Anybody else in awe of your own changes?

[gargoyle]

I know I am a noob here, having just started this about 6 weeks ago, but I am finding it so bloody cool to see the changes in my build in that short time. I was scratching my chest this morning and noticed this odd shape that usually isn't there. WTF as I poke around to see what is up (bite, swelling, inflammation - I moved my arms to check it out better and sh!t it's a pectoral. MUSCLE. Go ahead and chuckle but that ain't been there in 40 years. And the more I look, the more I see. My calves are like they have not been in 25 years. I can actually see some muscles definition in my thighs. Biceps, triceps, forearms. Just awesome.

And I guess what really sets me back, is that it has not been hard. Sure, it's a routine. And I have hit it faithfully. But it seems like everyone wants (outside of here) wants that magic fitness solution. Given all the looking and trying over the years, it seems it should be harder given how well it is working, and I know the workouts WILL get harder, but, damn - so much from so little (effort wise) so far.

As it is, I have decided to REDUCE my aerobic exercise from 6/week to 3/week on off workout days, but hit it shorter and harder. Recoup on the other days. It just seems right, and so counter intuitive. Do less, get more benefits. Eat more, weigh less.

Just in awe.

Anyone else or is it just me?

[rere]

I know I am a noob here, having just started this about 6 weeks ago, but I am finding it so bloody cool to see the changes in my build in that short time. I was scratching my chest this morning and noticed this odd shape that usually isn't there. WTF as I poke around to see what is up (bite, swelling, inflammation - I moved my arms to check it out better and sh!t it's a pectoral. MUSCLE. Go ahead and chuckle but that ain't been there in 40 years. And the more I look, the more I see. My calves are like they have not been in 25 years. I can actually see some muscles definition in my thighs. Biceps, triceps, forearms. Just awesome.

And I guess what really sets me back, is that it has not been hard. Sure, it's a routine. And I have hit it faithfully. But it seems like everyone wants (outside of here) wants that magic fitness solution. Given all the looking and trying over the years, it seems it should be harder given how well it is working, and I know the workouts WILL get harder, but, damn - so much from so little (effort wise) so far.

Yep, I second that.

As it is, I have decided to REDUCE my aerobic exercise from 6/week to 3/week on off workout days, but hit it shorter and harder. Recoup on the other days. It just seems right, and so counter intuitive. Do less, get more benefits. Eat more, weigh less.

Just in awe.

Anyone else or is it just me?

It's definetly not just you gargoyle. Most of us here have experienced that amazing transformation coming from machines to the barbell. I always saw huge steroid freaks (it was in my head) lift these and it just put me off using them. I too had a strange experience when my little sis gave me a hug and told me i had a thick back and she could feel those long things near my spine...lol the erectors.
Long live strength training...and Mehdi.

[Swoko]

I had the same feeling time ago.

I was in the bathroom after taking a shower, in front of the mirror shaving. I raised my arms and saw a bump in the side... I was terrified, I think it was an hernia or something like that.

It was my first glimpse of lats.

[Jerzi78]

I'm in awe that I'm going to have to buy some new jeans when I just bought new ones 3 months ago.

[ezravdb]

Yeah the tight jeans thing is pretty kickbutting. Normally I would buy new pair of jeans because i grew taller but now because my ass and thighs dont fit!

good times

[gargoyle]

Yeah, but I am hitting an interesting problem I didn't expect. I have a pair of 38" jeans I have been using to gauge my progress. They have gone from not a chance in hell of buttoning to at least buttoning now (not comfortable yet), but the legs and ass are snug now. I may loose enough to get into them, but now my legs are not going to go in. I didn't expect that.

[ricepower]

^^ Put em on anyway, denim wears into your shape.

Ive been training since December but only just got strong enough to do the full SL program. The biggest change I noticed were getting triceps. this would largely be due to me intensely doing pushups regularly from the beginning. I began with 5 now I can do several sets of 20 and I have visible dense triceps. It feels strange to touch them, as muscle is less sensitive, it feels like I am touching someone else!

The most significant thing for me though so far is FLEXIBILITY. I have been working really hard to be able to do squats & deadlifts with good form. I couldnt even get in a squat position with flat feet, all my muscle were to tight and Id get severe pain in my hip joints. Id even get the hip pain sitting cross legged on the floor, I doubted I could ever fix this I thought it was a orthopaedic problem. But regular intense stretching has really paid off and now I can squat deep, comfortably and with nearly perfect form. I just need to work on hip strength now really.

[WetWaterDrop]

I've been doing this program for about one and half weeks, and I went from 147lbs to 155lbs, with the most visible gains in my legs. (I've always been a skinny guy).

GOMAD for the win.

[lovestolift]

Hey, just noticed something I've never had with any other program - rear delts. I always felt that the back of my shoulder was a little hollow but it is starting to fill out now. NICE! Goes well with enlarged legs and bigger erector spinae.

[eLvarouza]

The bigger spinal erectors took me by surprise. I had always been able to feel my lumbar spine pretty well and the areas around it. Now there's just a big stiff muscle there and I can barely feel any bony part. Big posterior delts were also surprising as well, and bigger traps.

[gargoyle]

OMG - reaching behind me just now - where the hell did my spine go I never would have thought to check that, but yeah, major erectors now.

[MrWalk]

It is fun. My legs and ass have always been skinny. But not any more. My legs are getting thick. My rump is thick and muscular. My wife keeps grabbing it. My arms are bigger than they've ever been in my life already. Back, abs, shoulders. My skin itself is way healthier looking. That one gets me. I guess the fish oil and the clean eating fixed things I didn't even know were lacking.

Everyone reacts to me differently. "Sirs" come more often and more seriously and ladies just want to talk and talk about anything.

Showering was weird for a while. Everything felt completely different.

I've been "in shape" before, but nothing like this. After a heavy session or set I sometimes just start laughing. It keeps getting heavier and I keep pushing it up. I'm getting bigger and stronger. Ah yeah!

I knew SL5x5 was gonna help me show myself something, and as Jerry Reed said, "Damn if she ain't!"

[guru]

Yeah, the valley on my back has become deeper and it is impossible to feel the spine even after bending forward. All I can touch is a mass of muscles on both sides of the central canal.

I visited my uncle yesterday after about a month & the first (almost) thing he asked me is what have you been doing? Your ass is kinda sticking out. I took it as a compliment to my squats.

I've also not seen my collarbones recently.

[rbtrout]

I've mentioned it here before, I grew up very skinny - 6' and 125 at h.s. graduation (long time ago) and went through the first several years of married life like that. I was (and still am a bit) used to being skinny and seeing a skinny reflection. I still surpise myself now and again, seeing my reflection in a building's windows. My initial thought is, "man, who's that big guy over there" and then realize it's me. My wife usually laughs at me at that point. I always had a pencil neck, as well (14") now, it's pushing 19 and my traps keep climbing up my neck. You guys are right, it is a really cool feeling.

[sealclubber]

Last year I was 5'11" and 135 pounds, people would ask me if I was sick all the time, because I looked so damn gaunt. Weighed myself this morning, 169 pounds, with just a little bit more body fat than usual.

People arnt recognizing me when they come up behind me anymore, and virtually everyone has noticed how much wider my shoulders seem. Im amazed at how much easier everything seems now, bags of grocieries seem lighter, objects I wouldent dream of picking up a year ago are very managable. And Im only 3 weeks into 5x5!

Really glad I went with strength training instead of muscle building, functional strength rocks!