How come...

**SparkErosion** · 01-22-2011, 03:20 AM

I was overweight/morbidly obese throughout my teenage years. 1 and a half years ago around June 2009 I decided to lose weight. Decided to go all out and gain more definition. Of course I want a six pack, but later on that.

I was a 28.9% bodyfat, 250 lbs at 5'7'' male.

I'm almost to 15% bodyfat now. (Last I checked 16.2%). I'm 168.5 lbs and 5'7'' now.

The thing is...I'm not sure if this is normal but. and I know it sounds funny, but I've never seen my ribcage outline. I do have loose skin but even then, especially when I suck in the skin I have (probably mixed in with fat from the weight loss too), I can see quite an indentation in the abdomen and the ribs slightly. when I lie down, the ribs stick out quite a bit.

Is this normal? I guess it's because I haven't been this lean for a long time.

When I flex (in the right lightning) I can see some interior muscles beneath the fat/skin flex. Not the muscles themselves but movement, and it apperas not to be from the ribcage.

I lost the majority in 6-7 months. Then, from 189 it became harder. I pleataud. I didn't realize i was not eating healthy. I was stuck at a pleatau doing the same thing for 8 months or more. Weight goes down, up a lb, down a lb. No major consistent loss. Then I began to get very serious about my eating (Which doesn't mean healthy can't be delicious!). I watched my macros, began NOT eating out, lots of fiber (40 grams a day somedays), lots of water, lots of veggies, lots of fruit, nuts (especally almonds), and squash.

After that I dropped 6 lbs of water weight. From 182 down to my current weight 168.5 was all fat loss it seems. I started doing High Intensity Interval Training (at 70-95% of my max heart rate), and started seeing more lbs drop. I bought a heart monitor to see the pulse as well.

I biked 20 miles one day. Then a couple months later went 45 miles.

In the right lighting, I am definitely seeing a moderate amount of definition.

Mostly on the arms and traps. Upper chest has too much fat. Abs have too much skin/fat.

when I flex the ab muscles and suck in , I can see quite an iindentation around the ribcage. Is this a normal process for getting leaner?

Thank you!

78.5 lbs lost so far.

**Built** · 01-23-2011, 01:11 AM

Yes it is. And props on the weight-loss! You dropped a lot of muscle though - you started with 178 lbs of lean mass, and now carry only 141 lbs of lean. I think you'll find that by gaining back the nearly forty pounds of lean mass you lost, your body will look harder and firmer. You must have starved - I'm glad you got the weight off, no matter what it took. You must have wanted it very badly to have been able to do this.

What can we help you with now - do you think perhaps you might transition into a maintenance plan for a bit, so you can build up your strength and perhaps get a bit more muscle on your frame?

**SparkErosion** · 10-06-2011, 10:25 PM

**SparkErosion** · 10-06-2011, 10:26 PM

First photo is at 250. Second photo is at ~149.5-155.0

**Ichigo** · 10-06-2011, 11:38 PM

Good job, you look like a totally different person.

**RedWindsor** · 10-06-2011, 11:39 PM

wow what a transformantion congrats man wish i could pull somthing like that off.

**ExLe** · 10-06-2011, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by SparkErosion

Dude it looks like you have a chubby going on in that 2nd pick...

Classic...

**troubador** · 10-07-2011, 05:59 AM

Originally Posted by ExLe

Dude it looks like you have a chubby going on in that 2nd pick...

Classic...

No shame, might as well show that off while he's at it and kill two birds with one stone.

**SparkErosion** · 10-07-2011, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by Built

Yes it is. And props on the weight-loss! You dropped a lot of muscle though - you started with 178 lbs of lean mass, and now carry only 141 lbs of lean. I think you'll find that by gaining back the nearly forty pounds of lean mass you lost, your body will look harder and firmer. You must have starved - I'm glad you got the weight off, no matter what it took. You must have wanted it very badly to have been able to do this.

What can we help you with now - do you think perhaps you might transition into a maintenance plan for a bit, so you can build up your strength and perhaps get a bit more muscle on your frame?

Just an update..ive lost 97 lbs total so far.im ar 11% bf.136 lbs lbm and 17 lbs of total fat.abs are beginningto show finally under the looseskin.the loose skin looks like fat.ive developed BDD....i feel too fat still. I did it with weight training and diet

**metalmayhem** · 10-07-2011, 09:52 AM

Kudos to you. Hang in there and continue to eat right and lift hard.

**ExLe** · 10-07-2011, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by troubador

No shame, might as well show that off while he's at it and kill two birds with one stone.

His confidence is so through the roof he gave himself a chubby...

Joking aside

nice job brotha you are all cut up now...

**Built** · 10-07-2011, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by SparkErosion

Just an update..ive lost 97 lbs total so far.im ar 11% bf.136 lbs lbm and 17 lbs of total fat.abs are beginningto show finally under the looseskin.the loose skin looks like fat.ive developed BDD....i feel too fat still. I did it with weight training and diet

You're not fat. You're my height and I outweigh you. I'm a middle-aged woman, and very lean.

Please transition now into maintenance, and in two weeks, increase your daily calories by 100 for the first week, and another 100 thereafter until your gains stop. I would aim to gain 20 lbs over about a year's time so your muscles can grow back into your skin without you having to get fat in order to achieve this.

Nice work. Now go get some muscles!

**easymoneymike** · 10-07-2011, 05:51 PM

Grats on the progress but I'll have to say that it isn't a problem with fat. It's with the skin. I know from experience. I went thru the same thing you did man. I was a major fat ass all my life and a few years back I decided things had to change. I"m 6'1 or so and when I started I was probably just north of 300. Now I set at low to mid 170s. I ran into the same problem you had. Its not that you are holding a lot of BF, its that your skin has lost it elasticity. Its like blowing up a balloon. Once you let all the air out, its too stretched out to go back to its original size.

Now for the bad news. There isn't really any way to fix the skin outside of surgery. I had to have it done and I have to say it sucked pretty bad but it was worth every penny and I'm glad I had it done. If I were you I would look around for a good plastic surgeon and have him evaluate you. I thought for the longest time that I just had to get leaner but the more I worked and read up about extreme weight loss the more I realized that there wasn't any fixing it on my end. My doc took one look at me and told me what it was from and what I would need to do to fix it. This is probably not what you want to hear but its the truth as told from someone who went thru the same thing.

**SparkErosion** · 10-09-2011, 09:50 PM

Why dont I hav pecs either? I can feel and se e them through a shirt...is it possible the loose skin is covering them also?

**SparkErosion** · 10-15-2011, 07:10 PM

I'm in a pretty deep deperssion right now. I'm just tired fo people telling me I need to gain mass. I want to be happy where I am. i can see the top 4 abs through the skin (starting to). I hate my body. I hate how i feel (compeltely tired all the time), hating myself. I have body dismorphia I was diagnosed with it. I wouldn't mind gaining some muscle mass, but I am extremely afraid of gaining fat, and not being able to lose it as I lost 95 or so lbs from being obese. The loose skin looks like fat ...and hides whatever defintiion I have. I hate it. I also am afraid that I will be striving forever, trying to attain something impossible, at least in my own mind, never quite reaching it in my own mind. I'm a perfectionist. And I'm definitely not happy with what I've accomplished. i am in therapy for it , trying to be mindful of my thoughts, but it's not working.

Sorry, I just had to rant. I don't feel well.

**SparkErosion** · 10-15-2011, 07:14 PM

**sofargone561** · 10-15-2011, 07:14 PM

holy shit! im not reading the whole post im a bit busy right now but if u did that wih no surgery congrats!

**Pork Chop** · 10-15-2011, 07:24 PM

great job bro. I am sure that your dedication and sucess will inspire alot of people here and thats what this place is all about,, inspiration,,, Keep up the good work bro.

**SparkErosion** · 10-16-2011, 04:54 PM

I thought this was a bodybuilding site...people here have significant weight to loose too?

**sofargone561** · 10-16-2011, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by SparkErosion

I thought this was a bodybuilding site...people here have significant weight to loose too?

this confused me? their a plenty of poeple on here that started of obese and now look great. just cuz most of the people on here are bodybuilders doesnt me we cant insire inform or learn from someone who isnt..

**easymoneymike** · 10-16-2011, 05:45 PM

We all start somewhere, whether its a 120 lb weakling or a 300 lb fat guy. I know from experience its frustrating to loose all that weight and things still not look right but you have to look at the bright side. Look at what you have accomplished. Very few people are able to do something as major as change there whole lifestyle and body structure. Its extremely difficult. Be proud of what you have been able to accomplish and never forget where you came from man.

**SparkErosion** · 10-16-2011, 07:57 PM

Thanks, you're right.

**PappyMason** · 10-16-2011, 10:11 PM

damn bro good job!!

**SparkErosion** · 10-21-2011, 09:36 PM

alright guys. I decided to bulk up and gain some muscle then cut.

What do I need to do to acheive this? Is there any one important rule that makes this vital?

From what I understand -

Progressive overload, very important
Lots of protein, I plan to eat 150 grams or so a day
20% fat, 40% protein, 40% carb. Not sure what this means, but heard it's important for diet.
Surplus calories. I plan to eat around 3000.
Obviously lifting weights.

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