TL;DR:
Goals, starting with most desired:
- Overall, long-term health
- As “aesthetic” as possible
- As strong as possible given aesthetic constraints
- Participate in powerlifting competitions (time range TBD)
Current Stats:
- 26 y/o Male, 5’9”, 170 lb, waist ~37”
- Body fat per the US Navy Calculator: ~20% to 21%
- Squat: 1x5 – 255 lb
- Bench: 1x5 – 205 lb
- Deadlift: 1x5 – 300 lb
- OHP: 1x5: 95 lb (not my forte)
- Barbell Row: 1x5 – 160 lb
- Cardio: lol… I play soccer occasionally? And hike when I can.
Available Equipment:
- Schwinn Airdyne Bike
- Squat rack & bench, with Stainless Steel Ohio Power Bar (obvious humblebrag)
- Free weights (duh)
Questions:
- Can I achieve my goals without surgery? (See section with * at beginning and end for context)
- Is it possible for me to pack on enough muscle to eventually fill in space left due to loose skin?
- Am I approaching consultation territory?
- Given my stats, am I better cutting or recomping?
- What route is most optimal for reaching my goals?
I’ll try to keep this post brief and to the point, so please do excuse any ramblings.
Virtually my entire life, I have carried more body fat than I would like. My weight has fluctuated a lot over the years. In fourth or fifth grade I was overweight, and was through most of grade school. At 17 years old, I was about 5’8” and 230 lb at one point. I dropped that and finished high school in the 180 lb range. I have always carried most of my fat around my waist, seems to be genetic, too.
Through college, my weight went up and down, but for the past 4-5 years I have not gone over the 185 lb mark.
I have always had the ideal body in mind, yet have not achieved what I wanted. I am well aware of what I see in my head, may never be reality and am at peace with that.
My overall goals are to get as close to the body I have always desired, given my constraints.
Due to such weight gain/fluctuations, I definitely have some loose skin. When I was 24, I got down to about 145 lb, thinking I could lose my way to skinny. I was definitely skinny, but more skinny fat than anything. My waist at this point measured about 32”.
While I was skinny, I was far from “ripped”. No six pack, major definition. In fact, I looked and was unhealthy.
Here I am at 26, a bit wiser and more capable than ever. So, it’s finally more viable than it ever has been for me to get as close as possible to where I want to be. And more importantly, where I need to be.
I know the number one thing I need is guidance, and I have never found fitness professionals that I can trust more or respect more than Jordan Feigenbaum and Austin Baraki. That’s why this post, one that has been a long time coming, is aimed at you two. Although, I certainly do respect and am open to input from other BBM staff and forum members. Not blowing smoke, very fortunate to have heard the gospel of BBM now rather than later.
Having typed all this out, for simplicity’s sake, I can say that I want to be healthy and strong, and look healthy and strong. I feel giving so many “goals” can muddle the true point of my post and been seen as trying to take on too much at once, and don’t want this to be the perception when someone reads this.
I have included some photos of myself in the past and present so that your input can be given on my questions above
(sorry for the dirty mirror)
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Me at 145 lb, 24 y/o: https://imgur.com/a/rHzT7BC
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Me today, 170 lb, 26 y/o: https://imgur.com/a/FwbW98T
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Me today, 170 lb, 26 y/o, waist photo: https://imgur.com/a/WzhJE7G
If you have made it this far reading my post, thank you for your time. Feel free to leave any feedback, advice, questions, requests for additional info, etc. and I will address anything as I have the time.