[quote]Marzouk wrote:
When i see my pics they look horrendous but when i look down at myself or in the mirror it doesn’t seem that bad. But self delusion is a bitch.[/quote]
I was the same way, man. But then, I’m awkwardly unphotogenic, in general.
I’d bet that most everyone finds that the mirror is a more forgiving mistress than the camera lens. After years of staring at our reflections, most of us become masters at the subtle and unconscious art of sucking, preening, angling, puffing and contorting our physiques to look our best.
Once you step in front of a camera, without the luxury of being able to get immediate visual feedback in order to micromanage your posture and look, reality seems a little harsher. Using the flash (or at least having the absence of favorable mirror lighting) is also kind of a bitch slap to the ego at times.
This also ties into one of those reasons why many recommend assessing progress based on several poses (e.g., the mandatories or whatever) rather than just whatever “money shot” you can take from a reflection which makes you look the most impressive.
[quote]Marzouk wrote:
When i see my pics they look horrendous but when i look down at myself or in the mirror it doesn’t seem that bad. But self delusion is a bitch.[/quote]
I was the same way, man. But then, I’m awkwardly unphotogenic, in general.
I’d bet that most everyone finds that the mirror is a more forgiving mistress than the camera lens. After years of staring at our reflections, most of us become masters at the subtle and unconscious art of sucking, preening, angling, puffing and contorting our physiques to look our best.
Once you step in front of a camera, without the luxury of being able to get immediate visual feedback in order to micromanage your posture and look, reality seems a little harsher. Using the flash (or at least having the absence of favorable mirror lighting) is also kind of a bitch slap to the ego at times.
This also ties into one of those reasons why many recommend assessing progress based on several poses (e.g., the mandatories or whatever) rather than just whatever “money shot” you can take from a reflection which makes you look the most impressive.
[/quote]
Yeah ur spot on with that. I’m horrendously unphotogenic as well, to the point my bro always takes the piss out of me.
But seeing outselves int he worst light is probably best!
[quote]anonym wrote:
I’d bet that most everyone finds that the mirror is a more forgiving mistress than the camera lens. After years of staring at our reflections, most of us become masters at the subtle and unconscious art of sucking, preening, angling, puffing and contorting our physiques to look our best.
[/quote]
true dat. The lighting is so good in my bedroom that standing in front of the mirror I look AMAZING.
[quote]anonym wrote:
I’d bet that most everyone finds that the mirror is a more forgiving mistress than the camera lens. After years of staring at our reflections, most of us become masters at the subtle and unconscious art of sucking, preening, angling, puffing and contorting our physiques to look our best.
[/quote]
true dat. The lighting is so good in my bedroom that standing in front of the mirror I look AMAZING.
Doesn’t translate over to real life unfortunately[/quote]
I’m kinda the opposite a lot of the time, must be low self esteem.
Always look down at my stomach when im shirtless and think i’m fat as fuck haha
[quote]anonym wrote:
I’d bet that most everyone finds that the mirror is a more forgiving mistress than the camera lens. After years of staring at our reflections, most of us become masters at the subtle and unconscious art of sucking, preening, angling, puffing and contorting our physiques to look our best.
[/quote]
true dat. The lighting is so good in my bedroom that standing in front of the mirror I look AMAZING.
Doesn’t translate over to real life unfortunately[/quote]
I’m kinda the opposite a lot of the time, must be low self esteem.
Always look down at my stomach when im shirtless and think i’m fat as fuck haha[/quote]
[quote]anonym wrote:
I’d bet that most everyone finds that the mirror is a more forgiving mistress than the camera lens. After years of staring at our reflections, most of us become masters at the subtle and unconscious art of sucking, preening, angling, puffing and contorting our physiques to look our best.
[/quote]
true dat. The lighting is so good in my bedroom that standing in front of the mirror I look AMAZING.
Doesn’t translate over to real life unfortunately[/quote]
I’m kinda the opposite a lot of the time, must be low self esteem.
Always look down at my stomach when im shirtless and think i’m fat as fuck haha[/quote]
Isn’t that called anorexia ;p
[/quote]
Yuuup
It’s just hard looking at pics of yourself and thinking yeah i’m fairly lean, then you see big frank mcgrath with fucking saran wrap skin
[quote]anonym wrote:
I’d bet that most everyone finds that the mirror is a more forgiving mistress than the camera lens. After years of staring at our reflections, most of us become masters at the subtle and unconscious art of sucking, preening, angling, puffing and contorting our physiques to look our best.
[/quote]
true dat. The lighting is so good in my bedroom that standing in front of the mirror I look AMAZING.
Doesn’t translate over to real life unfortunately[/quote]
I’m kinda the opposite a lot of the time, must be low self esteem.
Always look down at my stomach when im shirtless and think i’m fat as fuck haha[/quote]
Isn’t that called anorexia ;p
[/quote]
Yuuup
It’s just hard looking at pics of yourself and thinking yeah i’m fairly lean, then you see big frank mcgrath with fucking saran wrap skin :([/quote]
[quote]jskrabac wrote:
Not trying to sound like a dick, but just trying to be real with you from my recent experience.
If you think it’s a mind fuck now, wait until you drop to sub 200 and are flat and depleted. You are still very much overweight and this is NOT the look-like-shit “transition” period people are referring to during a hard cut. You still have a ways to go before you hit that. I hate to say it, but I’m starting to agree with Walkway now that you need to set your sights realistically on a weight of about 170 to be shredded.
Fortunately, you’ll have so much momentum going by that point you’ll be able to plow right through those tough transition points. [/quote]
Sub 200 he’ll be ripped to shreds. You tracking your bodyfat MarZ? It might be an idea and should set your mind at ease regarding the muscle loss. Keep up the good work.
[/quote]
I agree…as in at 165-170…which is in fact sub 200. [/quote]
oh god who cares? He’ll be ripped when he’s ripped. It’s all just guesswork at this stage
[/quote]
Believe me, it wasn’t my intention to detract the thread in a “guess the final weight” sorta way. I was just replying to MG’s ignorant post. My original point was more or less encouraging him to hang in there and be realistic and patient.
I didn’t mean to sound like I was snapping at you Jake, I was just trying to stop the thread getting derailed into another guessing game as we’ve had that already
I’m glad that we are getting back to things like this, like the physique clinics from years back.
Seeing you guys go through this is motivating for me (I am suffering from a cold right now, and I am ready to go push weight after reading up on this stuff).
What i’ve noticed is from the start of this program i haven’t really experienced any doms, and i used to get excruciating leg doms all the time.
Maybe its the carbs that Zraw has me taking post workout. But since he lowered my carbs last week i’ve noticed doms starting to creep in especially in my arms and back but not in my legs. Completely backwards for me. Hey ho it is what it is.
1 chopped tomato
1 small chopped cucumber
1 chopped green onion/scallion.
Home made pickled beet root.
Low fat soft white cheese
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
6 oz turkey
I’m actually curious how this one will work out later on.
I really hope you see this to the end as you say now, but I’m not sure I would bet on your success for now.
Either way, you deserve credit for putting yourself out here.
This mornings push was hard as hell. After the 5 sets of 20 leg press i was ready for the shower. Energy and strength was low. Finished the workout but strength was down for the rest of the workout, made it to the end but it was a fucking struggle. Fist time i felt like that in the gym for a long time!
ZRaw: How did you go about calculating his calories and macros? I ask because I’ll probably begin a cut myself in about a month (albeit, not so hard), but I’m taller, fatter, and older.
Marz: How have the weights you’re lifting changed since beginning? Getting Stronger?
