Does the Mirror Lie, or the Liar Mirror?

[JimSnow]

i disagree with that.... i think the camera lies because i look into the mirror and c my abs popping out as well as my other muscles and then i take a picture and i c nothing barely... maybe its the flash on the camera? after all im very pale so that + the flash might be affecting me....

Best to take photos without a main flash. Use hard lighting from a single direction, maybe early morning or late afternoon if outside. Stop down (underexpose) to show detail. A fill flash might be needed. Also, if light-skined, consider wearing white clothing for shoots. Automatic exposures will compose for this making your skin appear darker... if you are not good w/ cameras.

If pale like me, consider a spray tan before a session. My 1st serious set of photos coming up this summer w/ include that.

 

[KataKlysm954]

Best to take photos without a main flash. Use hard lighting from a single direction, maybe early morning or late afternoon if outside. Stop down (underexpose) to show detail. A fill flash might be needed. Also, if light-skined, consider wearing white clothing for shoots. Automatic exposures will compose for this making your skin appear darker... if you are not good w/ cameras.

If pale like me, consider a spray tan before a session. My 1st serious set of photos coming up this summer w/ include that.

yeah im actually pale. me and my brother were thinking about getting a spray tan to darken us up and show more detail and definition.

 

[goob]

Ahhh...... vanity, the devil's favourite sin........

I think we all must do this, to me, someone not interested in growing massive, only toned and cut, it seems the best way to evaluate my progress.


Godamn, what a handsome devil.......

 

[Plateau_Max]

Yes, I enjoy weighing 175lbs, because I'm still strong, and very well proportioned, plus you can not only see striations in my shoulders, but in my biceps as well...

As a single guy it helps too, ladies do love the lean and cut. Tanning really does help the visible definition factor. There's some rub-on sunless tanning solutions that last for a couple weeks and are far less damaging to your skin than sun or especially tanning booths.

 

[AKIRA]

Yes, I enjoy weighing 175lbs, because I'm still strong, and very well proportioned, plus you can not only see striations in my shoulders, but in my biceps as well...

As a single guy it helps too, ladies do love the lean and cut. Tanning really does help the visible definition factor. There's some rub-on sunless tanning solutions that last for a couple weeks and are far less damaging to your skin than sun or especially tanning booths.

Agreed, but I do use tanning boothes. I dont care if its considered "metro"sexual, the shit works.

Mirrors sometimes make me feel pretty good damn happy. Other times, it makes me feel FAT. Sucks too. If I dont feel fat, then I feel skinny cuz I am "cutting."

I can never get a fucking picture of me from a camera that looks ok. I bring my camera to most get togethers hoping to accidently get a good pic, but instead, I always goof off.

Taking a pic of me with my shirt off makes ME feel cocky.


In any case, the mirror is the enemy cuz since we are working out and eating cardboard, we critisize every little fucking thing. Shit, we might as well be models.

 

[Mudge]

Uhh, if your arms aren't touching your lats then yes you indeed have I.L.S. I've been in the 260s and I dont see how you guys think that more mass means you are less likely to have meat rub. My thighs have rubbed since high school, do you say your legs get so big that they dont touch anymore? Not unless you are prairie doggin' some doody.

I love hotel room mirrors, I look bitchin'.

Look at Ronnie's back and tell me that shit isn't so huge its touching all over.

 

[JimSnow]

Agreed, but I do use tanning boothes. I dont care if its considered "metro"sexual, the shit works.

Mirrors sometimes make me feel pretty good damn happy. Other times, it makes me feel FAT. Sucks too. If I dont feel fat, then I feel skinny cuz I am "cutting."

I can never get a fucking picture of me from a camera that looks ok. I bring my camera to most get togethers hoping to accidently get a good pic, but instead, I always goof off.

Taking a pic of me with my shirt off makes ME feel cocky.


In any case, the mirror is the enemy cuz since we are working out and eating cardboard, we critisize every little fucking thing. Shit, we might as well be models.

I feel like shit because I've just dropped below 200lbs. - after my last three weeks of hell at work. I've lost some of my BF hedge against starvation. I like the increased vascularity... but this does me no good in the longrun. Lifts are stagnant and beginning to become a struggle to maintain.

Honestly though, my diet has slipped a bit. Starting a diet journal to keep honest.

Spent $225 at the grocery store last week.

BTW - I'll try to post some new photos by next week to see if you guys see the differences.

Damn, where's my bag of Reeses Cups, dammit!

 

[Plateau_Max]

If there's one thing I miss about sugar it's Reeses Cups.... it's been over a year now.

 

[motiv8ed]

I can't see myself most (hell any) of the time. I look for others to make observations, generally by indirect comments. Rough gage of progress.

Someone referred to my "guns" twice last week. He winked though, not sure?

Watching TV (a stupid dating show), on break at work, somebody commented, "he's even more buff than you Jim!" That was a great compliment! I didn't know I was "buff"! The guy in the show was an idiot.

I wore a razorback tee last week. This started the major influx I was fishing for.

The 6'5" meatcutter gal with shoulders 4 feet wide whistled at me and said, "bring it on, honey!" That was scary. Strangely, I've got a crush for this foul-mouthed, loud, obnoxious, hair-dyed big ass "thing". Always have. I wouldn't dare tell her.

What's the winking thing? A deli worker (about 99 years old) with painted on lips and eyebrows keeps winking at me.

Basically, my ego is "pumped now!" YEAH!!!


Good work, Jim.

Man, I'd be weary of judging your results by uneducated people... You should find people with the same goals/study habbits as you to help you judge progress...

If you use other peoples comments/oppinions as a yardstick to gague your progress you may find your-self self-concious and (fill in the blank with aanother perfect word that I cant think of right now... not depressed, but overly sensative to other people... dunno)

Anyway man. dont stresss. just follow your plan _regardless_ of results.. adjust your plan at pre-determined times... (and put those times in your plan). That is, by far, the most powerfull goal based advice that I've ever recieved.

=) You look great though man! theres my comment
J

 

[rmcfar]

Uhh, if your arms aren't touching your lats then yes you indeed have I.L.S. I've been in the 260s and I dont see how you guys think that more mass means you are less likely to have meat rub. My thighs have rubbed since high school, do you say your legs get so big that they dont touch anymore? Not unless you are prairie doggin' some doody.
.

I think what i was referring to is not when your triceps are touching your lats but when your wrists are about a foot away from your hips at standing rest position. If you look at shots of the BB'ers they have this going on but a lot of people percieve it as making you look bigger and "macho". Kinda like the guys that walk around with theyre chin tuked in and hands in fists looking like they are ready for a boxing match at anytime of the day.

Thats off topic though. I think everyone has off days when they look in the mirror and feel like a piece of shit and days when they think they're the incredible hulk. In the end comments that people make are really helpful and motivating. I know that when i tell some of my friends they are looking bigger they get pumped up and work even harder, it helped me so i try and spread the good will a little bit.

 

[Mudge]

I think what i was referring to is not when your triceps are touching your lats but when your wrists are about a foot away from your hips at standing rest position.

A foot away? You must be huge because that has never happened to me. I'm a little immobilized if I am seriously pumped up, but nothing like that, and my back is my pride and joy.

Standing immediately next to Jay Cutler, I didn't notice him doing that either.

 

[rmcfar]

haha no it was an exaduration, it seems like thats how far away some people hold they're arms when like you said even jay's arms arent like that.

 

[AKIRA]

Anyway, have you guys ever been criticised for 'walking macho'? Since I've gained some mass, my arms don't touch my body anymore in a rested state. I seriously don't do anything for that, but everyone thinks I'm showing off. It sucks really. Then again, I guess it's a compliment. Do you recognize that?

Not to hijack the thread here, but this does bring up a serious problem.

Now I know what imaginitive lat syndrome looks like and yes its pretty bad. Jesus christ, is it fucking bad!

But I walk worse. I do NOT walk macho, but I cant seem to walk even decently. I looks like I take short steps and I slam my feet down when I walk. Surely, I am not, but on video I do. I fucking hate it.

I wouldnt even know where nor how to START walking normally.

 

[gsxrK3]

I walk like a freak with a big ass don't feel bad. =/

 

[Brachiisaurus]

I look like Mike Mentzer in my bedroom mirror with overhead 100 watt light on.
I realize this... and it's fun to play around.

I hate store mirrors... I look like Barney Fife, without the hair.


LOL

Yea sometimes I'll catch myself with really good light, and it'll make me feel good.


Other times, I'll see myself in the bathroom mirror, and I cry myself to sleep that night.

 

[JimSnow]

Walking Macho... LOL

I "puff up" when this 21 year-old bobybuilder kid shows for work as I'm leaving.

I've seen him "eyeballing" me, measuring. He's actually very serious about this... getting more massive and much better developed than I.

Kind of a throughback to animal nature when men "postured" to display dominance to other males or viability to females?

Hey, I'm an old monkey... let me have fun while I still can!