300 pounder nearing 200. Only 15 more to go. I want to see my abs!

[Streetman]

I don't know what the heck I was thinking, but I allowed myself to get to 300 two years ago. I low carbed the first 30 off, followed the body for life diet guidlines for the next 20, and then something amazing happened. I started throwing in the lifting and cardio.

The "before" pic is actually AFTER I lost the first 50, on October 19th, 2004. The after is actually less than 25 pounds weight loss, on February 27th, 2005. I'm guessing it was 40 pounds of fat, with 15 pounds of muscle added, roughly. That was about 225 pounds.

I'm now down to 215, at 18.1% bodyfat. I know this because I get checked out in a Bod Pod now regularly. This doesn't match the pictures, but I know From Jan 5th to March 30th this year I went from 28% to 18%, losing 26 pounds of fat, and gaining 9.5 pounds of lean muscle.

My new goal for this 12 weeks is to lose 21 pounds of fat, and put on 6 pounds of muscle, getting me down to 200, at 9% bodyfat. I post here for you to cheer me on, and in hopes of inspiring you to create your own amazing before and afters.

What's my key? Education. Not internet education, but REAL facts. Find someone you can learn from who is not into the freaky, fringe side of bodybuilding.

[Streetman]

The before doesn't even phase me anymore. I don't know who that fat guy was. The after? I'm even prettier now than then. hehe

**UPDATE**
I'm adding a before from before that first before, when I was nearly 50 pounds heavier, New Year's Y2K, with an after from Memorial Day, 2005.

[Streetman]

The title says it all. I've knocked off 85, and have the last 15 to go. I'm well over 100 pounds of fat loss, having packed on some serious muscle. I'm down to 18.1%, 215 pounds. Another 21 pounds of fat loss, and adding 6 pounds of lean mass, and I'll be looking at 6 pack abs at 9%. Tough? Sure. Impossible?

Nah. I dropped 26 pounds of fat and added 9.5 pounds of lean muscle in my last twelve weeks. I will do this.

I'm now into week 3 of this 12 weeks. Sorry I'm posting here late. But this will inspire me to "work from behind". I'm doing this.

I have been working out for 6 months and just today, I found something amazing that will allow me to take it to the next level. http://www.wie.org/j28/#toc Go sign up, and listen to Shawn Phillips talk about the spiritual side of building a body.

And that's what my journal will be largely. Sure, I'll let you know weights, reps, nutrition and suppliments. I've become (very) highly educated on the TRUTH in all that; just stay tuned and ask me anything.

But that's not it. That's not it at all. This has been an emotionally fullfilling journey, for sure. The weight loss is almost secondary, no, it IS secondary to the change in character I've experienced. If you've done it, you know what I'm talking of.

And if you haven't done it yet? Just start, now. Start by doing it poorly even. In time, if you allow it to manifest itself, it will take over and change your life. I'm nothing short of a totally new man. I can honestly say I've lost 300 pounds already.

So fasten your seatbelts. I'll be talking about everything, including feelings. Oh yes, ladies, a man who talks openly about his feelings. And guys? Get to feeling this way already, and you'll do that same.

It's damn near spiritual. In fact, it just may be.

[Streetman]

Sorry, mods, I realize now I put it in the wrong spot. Can you move it?


Moved by MostMuscle

Nice Progress :

[cursor]

Excellent work! I can see why you feel so much better.

[Streetman]

thanks. I'll feel even better when I'm lookin at my abs this 4th of July.

[Driven]

Now that is down right amazing and inspirational. Congratulations brotha...keep at it, I look forward to your posts.

[.V.]

Looking forward to watching your continued progress. Sounds like you've done really well so far. Being a former 300 pounder myself - I know how much hard work you had to do to get where you are.

[Xhale]

Great work. You look like a completley diffrent person,a bit more cheerful looking too.

[dreameR.78]

Fantastic job Sir! :

[Streetman]

Thanks, everyone. That really helps. If any of you need a word of encouragement, feel free to ask for it. Advice? I've got people telling me I need to get ACE certified. I know what I'm doing now, and why I'm doing it. I'll let you know the THEORY behind all this stuff, because God knows I've done this countless ways. The biggest thing you need to know is JUST DO IT. Even at 5% to start. Then 10%, 25%, until you're just doing it without thinking. I'd say I'm at 80% right now, a B-. Don't forget those pictures had Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Football season, a new girlfriend (going out), and a slight drinking problem mixed in. If I can do that through all that, you guys can get the same results, OR BETTER!

Sorry I have not posted, but my business has taken off like never before. The new energy I have is contagious, and people want to do business with me. I used to think I wanted to light the world on fire. Well, I found a new way.

LIGHT YOURSELF ON FIRE, AND THE WORLD WILL COME TO SEE YOU BURN!

It works!

I'll give you a quick run through of the day:

breakfast 1 cup oatmeal (slow cook) with 1 scoop vanilla protien powder and LOTS of strawberries. MMM..mmm...tastes like cheating.

lunch: pork tenderloin, steamed broccolli, whole wheat bread.

lunch dessert type meal (whatever): plain yogurt with vanilla protein powder, strawberries and kiwi. man, is eating this way good.

next meal will probably be a protein shake snack. I'm thinking Myoplex low carb, as I don't do many carbs this late. (sleep better)

Dinner will be chicken breasts on the grill with salad and a veggie. Again, carbs only come from ultra low GI sources (asparagus, probably) this late.

Pre Bedtime protein shake consisting of a blend (feed the muscle all night, prevent catabolism)

And when I wake up????? Eat breakfast, and go workout in front of a camera crew!!!

What am I talking about? Indianapolis is always voted one of the fattest cities in the us. They're rolling out public service announcements for a new Indy in Motion campaign. I'm the pilot episode!!!

Man, I'm really going to have to watch my ego after this one. It's hard work being so pretty. hehehe

I'm sure I'll write more tomorrow, after the shoot, if I can fit my head back through the door of my house.

In the meantime, you guys and girls GO DO SOMETHING ACTIVE!

[Zoetastic]

you have totally motivated me! Congrats on your progress!

[Streetman]

Today:

Woke up 8 am, 1 cup oatmeal, protein powder (about 25-30 g) and strawberries

9 am PSA video shoot. I'll post it, if I can, when I can. The website is www.indyfitness.net

11 am Myoplex Original RTD

1:45 pm Tuna steak (8 oz or so) & Broccoli

4:30 ish 2 celery stalks and natural peanut butter

7 ish apple

8:25 Chest workout. My old trainer happened to be working out chest today too, and just so happened to be at the same time. YIKES! It's still pumped. Used 75's on flat dumbell press for the first time. Woo Hoo! 3 sets of 8 with pretty good form/control. For a reference point, the first time I worked out, back in September, my final set was a sloppy set of 55 pounds...ON THE BAR! Yes, that's the bar and 5 pounds on each side.

I also did flat benchpress, without bringing the bar all the way to my chest. YIKES AGAIN!! All chest, kept the shoulders totally out of it. I think I'm going to keep doing it this way. Keep in mind, that's the way it works for me. You might be able to do it normally without problems.

Anyhow, the workout looked like:


flat dumbell presses 1 set with 60's and then 2 sets of 8 X 75 pounds
Dumbell fly's: 8 X 35 then 2 sets 8 X 40
Barbell Flat bench press 135 X 8 3 sets
Barbell Incline Bench Press 135 X 8 3 sets
cable crossovers 3 sets of 8, 20 25 and 25
peck deck 3 sets of 8, 130, 130, 115

And I did some dips WITHOUT COUNTERWEIGHTS! Only 3, but hey, first time I tried. I think I could have done more, but got so excited, I broke concentration. My legs are huge, so I've always had a problem with dips. I was stoked.

Anyhow, that's about it. Fun day for fitness.

[Lady C]

You need more than an apple to fuel those workouts. Try adding in some starchy complex carbs.

[Streetman]

I won't normally eat carbs later in the day, even if I'm working out at night. I know the theory is to bracket your workout, and I used to follow that. I'll probably get back to that, as I'll be working out in the morning again soon, but I don't think it's vital.

First, if you already have enough glycogen in your muscles, why introduce excess? Is it really going break down and be available for your workout? Or, should I believe Beverly International, Natural Hormonal Enhancement, and countless cutting bodybuilders that "carb load" a couple times a week?

Really, what I do is just feel how I feel, and it's a daily thing. I'm very in tune with my energy levels. Yesterday was an oddball that I just grabbed something. But, man, did I feel great in the gym. There's more to this than macronutients.

and on that note, I did get my PWO in immediatly following my workout. Creatine, Glutamine, and Beverly's multivitamin as well. Preworkout I took BCAA's, as I thought I was a little "empty".

The rest of the night was:

Giant salad with Canadian bacon. Again, odd for me to use canadien bacon and not chicken. It's because I'm running out of stuff.

1 hour later: Plain yogurt with chocolate protein powder. Kinda like a mousse, maybe...sorta. Not bad.

Bedtime meal. Milk and Egg protein, Universal Nutrition. My lord that tastes awful.

My nutrition and workouts have been all over the day, but I'm trying to get my schedule back. Yesterday was odd (normal off day) because of the shoot. I'll be heading out of town soon, so it's some more oddness. However, I'll get it done in some fashion, no matter where I am.