2021 versus 2026

[ineedaminute]

Hi, everyone!!

My name is Andrew! It's nice to meet you all.

New to this forum and kinda nervous to have my pictures out there, but it's probably the same thing as posting these to Instagram...

right?

My journey with working out has been an interesting one with a fuckton of bumps in the road.

The first picture is of me, a skinny little 19 year old back in spring of 2021, where I'd weighed about only 120 pounds and was struggling to keep a consistent workout routine and sleep schedule, as well as increase my caloric intake. The second picture is me today, having just turned 24 last week Monday--forty pound heavier at 160-165ish...with a consistent workout routine (despite setbacks from illnesses). I'd momentarily stopped working out from bad anxiety, and I started doing my calisthenics routine with a fifteen pound weighted vest again!

My next goal is to resume my kettlebell training (just bought a forty pound kettlebell) and my workout DVDs (anyone familiar with RushFit by Georges St. Pierre?), my only issue is that I'm gonna figure out how to force myself to workout after a long day at my job! I work at a lumber yard and I can't tell you the number of contractors that stop in and are flabbergasted that my 5'2" self can pick up solid core doors, compound buckets, bags of cement...it makes my day being able to pleasantly surprise people!!

My other goals with fitness and bodybuilding are to get more weightlifting in and get myself through the door of an MMA gym...I workout mostly at home because I'm genuinely a nervous wreck in my day to day life. I'd love to make new friends on here and find ways to improve/modify/enhance my workouts. Trying to hit 170 by the end of summer!

It's been wonderful introducing myself to you all!

 

[rawdeal]

Now, there's an Intro!

Stick around, Andrew, lots of inspiration and information to be had here. Welcome to The Den.

 

[ineedaminute]

Now, there's an Intro!

Stick around, Andrew, lots of inspiration and information to be had here. Welcome to The Den.

Hello, rawdeal!!

Thank you for taking the time to say hi! It's greatly appreciated!

I'm already inspired by the sheer overwhelming amount of individuals who are absolutely ripped on here!! Truly a motivational sight!!

I don't plan on goin nowhere! Definitely have a lot more to learn and a lot more to go!!

 

[tommyguns2]

Andrew, welcome to TID. Stay consistent with your training. Having a physical job can make it difficult to want to train, but just get the process started, and once you begin, the therapeutic effects kick in, and that workout will soon feel like an old friend! Consistency is key to this lifestyle. It truly is a marathon, and not a sprint. Sounds like you're employing a lot of "functional" training, which, along with your physical job will be very practical for you. I think that's smart.

So step 1 is consistent training, and then step 2 you can start the lifelong process of learning about how diet can help you further reach your goals. At 24 that might not seem too critical, but for us old farts, it becomes the primary thing. Good luck with everything, and please make yourself at home!

 

[ineedaminute]

Andrew, welcome to TID. Stay consistent with your training. Having a physical job can make it difficult to want to train, but just get the process started, and once you begin, the therapeutic effects kick in, and that workout will soon feel like an old friend! Consistency is key to this lifestyle. It truly is a marathon, and not a sprint. Sounds like you're employing a lot of "functional" training, which, along with your physical job will be very practical for you. I think that's smart.

So step 1 is consistent training, and then step 2 you can start the lifelong process of learning about how diet can help you further reach your goals. At 24 that might not seem too critical, but for us old farts, it becomes the primary thing. Good luck with everything, and please make yourself at home!

Hi, Tommy!!

Thanks for the warm welcome

I'm definitely making a good effort to be more consistent! It's hard though when you have hypothyroidism and want to knock out on the ride home after work, but what matters is the effort I put into it! I'm so proud of myself for the progress I have made already. I was bullied mercilessly as a kid. I think I've come a long way.

I really love functional training, but I'd kill to take the first step into an actual proper gym and get my hands on the equipment--I'm jealous of the people who are able to step into a gym. Maybe I should make that a goal? I can always see if my sister and her boyfriend will let me tag along with them to their commercial gym!

Thank you for even bothering to share your words of encouragement.

Wishing you all the best success,

Andrew

 

[Wallyd]

Welcome! Like TG said consistency is the most important thing to make gains!! Good luck to you on reaching your goals!

 

[ineedaminute]

Welcome! Like TG said consistency is the most important thing to make gains!! Good luck to you on reaching your goals!

Thank you so much, WallyD!! Appreciate everything. I don't plan on giving up.

 

[FlyingDragon]

Nice to see Raw welcoming new members again

 

[Tuffoldman]

Welcome to TID!

Lots of good folks on here with decades of experience. Ask questions, answer what you can, just soak in the information.


Working a physical job can be difficult and make you so worn out by the end of the day you don't want to work out, that's understandable.

Based on what you said though you started off as a little guy and you're picking up big heavy objects to work and people are amazed so that alone has to be some motivation to make you want to keep working out to get even stronger and to show off a little bit. There is absolutely nothing wrong with proving yourself.


Keep up the hard work

 

[ineedaminute]

Welcome to TID!

Lots of good folks on here with decades of experience. Ask questions, answer what you can, just soak in the information.


Working a physical job can be difficult and make you so worn out by the end of the day you don't want to work out, that's understandable.

Based on what you said though you started off as a little guy and you're picking up big heavy objects to work and people are amazed so that alone has to be some motivation to make you want to keep working out to get even stronger and to show off a little bit. There is absolutely nothing wrong with proving yourself.


Keep up the hard work

Hi, Tuff!!

You certainly live up to your namesake!!

And yeah, it gets VERY exhausting between the kinds of people that come in and the demands they make. Very frustrating for someone introverted...working on that, though.

It always does motivate me more when people see me carrying sheetrock and compound buckets and are just so astounded. I like being underestimated.

I will absolutely keep it up. No plans to stop here!!

Thank you for your welcomes! I was expecting the outcomes to be a lot worse, hahah!!