Bodybuilding Photos

Here are some of my bodybuilding photos that aim to show improvements and progress over the years in order to assist others and, to a degree, show that “it can be done” …if you put your mind to it and are willing to put in the hard yards!

As you’ll see (and read from the captions), I started with some simple weights in June 2007 and, since then, have gone through about 3 home-gym sets, upgrading to a bigger, better and, more importantly, safer & sturdier model each time.

As of December 2009, I began seeing a personal trainer once a week and while I don’t think it’s showing too much as yet, the numbers certainly show improvements since I began training with him. Case in point, I used to max-out at 20kg’s on the bench press in 2007 / 2008, but I was recently able bench press 80kg’s with my trainer in Q1, 2010. He believes I should be able to increase this by between 5 and 10kg’s a month.

If you want to read more about my ongoing progress, be sure to check out my workout logs.

Why did I get started?

Everyone has a story to tell. Mine was that I was always in the “nerd” camp at school. I was always in the library on the computer. I faked sickness, death and contagious diseases in primary school and wagged practically every sport lesson in high school just to get out of it. I was virtually hopeless at any physical activity and embarrassed with my body.

I was also teased by my classmates (and teachers!), and was, occasionally,called a “lead duck” by family members due to my inability to float in the water, LOL. None the less, I didn’t see anything wrong with my life growing up, I just dealt with it & kept plodding along – no hard feelings and all of that.

But in 2006 I was inspired by a friend (Michael) who was getting started with weights & the gym. He was one of those guys who I felt I could tell anything. We often had long, late-night chats about all kinds of things, including relationships, when we used to live together for 2 or 3 years, waaay back in the early 2000′s. He took me under his wing in 1999 when I first moved out of home and taught me a lot of life’s lessons. In 2001, he & I went down to Sydney (my first interstate trip that wasn’t a “family” thing!) and he took me to my first Mardi Gras parade, took me clubbing – all of that kind of stuff. I guess you could say that I looked up to him.

Anyway, by mid-2005 he was busy running his 3 businesses and I was busy running mine, so we only really see each other once a year. But in 2006, I was both surprised and amazed to see that his gym progress had been going well. And I thought to myself… if he can do this, anyone can! So in essence, he was my inspiration – and from that point on, I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it – and that I could be good at sport / physical activity.

I also wanted to break out of that nerdy box everyone had put me in. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I wanted a challenge in my life… something I could work towards. A goal, as such. I also wanted to eat healthier, feel fitter and feel good about my body.

Where to from here?

I’m occasionally asked what I want to achieve out of all this. I most certainly don’t want to become an Arnie clone… I’m just aiming for a nice proportion of muscle and lean bodyfat. Nothing extreme and certainly nothing crazy. I think that I would, however, like to compete in a bodybuilding competition one day. Nothing soon – maybe in 5 or so years. Ask me again in 2015, haha!

As always, be sure to keep an eye on the Health & Fitness category for all of my ramblings about protein powders, good foods to eat, putting on weight and so on.

Before we continue…

Although these photos are posted here for all to see, my main aim is to use them to help others. Early on in the piece after doing dumbbell curls for several months, I was firmly of the frame of mind that “this is pointless and nothing is gonna happen” …until one day I looked at an old photo and noticed that I was, slowly, making progress.

If you are seeking inspiration, then by all means – please continue. If you are a friend or colleague, then please ask yourself whether it is appropriate to continue. I mean, do you really want to look at topless photos of me? In the end, however, it’s up to you… Oh, and yes – the early photos look scary! LOL.

Motivation is one of the toughest hurdles to overcome

Bodybuilding is frickin’ hard work… and I occasionally hit walls in my training, be it motivation or with the exercises themselves and not being able to increase the weight. So if you think I deserve it, please leave me a comment or shout-out below – either to motivate me or motivate others.

Additionally, feel free to let me know if I have, in any way, inspired you or helped you with your fitness, well-being, health, diet, yada yada. Haters can get stuffed…