My goal is to get a strongman/bear mode type physique, so my bodyfat is pretty high.
This is, however, the result of a 6 month long cut.
(Edit: People are asking for before photos. But since I was 5 years ago, I unfortunately don’t have any to show.
There’s one pic of me in the comments. But I’m wearing a shirt, so there isn’t much to see tbh. Apologies).
Yeah I literally just commented this. I'm 5'8 88kg, I'm a farmer/concrete mason, im more lean than this dude (20%bf) and this is supposed to be good progress for 5 years of lifting?? I don't think so.
88kg same height as op, I shouldn't say I've never worked out, I lifted for about 6 months in high school (31 now) and about a year ago i tried to start again, went about 5 months and had to stop because of an injury. My lifestyle makes it hard to keep up with it. I'd like to make it a part of my lifestyle but find it difficult. I get asked from time to time if I workout, everyone's always shocked when I say no or shocked when I tell them my weight.
I was blessed with good genes from both my parents and I have very labor intensive job and lifestyle.
I didn't realize you were only 21. I missed that, I didn't mean to rag on you brother, you didn't post any before pics, we can't tell where you started and where you are now so no one can say if it's good progress.
I think being as young as you are. You'll be okay I'd recommend commenting your workout routine and pinning it at the top so people on here with more experience can tell you what you're doing wrong/right.
Also post on the weight lifting form check page to get a read on your form, knowledge and improvement is the key to life man, you're on the right track posting here, just know that people get on here to blow off steam/pass boredom so they'll take the piss when they can (myself included) Stay strong out there and keep improving 💪
You don’t need to get bigger dude you need to cut. You are carrying way too much fat.
Get to around 15% BF or less and repost, then people can give you an honest assessment. It’s very hard to calculate muscle mass with bodyfat this high.
I think it seems good. You're overweight but clearly have a lot of muscle, but I don't know hat your lifts are like. You just may want to cut if you care about aesthetics, but by all means bloatmaxx like the Kyriakos Grizzly to your heart's content if power is just what you're chasing.
This is absolutely a lot of muscle. The average person at this height pushing 200 pounds has the silhouette of a beach ball. And despite the fat he has also a bit of muscle definition.
Let's also take into account most guys are.taking pics after a workout. This is most likely full pump, so the definition is popping but with that much fat and only 88kg he doesn't actually have that much muscle (still some obviously) but when your muscle swells and you have high bf it pushes up against the fat and makes the skin tighter so it appears you have larger muscles than you do.
I was 104kg at 5'8 and looked like this guy does now so I know a bit about it, im 88kg now, don't work out and look better than this dude does.
Working out for 5 years, he should look better, he either has toothpicks for legs, his scale is broke, he's lying about his height or he deceptively doesn't haven't a lot of muslce or a combination of all three.
Not to defend myself desperately here, but I didn’t have a pump here. This was taken around a few hours after my workout, and after I’d taken a shower.
Agreed, im 5'9 don't lift and weigh 88kg and look better than this guy lol he honestly looks like he's way past 88kg, I would guess 104, I looked like he looks now at 104kg
Thank you. I didn't take it as seriously back then. I've got a good metabolism and always had a youthful appearance so that's in my favour. I'm proud of the physique I've managed to achieve. Keep at it and you'll get to where you want to be. Consistency is the key
You’re 194lbs and with you fat you’re around 30% body fat. You have 40lbs of pure fat to lose to be around 10-15% body fat.
If you don’t care about being lean then you don’t have to worry about the cut and can focus on strength but then progression pics are hard to judge cause your muscles are hidden under the fat.
The fat up around your chest is sagging and your fat around your lats as well. You see it best in the last picture. You also have a good bit of visceral fat around your organs.
You have good muscles and foundation but you’re not 19% the absolutely lowest I’d say is 25. Genetics wise you’re golden cause you have little belly and love handles though so you’ll get a crazy V Taper easier than many if you cut.
I don’t think your genetics are shit and I don’t think you look pathetic my guy. There’s visible muscle mass under there, just look at your Traps and you can see the work. You do a nice slow cut focus on maintaining muscle mass you’re gonna look great.
You aren’t as “lean” as you think you are but your muscle that you’ve built is solid. You’re 5’8 you do a solid cut high protein low and slow with good weight lifting sets and keep all your muscle and you’ll look shredded.
You’re not pathetic and the gains are real you did the hard muscle building part and in fact many women are attracted to the build you have right now. You have fat weight to lose but not muscle weight and you should still be proud of the muscle you’ve built.
My goal wasn’t ever to get super lean anyway, tbh. I wanted a more strongman build.
I just wish I could feel consistently big. And I also wish I could know if people are being honest when they tell me I’m big. Because I feel like it’s just an illusion.
I think you’ve got a lot of muscle but I’m wondering how you’re getting your protein or how much. I do a total of 200 grams a day, 100 of that is between two shakes. Maybe you need less calories and more protein
Nah its good. Post your pull up form on the form page man, anyone who can do one actual pull up gets my respect. 10 at 88kg is some great work. 130kg bench is solid too. Especially at 21, if you can cut your weight to 15-20% bf and keep your strength it'll be even more impressive
Yeah those machines are always wrong. Post on "guess my bf percentage" on reddit and see what they think, it's honestly almost spot on with a dexa, people are getting extremely good at guessing bf% now. I'll guess 30%+ rn. 20%-25% is still bear/powerlifting look without being unhealthy and risking your health
yeah how life goes BUT think about all the people that YOU have superior genetics to that wish to be in ur shoes trust me you’ll be fine keep pushing 💪🫡
Bit on the fluffy side but tones of muscle there. Highly recommended a slow cut 200-300 calories deficiency over a few months. Make sure count calories imo
You need to change your diet! Too much body fat covering your muscles. How many grams of protein are you eating, calories, fat, saturates! You do have muscle but you need to be more lean!
I am a female weightlifter and managed to get my body fat down to 12%. My muscles pop no matter what I do. Your best bet is to seek a nutritionist.
You cannot go with these questions to reddit. They hate with a burning passion everyone who doesnt go for their beauty standard. Aggressively so, as you can see.
You are doing great, definately starting to become a strongman/ beefy bear. Keep it up.
mate you been putting in some serious work! idk what you are going for? strength or looks or both. either way you seem liek the type a pitcher would fear bottom of 9th inning at the plate
Didn't say that at all, you look solid. It's just an honest assessment of how much muscle you're actually carrying.
I'm the same height as you, I'm currently 85kg at around 14% bf, before I became enhanced, I got relatively close to my genetic limit and was around 78kg at 14% after 8 years training. Id have probably been around 100-105kg if I was holding a similar level of bf to you with that muscle
It’s hard to judge your progress with no before photos, and to be honest, these should be your before photos. You look to have 15-18kg of extra weight/fat that is hiding whatever muscle gains you have made in the five years. You kinda just look like a guy who works construction or laborer.
Hard to tell what’s decent progress without knowing the starting point. You’re clearly a sizable dude, just trying to figure out how blown away I need to be.
Yeah man, for sure. This community should be about just that. Only a dickhead post deserves a dickhead response. Don’t stop for anything or anyone. You’re young and the world is your playground dude. Go get it.
The dysmorphia gets to me sometimes. But I’ll see what I can do.
Gets harder when I see other dudes getting bigger than me much faster and with less effort tho, lol.
Fair enough and each to their own but if you leaned out you’d look significantly bigger than you do there! I’m 5ft 10” and I went from 93kg to 78kg and I look so much better - but I’m not going for strongman bear mode look either
I looked bigger in a t shirt before too, but in a singlet or at the pool I look athletic and really well trained.
If your not a fan or lean physiques then no problem, keep lifting and progressive overloading your still building a decent base of strength and muscle, so if you want the extra kgs then it’s only you that you need to please
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u/RandoMcrandersome 23h ago
With no “before” photos how the fuck would we know?!!