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6 Month Gym Results (with pics)

Six months ago, I wrote a post about why I decided to join the gym and promised I’d update you on my progress. And twelve weeks ago, I gave my first update. Now it’s time for my second!

My rate of progress plateaued in some areas during this period, but I expected that. Nonetheless, I’m now under 70kgs for the first time in my adult life – yet I’m more muscular than ever.

To remind you guys, I’m doing Stronglifts, along with pull ups and chin ups. I’m also practising intermittent fasting for 16 hours a day, around 5 days a week.

The Bad: During the last three months, I had two drink fuelled, pizza-binging holidays in Europe which set me back somewhat. I only got to gym once both trips, but tried to do a few pull ups and press ups any time I felt the urge.

I also obtained a permanent eyebrow scar after a dodgy smith machine split my head open. It kept me out of action for over a week.

The Good: I did my first muscle up last week!!!

PS – If anybody knows of a good gym in NYC, let me know, I’m moving there in a month for a 12 weeks.

Here are my stats.

Vitals

Take the compositions as crude indications.

body weight

bodyfat

muscle

Exercises

The massive decline in the Deadlift represents a move from the trap bar to the barbell.

squats

bench

rows

press

deadlift

Before and After pics

gym361

gym362

As you can see, the improvements over the last three months have shown. I’m slowly getting stronger, more defined, and looking more attractive and masculine.

YEAH! I feel my life is changing for the better.

Right now, I’m in Negril, Jamaica, and partying in the Caribbean for the next month. It’s going to bad for my health, so my next update will probably not be for another six months.

 

19 Responses to 6 Month Gym Results (with pics)

  1. aa October 1, 2013 at 10:33 pm #

    well done mate.

    looking good there. keep up the great work.

    aa

  2. Socialkenny October 2, 2013 at 2:40 am #

    From your previous pictures throughout the months, and even your videos, you never appeared overweight to me. What is it you’re trying to gain ultimately.? There’s definitely nothing wrong with going to the gym but I find that ppl go there and blow $$ when they don’t really need to.

    [Zolo: I want to be stronger and sexier. Plus, my mood and confidence has enchanced. I believe one should always strive to improve.]

  3. TheShido October 2, 2013 at 3:02 am #

    Lesson learnt: NEVER use a Smith Machine.

    If you’re looking for advice hit me up. Doesn’t look like you need it though, your results are outstanding.

    Keep it up!

  4. Deb Auchery October 2, 2013 at 10:13 am #

    Nice work Zolo

    I realise how hard it is to keep in shape while travelling around.

    You have a strong chest, maybe put extra work into shoulders and back to get the classic v-shape

  5. Ruxman October 2, 2013 at 10:48 am #

    I know exactly what you mean with the deadlift. Surprised you’re going NYC, wouldn’t have thought that would be your preference. Could you do a post on that?

  6. YouSoWould October 2, 2013 at 12:18 pm #

    SocialKenny: “There’s definitely nothing wrong with going to the gym but I find that ppl go there and blow $$ when they don’t really need to.”

    Then you’ve clearly never experienced multiple women literally throwing themselves at you just to run their hands over your ripped abs and bulging arms. Let alone the massive increase in confidence and social dominance you get from being bigger than 95% of guys. There’s literally no logical reason for any guy remotely interested in maximising his options with women to not get into the best shape possible.

  7. mina October 2, 2013 at 3:47 pm #

    Based on your exercises did you base your program on StrongLifts 5×5 (which is really just a rework of old school bodybuilding/powerlifting routines)?

    I have been doing this same routine for the past two years and its fantastic. I forgot how great it was. Yes it is good for women too. We don’t make the kinds of gainz you men make nor do our lifts keep going up on the smooth trajectory but it really remakes your body.

    I used to do this same program back in the 80s when I was heavily into it and competing. It’s still good at 50. Don’t worry about the occassional pizza binge, long term consistency is the key.

    Re: blowing $$ on the gym: this routine can easily be done in a garage or a basement with just one barbell, a couple of sets of plates and some dumbbell sets in the right sizes. I have a small area maybe 15’x20′ where my husband set up my gym with a bench, a squat station, a deadlift area and two extra machines (a lat pulldown/row/leg ext/butterfly combo and an ab station.) Very doable but it does get boring over a long period of time (like a fall – winter – spring sequence.) Once the weather starts getting nice it’s hard to stay in the gym so I personally switch to bicycling and power gardening (haha – seriously.) I’ll be back in my basement gym in about four weeks. Looking forward to deadlifting!

    [Zolo: Yes, I’m doing Stronglifts.]

  8. Anon October 2, 2013 at 8:06 pm #

    If you’re looking to be “sexier” (aka more aesthetic) then why the fuck are you doing StrongLifts? StrongLifts and Starting Strength is to build strength – they will increase your lifts and also increase your muscle mass but not necessarily in an aesthetic way.

    • TheShido October 2, 2013 at 9:31 pm #

      Strength and aesthetics are not mutually exclusive. Building a solid strength foundation and learning the ropes will serve him well further on.

  9. Xiaoyao October 2, 2013 at 8:49 pm #

    @socialkenny: spending $ on the gym? where ever I lived I was always able to get a membership for less than $30 per month. hell here in Amsterdam I’m working out for 16€ per month. just made a downpayment of 190€ which saved me the registration fee and am covered for a year. everybody should be able to scrape that kind of money together, the rewards are more than worth it.

    @zolo: you’ve really improved over the last 3 months, pretty good chest. If you keep up the pace, you’ll overtake me at some point, time to hit the gym harder!

  10. Socialkenny October 2, 2013 at 11:55 pm #

    @You So Would- I already have a 6 Pac. That’s what I was saying. What purpose do I have going to the gym in order to get a 6 pac that I already have?

  11. Socialkenny October 2, 2013 at 11:57 pm #

    @Zolo- I get you bro. It’s basically to stay fit mentally and so forth

  12. david October 3, 2013 at 2:46 am #

    Maybe I have read it wrong but are you sure you are only benching 135lb? Seems very low considering you have done a muscle up

  13. Vuk October 3, 2013 at 5:35 pm #

    When it comes to gyms in NYC, you have multiple options:

    1) Planet Fitness ($10/month, $10 initiation fee)

    2) NY Sports Club – $50-60/month, depending on location, also there’s an initiation fee (probably about $50-60)

    3) Equinox – about $150/month + $150 initiation fee

    Each of these gym chains have multiple locations in the city, mostly in Manhattan.
    There are some other gym chains as well.

    The more expensive the gym:
    – the more and better equipment (machine, free weights) there are
    – the more classes you have (dance, conditioning, yoga etc.) to choose from
    – the better looking the clientele if you like picking up girls while working out (the Equinox at West Village looks like a showroom full of models)
    – the more likely that they require a 12 month membership contract
    – some of the more expensive gyms have saunas, even swimming pools

    However, if you just want to lift weights and follow your training program, Planet Fitness will definitely be good enough.

    Also, all gyms give out free one-day passes so that you can work out there and see how you like it.

    Good luck.

    • Naughty Nomad October 5, 2013 at 11:51 pm #

      @Vuk: Thanks for the breakdown, man!

  14. Ian Fleming October 3, 2013 at 6:31 pm #

    For some reason hot chicks always tell me NOT to work out, they like the skinny type???

  15. Socialkenny October 3, 2013 at 7:08 pm #

    @Ian- Paul Janka said it best, “Skinny guys are the ones getting laid the most”.

    I’m on the athletic-built side but always been skinny. I find that true. Buff guys don’t get laid. Skinny guys and chubby guys get laid the most. Who would’ve ever thought that when the media steady peddling BS…

  16. Lee October 8, 2013 at 4:01 pm #

    Try the 5:2 diet. I did and in six months I went from 11.2 to 10.1 and my muscles came back.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Good Lifting Goals for Beginners | Naughty Nomad - March 1, 2014

    […] hard numbers, I used a time frame. I made myself accountable on this blog and gave myself 6 months. Then I posted my results with pics. My progress motivated me, not the […]

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