I've decided to make one of these with the hopes of deriving motivation from progress, as well as gaining knowledge from those here at the FORVM. If there is one thing I've learned in the short two years I've been training, it's that progression is the true goal as well as the excitement that brings me back to the gym day in and day out. I train because I like it. I like being in the gym. I like feeling healthy. I like the person that training is turning me into. I have no current or future plans to compete in either bodybuilding or powerlifting, but anything is possible.
It is a common saying that "everybody has to start somewhere". Well I definitely started at the lower end of the curve. When I started in November of 2011, I was 185lbs with fairly low body fat at a height of 6'8". I was extremely weak, barely able to deadlift my own body weight and had the body mechanics of a newborn baby giraffe when it came to squatting. Gaining weight has been a journey in itself, as I have had to force myself to expand my stomach enough to fit 3-4 whole food meals a day with 1-2 shakes added as well. After two years and a lot of diet trial and error, I am up 40lbs of lean muscle and at an "average" weight of 230lbs.
Injury wise I have been pretty fortunate. Aside from a shoulder injury in highschool that has been reagravated twice since, I have been relatively injury free. I thank this impart to the training advice I have received from a personal trainer friend of mine who is big on names like Mark Rippetoe, Kelly Starrett and Mark Bell. My 1RM for primary lifts have progressed as follow;
Deadlift : 185 - 365
Squat : 115 - 285 (lowbar to box)
Bench Press : 135 - 250
Strict Press : 95 - 165
While I know the current numbers are still far from impressive by themselves, knowing where I was and where I will be in the next few years is what has turned this into a lifestyle for me.
I will keep this thread updated with PR's, general progress, and maybe a few questions or theories I have along the way in regards to training and/or diet. I would love any and all advice anyone has to give, especially any of you taller and/or ectomorph body types out there. Thanks in advance guys!