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.
196 at 5'5 is absolute unit territory man. those inspirations are spot on- lee priest had some of the best arms in the history of the sport so your looking at the right guys. keep grinding that offseason is where the real work happens!
honestly the progress from 168 to 196 is insane for only 7 months... you definitely have the right coach in your corner. cant wait to see what you look like when you finally peel back the layers for the stage next year. stick to the plan bro
man the food part is the hardest bit for me lol. i struggle to hit my macros every day but it looks like your handles it just fine. those high volume sessions are no joke either- keep at it man you got a bright future in this especially being so young
the transformation is wild bro you've put on some serious mass. being 5'5 is actually a huge advantage in bodybuilding because you fill out so much faster than the tall guys - just look at clarida he's a giant killer for a reason. good luck with the rest of the bulk!
holy shit 196 already?? your gonna be a problem on stage next year if you keep this up. definitely following this log to see the journey. dont get burnt out on the food man it gets old fast but the results look worth it!
