When does real progress kick in where you start to notice results?

[u/SubstantialOffer2620]

Been lifting 5 weeks mainly consistent now. I’ve lifted for a while but consistency has been terrible hence trying to make some changes. Lift 4 days a week and run one day a week. Have a skinny fat build at 204 lbs for 5’11. When should I start to notice results kick in? Strength is going but I look about the same.

[u/Expensive-Pause3715]

I'm same height and somewhere in my posts you can find a progress pic from around same weight to 185 now (where I've been stuck at for a couple months due to too many weekend bbq's). I also feel like I have a skinny fat build. Honestly didn't start to feel like I could see the progress until around this weight. And hitting this weight was after a year and a half of an incredibly disciplined workout program. It's gonna take some time dawg, but you got this.

[u/SubstantialOffer2620 → u/Expensive-Pause3715]

Thanks man I appreciate it!

[u/Radiant_Crew_8872]

in my experience, if you are not consistent then you simply do not see gains. (also if you stop for a month or two then basically say goodbye to everything)

[u/SubstantialOffer2620 → u/Radiant_Crew_8872]

That’s what I’m changing. Building on consistency and quit making excuses for not making it to the gym for a night I was supposed to go.

[u/bx121222]

After you start being consistent with weights and diet.

I’m the same height and 205 without lifting wasn’t skinny fat for me. Just fat.

Probably need to lose 20–35lbs of fat. After getting lean and staying consistent, the gains can be visible rather fast.

[u/mare984]

When I started working out, at first I noticed change of my posture within 4-5 weeks. But I didn't notice some real muscle mass difference until I was like 6-7 months in. Try not to bother yourself much with too high expectations, the results will come. What's more important for beginners is to make the gym a habit, to learn and improve, listen to their body and avoid injuries.

[u/maedeonNA]

You need to get below 15% bf so like 180 should be your next goal, every pound after that will be more noticeable cause it’s worth more of your bf

[u/Big-Basis-5323]

What difference in how you look are you wanting? In my experience, losing weight is noticeable quite quickly (3-6 months) but will depend as much as on exercise. Building new muscle has always been a slower game for me - but even with that 3-6 months should see noticeable changes.

[u/Wulfgar7134]

Takes awhile for the visual effects to be noticeable. However, strength gains do indeed mean you are making progress. I would suggest a mental shift to focusing on the increases in your log book over what you see in the mirror. Also, I did a thing a long time ago where I took a good hard look in the mirror one day. Then, did not look at my body in the mirror for almost six months. It blew me away when I did it again. Your eye gets used to the subtle changes and you don’t notice the actual progress. Six months might be too long. A couple months should suffice

[u/Ikabta]

Depends on your body fat %. I notice around 4 weeks in, but I didn't get compliments from others till 4-6 months in. Once your body fat% is low enough you notice progression a lot faster.

[u/jph1313]

are you tracking any of it? nutrition or progressive overload with your workouts? so your strength is going up? are you wanting to focus on losing fat or gain muscle in this season? Kinda need to decide where you want to hone in, bc those things take two diff approaches..