The Official Men's Challenge Thread

[bacardio]

Originally Posted by RedLefty

Bacardio, your chest/shoulders look much, much bigger, even though they're not measuring big increases. It's probably because your waist is down so much that the ratio is looking better. Good work, although I know you've got a lot left in you over the next four months.

Thanks RL, I am glad something is starting to show... All I every see is the beer gut and the Woolly Mammoth back.

[K-Court]

Yeah, I can see a change too, Bacardio. And your numbers certainly show improvement. Keep up the good work.

And, btw, happy birthday!!

[fayman]

I haven't been around at all lately, I've had a pretty crazy start to my year. But, coming back here the last few days and reading through this thread, I was a little miffed at all of the complaints about people not posting pictures on the 1st or 7th or whatever date of every month.

When this challenge was first suggested, I asked to join and was accepted. At that point there wasn't a picture rule, and frankly, part of the fun to me would have been the "Holy $hit!" responses from people after seeing a simple "Before" and "After" picture, 6 months apart.

So, honestly, I won't have pics until July, and for that reason. I just wanted to explain, since I haven't been around lately. So, if that takes me out of the official running, no hard feelings. I'll still be contributing to the challenge, but it's up to the officials as to whether or not I'll be considered for the "cash and prizes." Rules are rules, I understand...

[bacardio]

Originally Posted by K-Court

Yeah, I can see a change too, Bacardio. And your numbers certainly show improvement. Keep up the good work.

Thanks

Originally Posted by K-Court

And, btw, happy birthday!!

Thanks again... Its amazing the older you get, the more phone calls you get to say "Happy Birthday". It's like people are surprised you made it this long..... Then again, I'M surprised I have made it this long.

[RedLefty]

Originally Posted by fayman

I haven't been around at all lately, I've had a pretty crazy start to my year. But, coming back here the last few days and reading through this thread, I was a little miffed at all of the complaints about people not posting pictures on the 1st or 7th or whatever date of every month.

When this challenge was first suggested, I asked to join and was accepted. At that point there wasn't a picture rule, and frankly, part of the fun to me would have been the "Holy $hit!" responses from people after seeing a simple "Before" and "After" picture, 6 months apart.

So, honestly, I won't have pics until July, and for that reason. I just wanted to explain, since I haven't been around lately. So, if that takes me out of the official running, no hard feelings. I'll still be contributing to the challenge, but it's up to the officials as to whether or not I'll be considered for the "cash and prizes." Rules are rules, I understand...

I see your point. At the same time, I don't think a signup on Jan. 7, six months of silence, and then a surprise update six months later was the spirit of the competition. The pics, logs, measurements, etc... were just different methods of us sharing our journeys. That way the participants and the observers learn from all the different experiences. We've got people wanting to bulk, people wanting to cut, younger guys, older guys -- a great diversity, and we get to watch the progress of all these goal variations. It's like T-Nation's Physique Clinic without the promise of utopia and nonstop orgasms.

If somebody can't take pics every month, so be it. But if you go and totally reshape your body yet we never get to see the journey, then the only one who benefitted is you.

[bacardio]

Originally Posted by RedLefty

without the promise of utopia and nonstop orgasms.

WTF!!!!

When did this change!!!!

[Brian A.]

(Running in out of breath with a mess of papers under his arm and shirt half untucked)
I'm here, sorry I'm late. Lately I feel like I'm in one of those "Life comes at you fast" commericals, but through it all I have not missed a workout. My neck still hurts a bit from the car accident, and I'm still getting a lot of tightness in my traps, but screw it I'm not letting you guys get ahead. I'm seeing a chiro 3x a week now so that's helping.

My weight is holding steady at 235lbs, but my BF is down to 14% as of today's measurements (chest-8, ab-18, thigh-20). I've started some staggered nutrition days this past week, every third day is lower carb/calorie day. I will be moving into my final building phase probably next week because the workouts I am doing now are starting to get stale. I will post pics either tonight or tomorrow.

[kingkop182]

My take on the monthly pics falls along the lines of - i'd like to see them/hear about your stories along the way. It makes good reading and whilst I don't always comment I do enjoy reading everybody's log. With that said I'm not of the opinion that those who don't post pictures should be disqualified.

Lets try to keep a momentum going though and not fizzle out

[fayman]

Originally Posted by RedLefty

I see your point. At the same time, I don't think a signup on Jan. 7, six months of silence, and then a surprise update six months later was the spirit of the competition. The pics, logs, measurements, etc... were just different methods of us sharing our journeys. That way the participants and the observers learn from all the different experiences. We've got people wanting to bulk, people wanting to cut, younger guys, older guys -- a great diversity, and we get to watch the progress of all these goal variations. It's like T-Nation's Physique Clinic without the promise of utopia and nonstop orgasms.

If somebody can't take pics every month, so be it. But if you go and totally reshape your body yet we never get to see the journey, then the only one who benefitted is you.

Well, that being said, I see your point too! I guess I didn't really think about the length of time.

Things have gotten more sane lately (not that they'll stay that way), so I will be around more often. Plus, I've sort of made a decision to be here more often, just because of the drive it gives me. My intention wasn't to disappear for 6 months, because I do agree that we should share war stories, experiences, etc....that's important. So, like I said, I feel like I have to be here to contribute, because I AM a part of this challenge.

I guess my original thought was that the pics every month, or however so often, doesn't seem to help push me harder. I see that, 8 weeks in, many people haven't really changed all that much (myself included). I guess it doesn't do anything for me to see pics of someone at 4 weeks, while they're trying to chug along and make progress.

3 month pics, then 6 month pics.....that, to me, will show some more dramatic changes, and make the slackers take note and say "Holy crap, I've got work to do!" and everyone else gawk at the change.

So, in closing, I guess I'm just a drama queen who only cares about results!

[rhauser44]

Sorry for the late response. I've been down with the flu and a bad residual cold for the past two weeks. Prior to getting sick, I had just started FLII and I was feeling strong and otherwise pretty good!

Unfortunately I haven't been seeing alot of progress in my stats this month. My weight has plateaued for several weeks. And I'm not seeing alot of improvements in my measurements. EXCEPT around my waist, that has dropped some, so that's a good thing.

Current Stats:
Age: 50
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 213 lbs. (-8 lbs)
BF: 26% (Caliper) (-1 %)
BF: 26% (U.S Navy) (NC)
Shoulders: 49" (NC)
Chest: 43.5" (NC)
Biceps (unflexed): 12.75" / 14" (flexed) (NC)
Waist: 42" (-1.5")
Hips: 43" (-1")
Thighs: 25.5" (NC)
Program: NROL - FL II

I apologize in advance for the hi-res and pixel size of this month's photos. I didn't check the camera settings before I took these. You will probably see more of me than a human should have to endure.

March Photos






January Photos

[gobbla]

pretty big difference. Great work!

[Lost Dog]

I agree! Excellent progress!

[kingkop182]

Big change there, mate

[Bill2380]

Good work. FLIII is a real bitch.....enjoy.

[RacerBill]

Nice work, Bob. Big difference.

[RacerBill]

Okay, no more delay. I think I finally have everything together in one place.

Current stats:

Age & height haven't changed.

Weight: 182
Body fat (four point manual caliper): 13.88

R bicep: 12
L bicep: 12 1/2
Chest: 41
Waist (at navel): 36
Hips (at hip bones): 37
R thigh: 23
L thigh: 22 1/2
R calf: 14 1/4
L calf: 14

Pics. January on the left, March on the right: