GOMAD Kickoff

[lbuss]

Hello everyone,

I've been reading Stronglifts for some time now, and about a year ago I followed the 5x5 program for a while as well. I never did gain much muscle/weight with it, probably because I didn't really eat nearly enough. Probably a leftover habit from my weight loss in 2006. In January 06 when I was deployed overseas (Navy) I weighed in around 265lbs (I did not work out in those days), but because I did not have much to do where I was deployed, I drastically reduced my caloric intake and started exercising (mostly running daily) and when I returned home mid-May, I was a much leaner 190lbs, and then by July I was around 170lbs. I started weight training 3-4 times per week and cut out all my cardio, and while I got stronger I never was able to get above 185lbs, mostly due to my low calorie intake.

Well now, I'm headed in the opposite direction! Two days ago I started GOMAD (i'm almost 3 gallons of milk down now, only 57 to go!) and additionally have been eating 2400-2700 calories per day separated into 5 or 6 meals. I also resumed the 5x5 workout I'd given up last year (Around April I had sinus surgery and never went back to exercising after recovery.. oops).

I started this thing off at 179lbs on Nov 15th. My goal is to get as close to 215 lbs as I can in the next 60 days of GOMAD + 5x5. I am also doing Hatha yoga sessions on 2 of my rest days in between workouts, to help maintain flexibility and reduce soreness. I will be cataloging the process via pics, measurments and scale. Hopefully everything goes well. If anyone has any advice for me from their experiences on GOMAD, any insider tips or best practices, that sort of thing, that would be great. Anyway, I'll post up the starting pics and my stats (1RM, 5x5 starting weight) later today when I've got time to take them. Here goes!

[jfh26]

Nice to see you taking the initiative with GOMAD even after all that weight loss from the navy. Most people are afraid to eat big, especially after losing a lot of weight, but you've got to do it if you want to get strong. Good luck on the program.