good to look at why..

You have a good base under that fat from the looks of it and you do have some mass about you its just covered in fat.

But you i congratulate you sir for taking the step forward having the guts to post photos and asking for help..

First step to a new you..

I reccomend you avoid ECA stacks or whatever especially caffeine.. I can start a whole thread on it if you like it is only a band aid to a problem and we dont want band aids we want life changing long lasting results...

Welcome again

n00bs

[Nickels326]

Thanks no0bs. I was hoping someone noticed that I do have some muscle under the fat. I don't try to lift weight that's too heavy or pushy a little extra using bad form just to press someone. I know how to lift, I just don't know how to bodybuild if that makes any sense. My mind is on weight loss at the moment and not size or strength. As long as I start seeing results in my face and around my cut I'm fine with losing some strength. Thanks again for the advice.

[n00bs]

You can keep both... Weight loss comes from diet you can add interval training things like tabata thrusters on off days help alot... Sprints

Basically anything other then long distancy steady state evil cardio...

Keep getting stronger add weight every gym session if you cant do more reps or another set. Resistence training needs progressive resistence becuase the body adapts and it doesnt want to change, so we have to make it....

Dont give up big fellah..

[Nickels326]

I researched tabata but instead of completely changing up I just ran the 1st 1.5 miles at a steady pace and the second half was all sprints. Definatley feels more intense.

[Vettester]

Welcome to the site!

[Nickels326]

It's funny what only 4 days of clean eating and some cardio will do. I already feel like all the bloating I had is gone. Tons more fat to burn but no bloat feels great!!

[Nickels326]

1 week down and I lost 7lbs. I feel great and I can already see a difference. I know 7lbs. is alot for one week but keep in mind I changed a lot. I'm now doing cardio and have gone from vending machines and fast food to eating very clean. I'm sure a good bit was water weight but it's all a part of the process.!