I do not get it...wtf is wrong with my body

[Accipiter22]

Update:


in This thread I said that I can see definition in my abs but that when I take pictures it's never there. For some reason the other day I realized that I was slouching in most progress pictures I take of myself, and I've never tried taking them in the mirror where I can see what I look like. I did that this time. I stood up straight and actually posed this time, HERE'S what I've been talking about:

Pictor 1

Pictor 2


Original Post:

Ok, I've been working out for about 8 years. I powerlifted for a while early on, got most of my goals there, but something I've NEVER been able to do is look good. I don't get it. I've been hammering myself at the gym lately and I really thought I was making progress...I took some pictures tonight and when I saw them I deleted almost all of them in disgust. I look like absolute horse-******. I have next to no body fat on me...yet I have love handles and a an ultra-wide waist and midsection. I think I'm adding mass to my chest, yet when I take pictures of it, it looks absolutely flat (****** camera maybe, but still). I look at old progress pictures of myself from years ago and I see absolutely no difference. I looked like 5 lbs. of ****** in a 4 lbs. sack then, and still look like a skinny piece of ****** goddamn ****** now.

Look at these pictures, these are from over the last few years, can you even see ANY difference!??!?!? Can you even tell what order the pictures should go in, oldest to newest???

1
2
3

I seriously ****** hate the gym after days like this. 8 mother ****** years and not a ****** shred of progress physically. Waste of my goddamn time.





edit: I've tried virtually every routine you can imagine. Basically now I just focus on heavy compound movements, usually try to mix it up between high reps and high weights, I change it up week to week. I've always had a chest/tricep/shoulder day, a back&bicep day, and a leg day. I try to keep a full day of rest between each of those days. I do cardio 3x week, usually 30 minutes, 30 minutes, and then an hour run.


I get around 150-200 grams of protein per day typically, about 2500-3200 calories depending on the day. I need about 2800 or so daily maintenance, more if i play basketball that day. I eat several small meals per day, usually like 5.

I weigh about 180 lbs in one of those pictures, 155 in another and 170 in another. Yet I look EXACTLY the same in all of them. My body fat is about 8-10% in all the pictures. I really don't get it.

 

[Aimster]

diet? supplements?
work-out routine?

You are doing something wrong if you have been doing this for 8 years. Let's figure out the problem

 

[Special K]

What is your diet?

 

[randomint]

have you been giving yourself enough time to rest?

you should rest at least 36 hours after an intense workout. i personally don't exercise the same muscles for 48 hours after an intense workout. i work on other muscle groups for the next two days.

it could also be a number of factors like diet and the actual weights.

 

[SagaLore]

My suggestion is change your routine and work different muscle fibers. Forget the gym for awhile - do aerobics, swimming, tennis.

Then after a few months, go back to weight lifting, change your reps and weight, and eat more carbs (rice, pasta, potatoes).

 

[Accipiter22]

I should post about that stuff, lemme update original post

 

[Sukhoi]

Do some cardio.

 

[PhoenixOrion]

[gerard butler]did you throw up while working out? if not, you're not working out hard enough [/gerard butler]

 

[Alone]

******

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

What's your diet like?

If your worried about having too much flab then up the cardio big time. If you start doing serious cardio with a very good diet you will lose those extra lbs on the sides.

 

[Captante]

I'll guess 2,3,1

 

[Accipiter22]

Originally posted by: OneOfTheseDays
What's your diet like?

If your worried about having too much flab then up the cardio big time. If you start doing serious cardio with a very good diet you will lose those extra lbs on the sides.

that's the problem, I don't want to lose a massive amount of strength, and even when I'm 25 lbs. less than I am now, I STILL look the same.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: SagaLore
My suggestion is change your routine and work different muscle fibers. Forget the gym for awhile - do aerobics, swimming, tennis.

Then after a few months, go back to weight lifting, change your reps and weight, and eat more carbs (rice, pasta, potatoes).

He will lose any mass he has built if he switches to doing cardio only for an extended period of time. A week or two off can work wonders, but too much time off and you will start to shrink.

OP needs to post his diet before I can comment on the carbs.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: OneOfTheseDays
What's your diet like?

If your worried about having too much flab then up the cardio big time. If you start doing serious cardio with a very good diet you will lose those extra lbs on the sides.

This is terrible advice if you are trying to preserve muscle while losing fat. Cardio is catabolic - a lot of cardio will eat up your muscle.

The best way to lose fat while retaining muscle is to eat slightly below maintenance and keep the weights heavy. This will burn fat while encouraging your body to hold onto the muscle.

If you must do cardio, do a few short-duration, high-intensity sessions per week (HIIT is commonly used).

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: Accipiter22
Ok, I've been working out for about 8 years. I powerlifted for a while early on, got most of my goals there, but something I've NEVER been able to do is look good. I don't get it. I've been hammering myself at the gym lately and I really thought I was making progress...I took some pictures tonight and when I saw them I deleted almost all of them in disgust. I look like absolute horse-******. I have next to no body fat on me...yet I have love handles and a an ultra-wide waist and midsection. I think I'm adding mass to my chest, yet when I take pictures of it, it looks absolutely flat (****** camera maybe, but still). I look at old progress pictures of myself from years ago and I see absolutely no difference. I looked like 5 lbs. of ****** in a 4 lbs. sack then, and still look like a skinny piece of ****** goddamn ****** now.

Look at these pictures, these are from over the last few years, can you even see ANY difference!??!?!? Can you even tell what order the pictures should go in, oldest to newest???

1
2
3

I seriously ****** hate the gym after days like this. 8 mother ****** years and not a ****** shred of progress physically. Waste of my goddamn time.





edit: I've tried virtually every routine you can imagine. Basically now I just focus on heavy compound movements, usually try to mix it up between high reps and high weights, I change it up week to week. I've always had a chest/tricep/shoulder day, a back&bicep day, and a leg day. I try to keep a full day of rest between each of those days. I do cardio 3x week, usually 30 minutes, 30 minutes, and then an hour run.


I get around 150-200 grams of protein per day typically, about 2500-3200 calories depending on the day. I weigh about 180 lbs in one of those pictures, 155 in another and 170 in another. Yet I look EXACTLY the same in all of them. My body fat is about 8-10% in all the pictures. I really don't get it.

What are your maintenance cals?

Also I would suggest you go to the board in my sig, but apparently you were already banned there or something

 

[TheSlamma]

You need to swim, that will work your muscles in ways nothing else can.

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: OneOfTheseDays
What's your diet like?

If your worried about having too much flab then up the cardio big time. If you start doing serious cardio with a very good diet you will lose those extra lbs on the sides.

This is terrible advice if you are trying to preserve muscle while losing fat. Cardio is catabolic - a lot of cardio will eat up your muscle.

The best way to lose fat while retaining muscle is to eat slightly below maintenance and keep the weights heavy. This will burn fat while encouraging your body to hold onto the muscle.

If you must do cardio, do a few short-duration, high-intensity sessions per week (HIIT is commonly used).

Train up to HIIT level. If you aren't sufficiently prepared, you may vomit the first time. I'm just starting a recomposition program. I've been lifting weights for a few months, but I am just getting to the nutritional aspects of weight-loss.

 

[Accipiter22]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: Accipiter22
Ok, I've been working out for about 8 years. I powerlifted for a while early on, got most of my goals there, but something I've NEVER been able to do is look good. I don't get it. I've been hammering myself at the gym lately and I really thought I was making progress...I took some pictures tonight and when I saw them I deleted almost all of them in disgust. I look like absolute horse-******. I have next to no body fat on me...yet I have love handles and a an ultra-wide waist and midsection. I think I'm adding mass to my chest, yet when I take pictures of it, it looks absolutely flat (****** camera maybe, but still). I look at old progress pictures of myself from years ago and I see absolutely no difference. I looked like 5 lbs. of ****** in a 4 lbs. sack then, and still look like a skinny piece of ****** goddamn ****** now.

Look at these pictures, these are from over the last few years, can you even see ANY difference!??!?!? Can you even tell what order the pictures should go in, oldest to newest???

1
2
3

I seriously ****** hate the gym after days like this. 8 mother ****** years and not a ****** shred of progress physically. Waste of my goddamn time.





edit: I've tried virtually every routine you can imagine. Basically now I just focus on heavy compound movements, usually try to mix it up between high reps and high weights, I change it up week to week. I've always had a chest/tricep/shoulder day, a back&bicep day, and a leg day. I try to keep a full day of rest between each of those days. I do cardio 3x week, usually 30 minutes, 30 minutes, and then an hour run.


I get around 150-200 grams of protein per day typically, about 2500-3200 calories depending on the day. I weigh about 180 lbs in one of those pictures, 155 in another and 170 in another. Yet I look EXACTLY the same in all of them. My body fat is about 8-10% in all the pictures. I really don't get it.

What are your maintenance cals?

Also I would suggest you go to the board in my sig, but apparently you were already banned there or something

LOL I was the 5th leading poster ever there at the time of my perma-banning lol

you got a link to figure maintenance cals?

I tracked my diet for some time and here's what I got typically % wise over a 2 month period: ~55% carbs, 22% protein 22% fat

 

[paulxcook]

What are your eating habits? Ok numbers on protein (1.5 - 2 grams per lb. of body weight is best) and calories, but you could up those if you are looking to bulk up before cutting. Are you getting 8 hours of sleep per night? Are you eating 4-6 smaller meals (or 3 small meals, 2-3 snacks) throughout the day?

It's good you're mixing it up. Have you tried shocking your muscles? Drop sets, supersets, etc?

What are your goals? I don't know of many guys who can build muscle AND lose body fat. It takes some freaky genetics to be able to do that. Are you wanting to get bigger, or are you wanting to lose body fat?

By the way, you don't look bad. If you want to see bad, if you want to see a guy who's let himself go, you need to see pics of me. You don't look bad at all dude. I know it's frustrating to not see progress. Especially after 8 years. I will say I see some differences in those pics. The 2nd one looks the best, I think. Is there a 30 lb difference between 1 and 3? It really doesn't look like it.

 

[randomint]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: OneOfTheseDays
What's your diet like?

If your worried about having too much flab then up the cardio big time. If you start doing serious cardio with a very good diet you will lose those extra lbs on the sides.

This is terrible advice if you are trying to preserve muscle while losing fat. Cardio is catabolic - a lot of cardio will eat up your muscle.

The best way to lose fat while retaining muscle is to eat slightly below maintenance and keep the weights heavy. This will burn fat while encouraging your body to hold onto the muscle.

If you must do cardio, do a few short-duration, high-intensity sessions per week (HIIT is commonly used).

what do you mean by eating "below maintenance"?

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: Accipiter22

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: Accipiter22
Ok, I've been working out for about 8 years. I powerlifted for a while early on, got most of my goals there, but something I've NEVER been able to do is look good. I don't get it. I've been hammering myself at the gym lately and I really thought I was making progress...I took some pictures tonight and when I saw them I deleted almost all of them in disgust. I look like absolute horse-******. I have next to no body fat on me...yet I have love handles and a an ultra-wide waist and midsection. I think I'm adding mass to my chest, yet when I take pictures of it, it looks absolutely flat (****** camera maybe, but still). I look at old progress pictures of myself from years ago and I see absolutely no difference. I looked like 5 lbs. of ****** in a 4 lbs. sack then, and still look like a skinny piece of ****** goddamn ****** now.

Look at these pictures, these are from over the last few years, can you even see ANY difference!??!?!? Can you even tell what order the pictures should go in, oldest to newest???

1
2
3

I seriously ****** hate the gym after days like this. 8 mother ****** years and not a ****** shred of progress physically. Waste of my goddamn time.





edit: I've tried virtually every routine you can imagine. Basically now I just focus on heavy compound movements, usually try to mix it up between high reps and high weights, I change it up week to week. I've always had a chest/tricep/shoulder day, a back&bicep day, and a leg day. I try to keep a full day of rest between each of those days. I do cardio 3x week, usually 30 minutes, 30 minutes, and then an hour run.


I get around 150-200 grams of protein per day typically, about 2500-3200 calories depending on the day. I weigh about 180 lbs in one of those pictures, 155 in another and 170 in another. Yet I look EXACTLY the same in all of them. My body fat is about 8-10% in all the pictures. I really don't get it.

What are your maintenance cals?

Also I would suggest you go to the board in my sig, but apparently you were already banned there or something

LOL I was the 5th leading poster ever there at the time of my perma-banning lol

you got a link to figure maintenance cals?

I tracked my diet for some time and here's what I got typically % wise over a 2 month period: ~55% carbs, 22% protein 22% fat

I would say your carbs are too high. Personally I would go with 40% carbs, 40% protein, and 20% fat. Some people despise the percentages approach, but as long as you are getting 1.5g of protein/lb of LBM and 0.5g healthy fats/lb LBM, I don't think it matters whether you view the numbers as percentages or absolutes.

As to maintenance cals, a good website I found is here:

link

Make sure to click on the link labeled "Daily Calorie Needs" to get your total estimate that takes activity into account.

Also I would highly recommend you track exactly what you eat each day on Fitday

 

[Snakexor]

stick to a routine longer. usually switch it up every month. i dont think you are doing enough heavy weight/ low rep training, that is if you are trying to get big.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: randomint

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: OneOfTheseDays
What's your diet like?

If your worried about having too much flab then up the cardio big time. If you start doing serious cardio with a very good diet you will lose those extra lbs on the sides.

This is terrible advice if you are trying to preserve muscle while losing fat. Cardio is catabolic - a lot of cardio will eat up your muscle.

The best way to lose fat while retaining muscle is to eat slightly below maintenance and keep the weights heavy. This will burn fat while encouraging your body to hold onto the muscle.

If you must do cardio, do a few short-duration, high-intensity sessions per week (HIIT is commonly used).

what do you mean by eating "below maintenance"?

Everyone has a BMR - basal metabolic rate. This is the amount of calories you would have to eat each day to exactly maintain your current weight, and it takes activity into account (roughly). Eating slightly below this amount will allow you to lose weight at a moderate pace, and prevents your body from going into starvation mode while you are dieting.

Eating slightly above maintenance allows you to gain muscle with minimal fat gain (ideally).

 

[SVT Cobra]

GDit atot, don't post if you do not know what you are talking about. Special K can help you though, he knows his stuff about bbing.


Anyway Accipter22, given your past record of threads, and your pictures, I call major shens on your even attempting power lifting or meeting your goals as that is not the way a PL would talk, nor does your figure show any type of developed pling muscles. Sorry try again.

 

[IAteYourMother]

what's the right answser?

i guess 3 2 1