I’m 21 years old and I've never actually stepped on stage before, but I’m ready to get this journey started.
I’ve been working with a solid coach for the last 7 months and right now we’re right in the middle of a heavy offseason push. I’ll drop some photos below so you guys can see the transformation so far. Since I’m only 5'5, I’ve always been a huge fan of guys like Shaun Clarida and Lee Priest - they really showed what’s possible for shorter dudes in this sport.
At the moment, my life basically revolves around stuffing my face with food and hitting some seriously high-volume sessions in the gym. My plan is to keep this log going until I finally compete, which will hopefully be sometime next year.
The photos I'm sharing show my progress from 168 to 196 lbs. That shot on the right is where I'm sitting currently.
man 168 to 196 in 7 months is a massive gain. you're definitely putting that food to work lol. being 5'5 is actually a huge advantage for looking full as hell once you start leaning out. keep grinding man those guys you mentioned are legends for a reason
looking forward to seeing the photos! lee priest is the goat for shorter guys so you definitely picked the right inspiration. the offseason struggle is real when you're just eating 24/7 but itll be worth it once you finally hit the stage next year.
21 is a great age to start your first real prep. you've got plenty of time to build a crazy foundation. just trust your coach and keep hitting those high volume sessions. definitely gonna follow this log to see how you progress- good luck with the bulk!
30 lbs in less than a year is solid as long as your not just getting fat but if your coach is good i'm sure its mostly muscle. i'm the same height and people dont realize how much 196 looks on a 5'5 frame... you probably look like a tank right now lol.
stuffing your face is the hardest part of the sport honestly haha. people think the gym is the tough bit but its the 5th meal of the day that kills you. glad your starting a log- its cool to look back on this stuff once you finally get that first trophy.
