From a nobody to a Hardcore Bodybuilder.

[jamrock]

So I've been beating myself up a lot lately. I have always wanted to be huge, at least for a short bit of time - just to know what it feels like. So yesterday I spent 300 bucks on frozen veggies (broccoli & green beans) and meat (salmon, tuna, chicken breast, top sirloin steaks, bacon, sliced turkey and salami) some eggs, 2% milk, nuts, and low carb wraps and whole wheat bread. I also bought the Jan 01 issue of Muscular Development.

I am going to to a restricted carb diet, where my carb intake is around work outs. And the majority of my diet is protein and fat. Built's helped me out with planning for this.

So I was flipping through the magazine and there is an interview with Fakri Mubarak. This dudes physique is exactly what I want and as I'm reading I get the impression he was a lazy ass. Then there is a part where it explains how he got into BBing. He was 24 fat and sun bathing, he felt embarrassed about being shirtless and 30% body fat on South Beach. Being from the area I know the feeling.

So this guy has inspired me, it is someone that has done it. Gone from being a 23/34 year old man who was a flabby bastard, so a solid diesel competitor.

So who thinks I'm crazy for wanting this? My wife says I'm crazy, my mother thinks I should just lose weight, my father has always wanted em to be a lifter. I'm 23 and I don't look as heavy as I am - how do I know if I have potential/genetics?

Any advice or comments are greatly appreciated. I am in the process of planning my diet.

[Paul Stagg]

You don't know for sure until you give it a try.

IMO, regardless of having the genetics to be a top level bodybuilder, won't you be happier and healthier (and look better on the beach) if you lift and eat right?

[Sensei]

Talk is cheap. Start a log and go to the gym!

[jamrock]

Paul, **** the beach. I see the point you are making though, and I agree 100%. Cancer is pretty rampant in my family and I don't feel as good as when I am being active. The possibility of being able to be a top level competitor is just a pipe dream that keeps me motivated.

Thanks for the comment, great blog and articles.

[muscleup]

Talk is cheap. Start a log and go to the gym!

:withstupi
Do it to it brotha.

[kad]

Talk is cheap. Start a log and go to the gym!

Ditto. Go for it man!

[d'Anconia]

Doesn't this mean he'd have to probably look into gear? Or are there naturals near the top of the professional bodybuilding world?

[Paul Stagg]

One step at a time. His question was about genetics.

[Teufelhund]

a few of the judges might be natural...

You did well man. You started at the grocery store, not the pharmacy. Eating right is your new #1 priority, everything else is secondary, except maybe breathing.

[Canadian Crippler]

Teuf is right on. That should be a popup anytime someone enters the nutrition or supplements forum. "Start at the grocery store, not the pharmacy".

[jamrock]

Well I figure start with my diet, then work my ass off at the gym, then worry about what I need to put me on the same playing field as the pros. I do not have a problem with anabolics but it is the farthest thing from my mind. Thank you all for the words. The only thing I am cutting corners with now is my diet, the idea is to take advantage of the great results my body gives with a restricted carb diet. I went from 190 to 300 then back down from 300 to 230 on a Atkins type diet. I am now at 240 and its been 1.5yrs since I have a low carb meal.

My diet is simple and limited as it stands, I don't mind eating the same things as long as they are there for me to eat when I am hungry. So I bought stuff to get me started and will work out something more robust in the weeks to come.

I'm looking into intense full body work out routines, I will numb them down so I don't burn out too fast at first then increase. The obvious idea is to get as much lean mass on and as much fat off as possible in the shortest amount of time.

I'm really excited and looking forward to a new me.

[HoTShoT_KiD]

I'm glad that you're motivated. All i have to say is good luck to you and stay with it!!

[Gutz981]

Well I'm glad to hear it dude. One of the most useful pieces of information my mentor has given me that keeps me motivated not only in the gym but every second of my life. "Bodybuilding is not something you do, its something you live, EVERY ****in day of your life, you live it."

That being said...Go for it!

[SkinnySadMan]

What everybody said. Cool.

Anyways anyone has a good potential unless you have some disease like muscular dystrophy, you get my point.

[Davidelmo]

Good move buying all the food.

Can we have a little more details please?

You're 240lbs which is pretty big, but what is your body fat %?
Also how tall are you?

As for genetics.. only you can tell us that.

But what I can tell you is that ANYONE can improve if they diet and exercise right. Even those without the best genetics can improve, look and feel better.

Good luck

[jamrock]

Well I am 5'11 and weigh 245lbs, I would guess my body fat is in the high 20's maybe 30. I have an odd body shape/type. I have defined triceps, collar bone, you can also almost see my upper ribs, my arms are vascular all the way up till mid forearm. My waist is a size 38, my legs are very thick..I used to do inline skating for about 3-4 years. When people guess my weight they are off by 50lbs, even experienced folks who see me in beach shorts. When I was weighing 300lbs people guessed somewhere around 220. Now nobody believes I weigh more than 200lbs. I carry most of my body fat in my love handles and belly, more on the love handles, my torso looks like Dilberts head. I have never been over weight, I used to skate and do bag work (boxing) almost everyday for the 4 years of high school. I graduated weighing 190 (at 5'10 w/ a 34" waist) and looking back at pictures I look like a skinny **** then but I always thought I was a 'big kid'.

I think I look taller than I am due to my long arms and long torso.

[spencerjrus]

Well I'm glad to hear it dude. One of the most useful pieces of information my mentor has given me that keeps me motivated not only in the gym but every second of my life. "Bodybuilding is not something you do, its something you live, EVERY ****in day of your life, you live it."

That being said...Go for it!

Exactly, every waking moment I am planning my next meal, my next workout. Thinking about what kind of weight I'm going to move and how many calories I'm going to eat when I start to plataeu. At a point I feel consumed with bodybuilding and while I'm still able to function normally in the world, my mind is elsewhere, but it keeps me happy and keeps me always looking to the future, never to the past, which I think is important. When I first started I would always bitch to myself about how I could have started years ago, and how far I could be IF I had done something differently in the past. But thats fools gold, you gotta focus on what is yet to come, it doesnt matter how far you came in the past 2 years, it matters how far you are going to go in the next 2 years.

[Vita]

Exactly, every waking moment I am planning my next meal, my next workout. Thinking about what kind of weight I'm going to move and how many calories I'm going to eat when I start to plataeu. At a point I feel consumed with bodybuilding and while I'm still able to function normally in the world, my mind is elsewhere, but it keeps me happy and keeps me always looking to the future, never to the past, which I think is important. When I first started I would always bitch to myself about how I could have started years ago, and how far I could be IF I had done something differently in the past. But thats fools gold, you gotta focus on what is yet to come, it doesnt matter how far you came in the past 2 years, it matters how far you are going to go in the next 2 years.

great advice, very motivating.

good luck jam, have fun with it!

[Vita]

also, read, read and read some more. that is all...

[SalahG]

You're going in the right direction. Diet and Training is all you need to see incredible results right now. After 2-3 years consider the AAS.