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Which changes surprised you most?

Ogun Posts: 559 Joined: 2002/08/11	2003/05/10, 11:04 AM Some of you dinosaurs may have a hard time remembering, but I'd be curious of what took everybody off-guard when they looked at what muscles got the biggest/shapliest vs. what they thought would. For me, typical guy thoughts--I wanted big shoulder and big biceps. My chest was always a genetic freebie so I didn't expect to have to do much to see it really explode. I was also curious about my abs and had read alot and decided that a "4-pack" would be fine, didn't need 6 or 8. I didn't care much about legs, back, or lats. In high school football my nickname was the "skeleton," I was 185lbs, 6'4 offensive/defensive end (I dropped two passes in one game in my sophomore year and never played offense again, became permanent defensive end, but killing quarterbacks is underrated :D ). I had chicken legs, no matter how hard I worked. I was the poster boy for ectomorphs. As a kid, I played 7 years of baseball, and 5 years of basketball. Burned out on em, couldn't play football cuz it cost money in the city and we were poor. I was always skinny except for one year when I was about 10 and got chubby. So with this history, starting this program, I suspected that a few things would happen. Big chest, chicken, veiny legs, fair biceps and triceps, skinny forearms, a butt to small and an unremarkable back, and maybe fair to nice abs. What I got first (probably mostly from inverted leg press and constantly riding the bike) where these high curves in my thighs...they built UP! That was huge surprise #1, and my calves have come right along with them. Surprise #2 was and still is my chest; it's grown very little. Surprise #3 was my abs; I lifted so hard and heavy and somehow had so much strength there that just as the people had warned me, my stomach bulked. But now that the fat is almost gone, I've got a nice 8-pack, very strong. I rarely do free weight regular curls; for some reason, I stick to hammer curls. As such, my shoulders have grown to about DOUBLE their size. Big surprise #4 there. The rest is pretty ok, biceps grew pretty good but not great, back is average, and forearms are still a bit small. What surprised you? -------------- --There are no versions of the truth.-- Jeff Goldblum, Jurassic Park II
oxdp954 Posts: 38 Joined: 2003/03/12	2003/05/10, 03:38 PM I was suprised by how quickly my triceps and shoulders developed. It seemed like with in 4 weeks of restarting my work outs I saw a drastic change in both the size and shape of my arms. I'm also surprised at how slow by chest is at developing. -------------- Justin Work hard, Play hard, Stay hard!
7707mutt Posts: 7,686 Joined: 2002/06/18	2003/05/10, 09:14 PM I was surprised by two things...one was that my bis grew like they have, and two that my strength is like it is. -------------- deadlifts rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ogun Posts: 559 Joined: 2002/08/11	2003/05/10, 09:24 PM What did you think would happen Mutt?
Philia2 Posts: 4,078 Joined: 2001/10/19	2003/05/12, 08:50 AM Yes I think it was my abs as well........ I have been working my abs a lot for many years but I never really saw the deep cut. Then I stopped doing all those abs and went on a diet (for my first competition). Well what can I say lol but I woke up one morning and on my way to the shower I stopped in front of the mirror surprised of the look of a niiiicely cut stomach! Now the changings I see and notice is in strength and flexibility. -------------- - Nina :o) Les Victoires éternelles sont celles du coeur.
I_Am-aZon Posts: 893 Joined: 2003/02/18	2003/05/12, 10:55 AM My biggest surprise was like oxdp954's - I never expected my shoulders/biceps/triceps to increase like they did. I hope to be like Philia and see my abs - now that would be an accomplishment!
baballo Posts: 6 Joined: 2003/04/15	2003/05/12, 11:51 AM I was surprised by my bis grew like they have, and my strength. I am still working on 8 or 6 or even 4 Pack.
London Posts: 176 Joined: 2003/01/10	2003/05/13, 12:15 PM My tris surprisingly! I was driving last night and had my right arm straight out to steer and got an itch on that arm. so with my left hand I scratched my tricep and was shocked because it was ROCK HARD! haha so weird!
Ravenbeauty Posts: 3,755 Joined: 2002/09/24	2003/05/13, 12:19 PM as always it always suprises me that the definition never starts where i want it first...lol i always and forever seeing definition in my shoulders, arms and legs and lastly, but always want it first is the abs... -------------- Bettia.... The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
rpacheco Posts: 3,770 Joined: 2001/12/13	2003/05/13, 12:20 PM The biggest surprise was the amount of attention and stares I got from women! Guys, this is by far the biggest bonus in weight training... -------------- **_Robert_** Pain is temporary; glory is forever!
Ravenbeauty Posts: 3,755 Joined: 2002/09/24	2003/05/13, 12:21 PM but i am glad to see it wherever it starts!!!! -------------- Bettia.... The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
7707mutt Posts: 7,686 Joined: 2002/06/18	2003/05/13, 12:24 PM I did not know ogun but I was never called and "athletic" child. So when in my firswt 2 years of training I went from 14 inches to 16 I was shocked. Now as they still grow (albeit much slower) I am still shocked. As for my strength i once worked out with a bench press competitor who was 54 yrs old weighed 131lbs and becnched 305 3 reps told me that I had a lot of strength. It took me 3 years to believe it. Now as I go 20-50 lbs heavier than I thought I could I know that with a little work I can be even more stronger than I thought.! -------------- deadlifts rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ogun Posts: 559 Joined: 2002/08/11	2003/05/13, 12:53 PM Wow, from reading these posts, I don't think anybody accurately predicted what would happen to them when they started working out :D PRetty cool nonetheless. -------------- --There are no versions of the truth.-- Jeff Goldblum, Jurassic Park II
azredhead57 Posts: 1,651 Joined: 2003/04/11	2003/05/13, 01:16 PM Biggest surprise? I thought I would lose weight! After a life of relatively low activity, sedentary jobs, no interest in sports I thought spending all this time lifting weights and doing cardio I thought the pounds would just drop off. Wrong! It took some getting used to. Now I know that if I want to keep building muscle I may not ever see huge weight loss.
Carivan Posts: 8,542 Joined: 2002/01/20	2003/05/13, 04:20 PM What surprised me the most how my body re-acted when I woke it up the first time I worked out. I fell asleep on the couch within 2hrs after that workout. My trainer told me it was going to give me more energy, I even phoned him to tell him he was full of it! 2 years later....here I am FULL OF ENERGY that I haven't seen since I was in my 20's. Never the less (the stamina)all things are better. I'd have to say I really like feeling 25 again! My new shape is just a bonus. -------------- We must become the change we want to see. Ivan Montreal Canada (aka SpongeBob Square Pants to some!)
sandysford Posts: 1,139 Joined: 2002/11/18	2003/05/14, 05:31 PM My biggest surprize was when I looked in the mirror and I saw abs, what a great feeling!!!! Recently I had some pics taken at the gym and a park,I was surprized to hear my son tell me that my head didn't fit the body, when I ask him what he ment, he said that face is to old for your body. LOL guess a face lift is in order!!! I just hugged him and told him Thank you! -------------- I will lift my own weight someday!!!!!
Carivan Posts: 8,542 Joined: 2002/01/20	2003/05/14, 08:44 PM What a nice thing to say to ones mother! -------------- We must become the change we want to see. Ivan Montreal Canada (aka SpongeBob Square Pants to some!)
sandysford Posts: 1,139 Joined: 2002/11/18	2003/05/14, 08:48 PM it's okay, honesty is the one thing I did try to teach my kids as they grew up. -------------- I will lift my own weight someday!!!!!
Carivan Posts: 8,542 Joined: 2002/01/20	2003/05/14, 08:53 PM Thats more than ok! Did you read me wrong? I hope not. -------------- We must become the change we want to see. Ivan Montreal Canada (aka SpongeBob Square Pants to some!)
sandysford Posts: 1,139 Joined: 2002/11/18	2003/05/14, 08:57 PM Guess I did, Sorry Carivan, I thought you were slamming my kid, I am a little protective, LOL -------------- I will lift my own weight someday!!!!!
Carivan Posts: 8,542 Joined: 2002/01/20	2003/05/14, 09:02 PM No, not at all. Thats why I responded back. When we never hear someone speak, these messages can easily be misread. Let me re phrase it.... I think that was a beautiful thing to say to ones mom. :) -------------- We must become the change we want to see. Ivan Montreal Canada (aka SpongeBob Square Pants to some!)
sandysford Posts: 1,139 Joined: 2002/11/18	2003/05/14, 09:03 PM Thank you!!! What a nice thing to say!!:) -------------- I will lift my own weight someday!!!!!
drio Posts: 288 Joined: 2003/04/22	2003/05/16, 09:04 AM I've actually had a mix of negative and positive results. When I was somewhat out of shape I still had an athletic looking build to me. So if I had a shirt on I looked just great. But once the shirt was off you could see the flab. Now I look downright scrawny with a shirt on! But once the shirt comes off you can see that I'm pretty defined. These are all superficial of course. I feel like a million bucks! -and that's truly what matters. Whooowah! It's just funny to hear my friends tell me I'm "wasting away"... but then they give me a hug or something and they feel that I'm solid as a rock.. and they give out a "whoa". =) -------------- Dont wait! Procrastinate NOW! =)