Show us your setups (keep comments in a separate thread!)

Here I am. Sorry about the poor quality; I just snapped this on my phone. Still better than nothing, wouldn't you agree?

http://img228.imgur.com/6871/64654734.jpg

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So... I am looking for some help and advice. I've put on about 15 pounds over the last few months. 🙈
I am 5'8" and currently weighing 155 lbs. My goal is to get back down to 140.
What type of cardio is most effective for burning fat? I see conflicting things online—some say brisk walking on an empty stomach in the morning is best, while others swear by running. Personally, I’ve never been able to run; my stamina is non-existent, and I have some heart palpitations, so I think everything is on the table except for running. Or would morning cycling be better? I have already adjusted my diet, and here is what it looks like:

Morning: oatmeal with fruit
Snack: an apple or an orange
Lunch: steamed vegetables
Dinner: canned tuna in water, low-fat cottage cheese, an egg, and yogurt, or grilled chicken breast

Is this approach sound? 🙄

My intention isn't to crash diet only to gain it all back immediately. Besides, I won't be heading to the coast for vacation until mid-August, which is when I'll actually be showing up in a swimsuit. 😛
My thighs and glutes are my main areas of concern, and I've noticed a bit of extra weight around my midsection as well. 😢Please suggest some fat-burning and toning exercises. I would ideally love a structured workout program. 🙂
I don't want to lose my curves; I just want to return to my previous weight and tone my physique.

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Well, this is the best version I have available on my computer.

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Here’s one from my end. Thoughts?

It has been a full year since I last posted a photo of myself.

This one isn't great—taken on a phone with poor lighting—but it is the most recent.



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Hey everyone! Please, give me your honest thoughts and don't hold back—I could really use a good reality check to get me fired up and motivated.

I’ve been lurking in this subforum and following this thread for quite some time now, so I suppose I’ve finally gathered the necessary nerve to actually post some photos.
The quality isn't anything to write home about, mind you—they were taken via webcam.

Just the stomach. 😁

http://imgur.com/img823/3870/dsc01159r.jpg 🙈

Yeah, that's just cellulite on her thighs. Take it easy...

Here’s my "leftover" situation—my quads are definitely looking stronger, probably from all the cycling I've been doing lately. Go easy on the comments about what's sitting under my butt though (yeah, yeah, I know it's there).
But honestly? It’s going down one way or another, mark my words. 🙂





🤣


ps. if the lighting looks like crap—blame the phone.

Greetings to all 😍
Everyone here seems so attractive, which makes me somewhat hesitant to share photos for fear of being torn apart by harsh comments. 😢

My primary concerns involve a lack of gluteal definition and thick thighs.
I practice dance, though I do not frequent any gyms.
I am fully aware that I should lose weight and that I am overweight, yet I find it quite difficult to eliminate sweets from my diet. 😢 Aside from that, I maintain a healthy diet, avoiding bread, fast food, and greasy items.
Some people suggest this is simply my natural build—curvy, with acceptable thigh size. To my own eyes, however, they seem excessively heavy or perhaps too muscular... and I am curious as to how one might reduce them (if that is the correct term 😕)... essentially, to make them slightly slimmer.
As for my glutes, they appear rather flat, and I would prefer them to have more projection, similar to Lou, though perhaps not to such an extreme degree.
Please refrain from attacking me with comments. 😢
How can one increase gluteal volume while reducing thigh size?

Regarding my friend, her issues are cellulite on her thighs, abdominal concerns, and a general lack of muscle tone in her legs. She runs regularly and eats well, yet she cannot seem to achieve firmness.

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silentpanther32 said:Unfortunately, I don't have any old photos—well, nothing useful on them anyway—so here is how things look currently now that I've been working on myself somewhat.

If luck allows, maybe in a few months I'll post some new shots so we can see if there is actually any progress.

Since I took these myself, please excuse the poor quality. Suggestions would be more than welcome, I suppose.

http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...1/P1011028.jpg

http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...1/P1011022.jpg

http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...1/P1011020.jpg

So, roughly 5'7" and 123 lbs. From February until now, there seem to be only marginal changes in the midsection and perhaps a bit in the biceps, but I'll upload the photos regardless, even though after Joy, I feel like this might all just be spinning my wheels.🙂

This time I attempted to take the photos in more realistic lighting; if you require shots from a bathroom or a dimly lit room to get better muscle shadows, I guess you can let me know.😁

http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...P6221240_2.jpg

http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...P6221244_1.jpg

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Hey everyone!
I’m going to post two photos here that, unfortunately, stand in stark contrast to the ones you all seem to be sharing 😬
. I actually posted these about two months ago under that thread about Weight Loss and emotional eating, blah blah blah... but I didn't get much support back then, so my situation remains completely unchanged. However, as of today, I have decided to commit to making changes once again. To avoid typing everything out from scratch since my story and intentions haven't changed, I’ll just briefly copy-paste the essentials 😉
.

Over the winter, I "bulked up" to 145 lbs at a height of 5'5" 😢. I have never weighed this much in my entire life—I’ve always hovered somewhere around the 115-120 lb range and was perfectly happy with that weight
. Now, I feel incredibly uncomfortable and heavy. Most of my summer clothes still technically fit, but they sit on me in a way that looks incomparably different
.
I am fully aware that I don't have a petite frame; I have more of a pear shape with stronger legs and glutes and a weaker upper body—breasts and arms (which aren't an issue for me right now)
. The most obvious difference is these so-called love handles, rolls, or extra padding 😁—whatever you want to call them—that were never this pronounced before
. But because I don't want this to just be empty talk, I’m including two photos (I even took a third one from the back, but it’s so tragic I can't even bear to look at it 🤣 )
.



So, starting today, June 22nd, 2011, I am deciding that these will eventually become "before" pictures 🧐. I am preparing to overhaul my diet
. My plan is to significantly cut back on bread, pastries, sweets, and junk food, and instead base my meals on fruits and vegetables
. Ugh, the thing is, I simply cannot function without snacking—I always have this urge to graze all day long, especially while watching movies or football games 😁. I’m going to try to swap the junk for healthier versions, like air-popped popcorn from a local vendor, sesame sticks, seeds, walnuts, and things like that
. Anyway, if anyone else is dealing with similar issues and knows the easiest way to get rid of these love handles and other problems—anyone at all—please reach out. Any suggestion, comment, or word of encouragement is welcome 😉
. Best regards to you all!

The photo quality is terrible—I don't have anything better right now. That blur on my stomach is just a tattoo 😁

(And yeah, I'm pretty flat-chested, but there's nothing I can do about that...)

Here is a quick photo of me🙂 I am 26 years old and I absolutely love staying active... though, admittedly, I can still be found enjoying a night out and a few drinks now and then!😁 locationalwarehouse 😁



Best regards,👍

here’s my skinny legs again 😬 though I think they’ve bulked up a bit since last summer 🤷—not that I’m stopping until they get even thicker
side profile is pretty much the only angle I actually like
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/8673/slika2166.jpg

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/8913/slika216.jpg

http://img849.imgur.com/img849/9298/fdfn.jpg

This photo was taken about a year ago, though nothing has changed significantly since then. I really need to pack on another 10 to 15 pounds. My plan is to start using a weight gainer supplement alongside my training regimen, which should hopefully yield some actual results. 👍

Hey everyone 👋

So, here’s the situation... I'm about 5'9", weighing in at roughly 130 or 132 pounds (though I suspect I might look heavier than that 😁)...

Regarding my weight, I don't really have a burning desire to overhaul things too much; there’s always room to drop a few pounds if necessary, obviously, but nothing drastic...

What I am actually looking for is some guidance on how to tone my midsection, because right now it has this sort of "pregnancy belly" vibe to it 😬
It feels firm—not soft or flabby at all—but the shape is just... strange. Standard crunches haven't done a thing to help reduce this protrusion, and while side bends are helping slightly, I’d love to hear from people who actually know what they're talking about and can offer some real expertise...
My stomach isn't usually this pronounced, but it was looking particularly bloated today, which honestly just frustrated me enough that I snapped some photos to get some advice on how to fix it... 😁
I'd also like to work on shaping my hips and that area just below the glutes, if that makes sense 😁 My hips are fine in terms of shape, it's just that little triangular bit, that pointy finish 😬, that bothers me... I'm not sure if I'm explaining it well, and it probably doesn't even show clearly in the pictures... I want everything to feel firm so it doesn't spill over when I sit down, but I don't want to overdo the muscle growth to the point where I look bulky or thick...

For the last month or so (if not longer), due to certain... circumstances... I haven't been working out at all, not even basic abs, but generally speaking, I see results pretty quickly once I get back into a consistent groove...
Normally, I'm into running, dancing, and following along with those workout DVDs...

My diet is relatively solid—for years now, I haven't touched anything but water (tons of it) and the occasional natural fruit juice; zero junk food (well, except for chocolate, though I've cut that back significantly compared to how much I used to indulge), plenty of fruits and veggies... and I walk quite a bit...
So, the main thing I need is a solid exercise strategy...

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So, after nearly four years of testing just about everything out there...

From hitting the gym and running, to hiring personal trainers (spent maybe 100-$50 hours total), scouring forums, listening to pros (and the posers), burning through piles of cash, trying various diets and supplements—and thank God I didn't end up with an injury along the way...

Here’s my takeaway (nothing revolutionary here, it’s all been said on this forum before, but I felt the need to lay it out):

1. 98% of success is mental. If you actually have the willpower—real, solid willpower—you can do anything. No quitting, just persistence.
2. Once you solve the mental part (willpower), then comes nutrition (definitely 60-70%), picking the right exercises and training properly (20-30%), and the rest is just rest.

I work an office job, sitting there at least 9-10 hours a day—so don't give me any of that "I don't have time" nonsense.

I've been doing Muay Thai for about 3.5 years (3x a week). No sparring, no competitions, no knockouts, no broken bones or anything like that. I found an incredible club and a great coach; joining was hands down the smartest thing I've ever done for my body, but more importantly, for my head. It’s hard to describe how you can walk into that gym carrying all your stress and problems, and walk out feeling completely clear.
Once in a while, I'll go for a run around Central Park for a lap or two...

Basically, I watch what I eat. I eat at least 5-6 times a day, but once a week I'll absolutely demolish a pound of cookies, ice cream, chocolate, or whatever else is sweet. I don't gain weight from it because you can afford to indulge one day (or even two). As far as protein goes, it's mostly chicken... and breakfast is non-negotiable.

No "diet" is going to save you. You can achieve anything with a normal diet and portion control.

I'm saying all this to encourage anyone who thinks getting in shape means starving yourself, killing yourself in the gym, or living some "Spartan" lifestyle...
It isn't that hard—it just takes patience and believing in yourself.

Once you get used to working out regularly, you actually start missing it when you take a break. It becomes a lifestyle change.

I don't know if I look "good" enough (bulky, shredded—comments, suggestions, and critiques are always welcome), but I feel HEALTHY, full of energy, and fit. That's my biggest motivator to keep going.

If anyone wants to ask anything, feel free. But honestly, most of what you need to know is already covered on this forum by people who are far more expert than I am and who, from what I can see, are happy to share great advice.

Cheers, everyone.

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