So, let’s see here… I am Bantamweight at 123 at this time.
Back squat:  180/4, 195 1RM.  Not quite fair.

Bench Press:  135/6, 160 1RM.  Good!

Deadlift:  300 1RM.  Fair!

Dumbell Press:  Dunno!

Curls:  Dunno!

Weighted Chins: I want to do! But I dunno. 

Weighted Dips:  +70/6, +100 1RM. Holy crap.  Excellent A++.  Fireworks.  I impressed the gym regulars when they saw me do that.  I really just want to brag to all of BB.com about this one.

I’ve actually noticed that I have become a pretty decent source of information.  I’ve been training with my friend Mike for one year now, and though he doesn’t heed my dietary information too well, he’s lost bodyfat and gained muscle.  Unfortunately, he’s still a bit chunky, though his strength has far surpassed my own.  I’m still proud of him.  And a little of me too, for getting him to that point.  And through it all I’ve learned a lot - a lot about diet, cardio/lifting science, and even motivational work.  I like to know what to do and why.  And so here I am.  Year 1 of serious training.

I don’t LOOK like I’ve been training for a long time.  I gain weight slowly.  But I keep the fat off, which, of course, would make any cuts of mine super easy.  My strength has increased anywhere from 50% to 100%+ depending on lift over the course of this year, which is reason enough to keep going this year.  I did have some "bad diet" periods where I could not afford food.  But, that’s been remedied.

My girlfriend has joined me and Mike at the gym as well this year.  Thank goodness she’s not afraid of the iron.  She’s putting up low weights thus far, but that’ll change fast.  Being mesomorphic is going to work well in her favor.
So, I’ll keep track here.  I’ll try to contribute more to the bb.com community now.  I know… some.  Enough to be useful.  Technical stuff?  No, can’t do.  But plateau busting?  Hell yeah, I can cover that.  Newbies?  Yep, can do.  So, maybe, I’ll keep stuff here.  My physique isn’t bad, so I LOOK like I can offer decent advice to the new people.  I was there once, and I’m closer than I want to be.  But that’s improving, so no worries.

I want to compete in bodybuilding.  I made up my mind on that about 6 months ago.  I think I’d do well, being meso/ecto.  Then I want to compete in powerlifting, maybe.  I’m strong for my size.

I want new pictures up.  I’ve lost weight, a fair amount of it fat, and of course, gained muscle.  Aside from lagging parts (chest/upper, traps, calves, quads, forearms) I’m pretty set.  Maybe abs too.

Horray for a new year.  Now give me some chicken, dammit!

 I got a 1 year gym pass just over 3 months ago, and been going steadilly with a good friend and good gym partner, Mike.

I’ve made great gains on all exercises, and some incredible newbie gains on squats and calves, not to mention excellent leg development.  Finally hitting the "hey, I lifted over 100 lbs" mark was awesome on squats, and I am so, so close to 100 on the flat press.  That will be a bench(ha!)mark to remember.  To top it off, my triceps seem to have woken up and are pretty obvious.  I’m gaining weight slowly, but the NLargeII and creatine seem to be helping, as is my improved diet that doesn’t involve so much damn peanut butter.

Really, I see no end in sight. Both Mike and I are doing really well and I’d love to see that continue.

Perhaps I have lost some water?  I don’t really know, as I don’t LOOK any bigger or feel any firmer, or softer for that matter.

I’ve decided to add isolation exercises to top off particular muscles:  Quads, Calves, Biceps, Triceps, Shoulders.  The rest seem to be getting worked just fine with my compounds.  And also, today, I’m gonna take pictures and perhaps post a "watch my progress" thread.  That would be motivating!

Wednesday was my first chest day after starting a lot of compound exercises, which are supposed to release growth hormones far more than isolation exercises (think chinups for biceps instead of curls).

I did so much better than I thought I would too!  I started with 35’s because I knew they were hard for me… but by the end of set 3 I knew I was going to be able to do 5s5r with them… so I busted out the 40’s which I have never done.  And it worked!  I actually finished the remaining 2s5r with them… and tried to do another 35 to failure, but I apparently had done that with my last rep with 40.  I was so excited, that rocked!  Perhaps having my roomate work out with me for once helped, I do not know.  At any rate, I am proud of him and excited too that he is gonna start lifting.  I know he’s gonna like the changes.
Even after some 130lb rows my biceps were feeling it… I actually was able to do 100lb 5s5r cable chinups though… I need to bring that weight WAY up then.  Perhaps to above my body weight?  120 lbs?  Dunno how I can do this if I weigh so little.

Anyways, I woke up 4 hours after sleeping so that I can get some extra meal intake during sleepytime, and now it is time to retire back to the bed or couch or whatever.  I am simply pumped.

All I can say is:  Newbie gains!  Now 116lbs.
DB chest press went from having a bit of trouble with 25’s (ew) to 35’s, and I think I am ready for the 40’s today.  My gf/workout partner will be kind enough to help load me up.

I tried straight-arm pulldowns (in addition to the usual lat pulldown) for the lats and chinups for the biceps yesterday.  I’ve begun to incorporate a lot more compound exercises, Those should bring up to speed any lagging parts.

My triceps gained some definition and got that lil hook that heads towards the elbow.  I’m curvy but lacking size.

And those damn abs.  Grr. I see them right under the skin.

My once-neglected legs are now starting to actually look a bit better.  Quads poke out when stretched, my butt feels firmer (uuuhh…yeah) the calves , while about 2/3 the length of my whole lower leg, are gaining a bit of size too.

Current diet is roughly 3500 cal/day and 140g protein/day.  And lots of water, jeez.  I’m always peeing.
So, horray! I suppose size will follow these strength gains.  None of this 5 lbs/month bullshit tho, wow.

First, I want to get some pictures taken and load them up for reference.

Secondly, I’d like to make some contacts and hopefully friends with some of this community.  I feel the extra support and advice will come in handy, as I feel I am a unique case and would have a helluva time trying to figure out some things on my own.
And third, to keep myself motivated in order to achieve my goals, even if it means writing to myself.
Details about my health:  I have a heart condition called Tetrology of Fallot which has netted me a large scar at the left latissumus dorsi (dividing it in half laterally) and two open-heart scars down the middle of my chest and partway into the abdomen.  A large vein was removed from my left arm, and it is smaller in size than my right arm in all regards - muscular and skeletal.  I was born very underweight but not premature, and consequently I am in the bottom 3rd percentile for skeletal size, as determined by the measure of my elbow joint.  At least, according to a medical site.  But I am quite small, regardless.  And I hate it with a passion.
I think all that above gives me a better reason to bodybuild.  At the time of this writing I am 114 lbs.  I will get my measurements in soon.

Cheers,

Tim