You’ve got the week!
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Perfect!
Starting weight this morning was 158, which is only a pound lower than last year’s starting weight. My pics look a great deal like last year’s, too, but I don’t feel the same at all. I’m stronger now, and feel much more athletic. My goal is to do more of the same stuff. I want to continue to build strength and endurance, which makes my primary goal consistency.
For the start of the challenge I’m hoping to drop weight. I did lose 10 lbs last year, but then switched my focus to strength, so let myself eat more, which was healthy and good. My weight has been pretty steady at 154-155, so I’m hoping the first 3 lbs will be low-hanging fruit from the holiday, and I’ll be able to drop that quickly. (Probably lying to myself, lol.)
Not sure what a weight goal would be for me right now that makes sense, as I’m more muscular and am taking creatine, but ten pounds to start would be good. Then I’ll reevaluate.
Last year’s overarching goal was reduced inflammation and better overall fitness, which goal was successfully achieved. So I’m viewing this as the next phase of a longer transformation. Lean down; build up.
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Dang, I can definitely tell you know your way around cleans and snatches with those traps!
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Still stalling. Our family tradition for New Year’s Eve (today) is to snack all evening on sausage/cheese/crackers, veggies and ranch, queso, and meatballs. Maybe I’ll snap some salt bloated pics in the morning to improve my odds. 
I think it was the 2019 challenge where I lost 40 lbs from the end of October (started early) to the end of the challenge and still got beat by @raoh1990.
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Happy New Year everyone! firstly thank you to the mods/op’s and users on here for creating and participating on this thread. Its my first time being active on tnation, have been a reader for along time but I consider myself a super newbie, looking forward to gaining knowledge and growing closer towards my goals. apart from trying to work on creating a fit physique, I have a health initiative to lower my bf (high cholesterol and what not). I used to workout but stopped after covid, trying to catch-up and be dedicated now. Started going to the gym 2 weeks ago so coming back after a 2-3 years off.
Current Stats:
5’11, 198 LB’s
24% bodyfat / 87lb Lean mass (measured using inbody 570 available at our gym)
Planned Diet:
2000 Cals (180C/50F/158P)
Carbs Sources : Oats, lentils, white rice, wheat bread, fruits, veggies)
Protein Sources : Chicken breast, whey, eggs, greek yogurt
Fats Sources : olive oil, almonds, peanut butter
Goal for May:
178LB’s (lose 20 pounds)
Supplements taking:
5g Creatine
5g Blackseed oil
Multivitamin (need to start)
Fish Oil (need to start)
Workout Routein:
PushPullLegs 5 days
Pictures taken today, off gym days last 2 days.
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Hello every one,
Every transformation comp. needs a token fat dude so I raise my hand.
@TrainForPain
Starting weight 117kg I’ve been stuck at this weight for a few weeks now. I don’t really have any weight goals as all the goals I’ve set in the past didn’t work out so I am just trying to live a healthy life style and enjoy the ride.
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Welcome!
@QuadQueen can likely give some advice.
Starting stats
Age 40
Height 5’11 (rounded up lol)
Weight 245
Goal be under 235 by Memorial Day and keep weight under 220 going forward
Work is pretty busy between now and April so I don’t expect massive progress but hopefully will help me be consistent
Got back into consistently lifting last year and built some muscle and improved lift numbers so want to preserve that while cutting fat
Front
Back
Legs
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Happy to help if I can. My starting advice would be to focus on lean protein and lots of non-starchy veggies. Avoid foods that come in a package. Clean out your cabinets - get rid of anything that might lead you down a slippery slope. Stay hydrated and BE CONSISTENT.
Keep us posted on your progress. Track your food in a log on the site and I’ll be able to better help you through this process.
I posted this on my FB page today and I’m going to put it here for any first-rounders in case it might be helpful…
Some things to remember if you’re planning to start a New Year’s diet:
-
30 days of deprivation does not equal a lasting lifestyle change.
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Start where you’re at not where you think you should be. If you’ve been eating completely off the rails then full on keto or carnivore is probably not the answer come January 1.
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There are no “good” and/or “bad” foods and ALL foods can fit in a healthy diet - the devil is in the dose.
4.Find a diet/eating style that you enjoy. If you don’t enjoy something, you’ll have one hell of a time being consistent.
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Choose a diet/eating style that improves your life and does not consume it.
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You can eat all the kale, drink all the bone broth, take all the supplements and do all the yoga in the world - but if you don’t deal with the shit going on in your heart and head - you’re still unhealthy. There’s more to health than the physical stuff - this is important.
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Remember that this whole journey is a marathon - not a sprint. Take it one day, one meal at a time. Don’t look back and don’t give up. You’ve got this and don’t you forget it!
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Got some awesome “befores” coming in! Keep them coming - a couple more days to get these in!
@throwawayfitness I’m super excited to see where you end up. Everyone, really, but it’s been fun to follow your journey so far and there’s a crazy muscle base sitting there.
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Hit the carbs really hard last four days and ballooned up with some water. Making for some good befores.
Plan is to continue cut through Feb 2. Then start growing.
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Really soild advise thank you
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240 with abs at 5’11 good lord. You monster!!! Always impressed by you dude
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Agreed, and at 51 no less, T-nation used to do some sort of, I want to say call out, but that isn’t quite right, where people would ask a specific member who’d clearly got a lot of experience, results and wisdom, for the detailed history, always enjoyed reading those - wonder if @throwawayfitness would be up for giving the presumably long versions history?
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@TrainForPain So glad you gave us the week, just now returning from vacation. Took these photos before said vacation.
2024 was two cuts, some maintenance and a short bulk. Lost a total of 20lbs. I am the leanest I have been in over a decade, and carrying the most muscle… ever.
So to start the T-ransformation, I’ll be bulking and then working into maintenance. I’m ready for a physical and mental break from months of cutting.
Goals:
- 6-8 week slow bulk, put on muscle with minimal fat gain
- Transition into maintenance at the end of the bulk and find a way to lose the calorie counting app crutch. I have been tracking, weighing food, etc for years and I would love to ditch the app, eat intuitively, and NOT balloon back up to the +20lb fluff monster I was beginning last year
- Also training for a running event. So I am seeing how well I can increase muscle and run farther and faster. I’m not under the belief that you can’t build both. Time to eat!
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That’s exactly the point! Great job and you look fantastic!
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