Jeremy Gipe Didn't Want To Be 'Skinny Fat' Anymore So He Put On 30 Lbs Of Muscle!
Jeremy didn't feel comfortable in his own skin and decided to take up bodybuilding so he could be in control of his body. See how Jeremy found fitness and changed his life!
I always had an awkward, "skinny-fat" physique during my younger years. I looked like a normal, skinny kid with my shirt on. But when I was shirtless I looked out of shape. I envied those guys who could go to the pool or the beach and look fit with their shirts off. I had low confidence with girls as well, so I knew by building a better physique I would gain more self-confidence.
I also wanted to bodybuild because it's an individual thing. I played team sports in high school and did not really enjoy them. Coaches favored other players, other kids could blow the game for everyone else, and you had to listen to everything coaches told you. With bodybuilding, you have much more freedom. You pick the exercises, sets, reps and you choose your goals. When you succeed, you know that it was all you.
Click To Enlarge. I Wanted To Bodybuild Because It's A Very Individual Thing.
How I Did It
I first did a lot of research on the bodybuilding forums about nutrition. I began eating healthier, even eating certain foods for the first time ever- cottage cheese, whey protein, etc. Overall, I started eating a lot more protein since I wanted to gain muscle. I kept carbs pretty high, with my sources being almost all complex carbs. I had a moderate amount of fats in my diet as well.
I also needed to look into exercises and splits. Squats and deadlifts were staples in my routines. These exercises recruit a lot of muscles and are very good for putting on mass, especially for beginners. I performed many other compound exercises as well. Pull-ups, bench presses, military presses, dips, and rows are all great for putting on size. Other isolation exercises like curls, tricep extensions, quad extensions, etc. also helped to stimulate the muscles after the compound exercises.
I like to hit body parts at least once per week. I feel that gives plenty of recovery time so I don't have to worry about overtraining. Usually 12-20 sets per workout are enough volume for me to grow, and I like to keep rest time about 2-3 minutes in between sets for full recovery.
Click To Enlarge. I Began Eating Healthier, Even Eating Certain Foods For The First Time Ever.
Consistency is key. As long as you put everything you have into your training, you will succeed - it just takes time. Those who are consistently giving their best workouts, eating right, sleeping well, etc. will eventually achieve their goals. Also, try to experiment with different things. I am always trying new exercises and workout schemes. Finding what works right for you is critical in bodybuilding.
I also suggest that people keep a journal. I have a log in the journaling section on bodybuilding.com forums, and I feel this has definitely helped me keep track of things. Additionally, other posters have joined my journal and given me extra motivation and advice on training. It has really been a great experience.
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