So I've been hitting the training hardish of late, been training for triathlon, so weights days are down to three per week, and cardio at the end of each session, plus another two long runs/cycle/swimming on other days (leaving at least two days off completely.

Latest shots showing a little improvement I think all round, but generally I'm mosstly happy with my endurance going up as well as the weights.









So there we go... I think carb intake for the cardio is stopping too much fat loss, but there's some definite better midriff looking than before.

Nice pants!

Definately got better overall shape to you.

Cheers Alex. I feel my shoulders and upper body is coming on quite well, altho looking in the mirror last night I noticed that my left shoulder in the traps area has a much more rounder shape than my right, no strength difference from them, just left curves up then over, whereas the right shoulder curves towards my neck before arching up.

Little annoying looking that's all. Any help? would be understandable if there was some sort of imbalance, but there doesn't seem to be at all.

and they're boxers rolled up a little. I flipping hate my legs... they're definitely bigger than they were, but they're so bloody long that it's gonna be a long time before I'm looking anything other than a marathon runner on those.
Legs tonight tho, so they'll be getting a bigger bashing than usual due to my embarassing photos being up.

You have definitely addded muscle you legs Rich. I see a nice sweep of quad. Not a straight up and down leg. Would also say your problem area round the lower torso looks considerably better. Good progress, especially considering all the shit you've had going on.

Definitely is going slowly thanks GB!
I've swaped most of my bread/carb intakes to the gluten/wheat free stuff (not all of it due to certain eatings out etc) but pasta/bread etc is pretty much wheat free, and rice has been swapped in the najority of times to either Quinoa, or couscous, which I find is making me feel better (and more energised) as well as getting rid of some of the tyre!

xRichx wrote:Definitely is going slowly thanks GB!
I've swaped most of my bread/carb intakes to the gluten/wheat free stuff (not all of it due to certain eatings out etc) but pasta/bread etc is pretty much wheat free, and rice has been swapped in the najority of times to either Quinoa, or couscous, which I find is making me feel better (and more energised) as well as getting rid of some of the tyre!

You are aware that couscous has gluten in too Rich? I was quite aggrieved to find that out a few years back. Quinoa is the way forward.

I didn't think it had anywhere near as much as rice tho? surely just cutting down is better than nothing?
I shall attempt to use more and more quinoa as a replacement for that too from now on tho.

I think the shoulder shape may be due to lighting as I notice this occassionally if the light comes from one side.

xRichx wrote:I didn't think it had anywhere near as much as rice tho? surely just cutting down is better than nothing?
I shall attempt to use more and more quinoa as a replacement for that too from now on tho.

Rice contains no gluten!

I think I need to do a gluten free body building article.

Craig wrote:

xRichx wrote:I didn't think it had anywhere near as much as rice tho? surely just cutting down is better than nothing?
I shall attempt to use more and more quinoa as a replacement for that too from now on tho.

Rice contains no gluten!

I think I need to do a gluten free body building article.

Do it! I think that would be very interesting to read..

Craig wrote:

xRichx wrote:I didn't think it had anywhere near as much as rice tho? surely just cutting down is better than nothing?
I shall attempt to use more and more quinoa as a replacement for that too from now on tho.

Rice contains no gluten!

I think I need to do a gluten free body building article.

I'd be interested to pool resources, I've been gluten and dairy-free since 2003 (six years, bloody hell!) and my diet is actually way more varied as a result- it's always good to hear tips from other Special Needs crew though, I found it a very steep learning curve at the beginning.

Its the damage done by the gluten that makes you lactose intollerant, this is not perminant but not being able to break down caesin may be.

It covers a wide area so I'm looking to include; ceoliacs inabiltiy to absort fats properly and the resulting omega defficency, vitamin difficiency caused by damage from gluten to the villi, the role of probiotics in repairing and protecting the gut, the best enzymes to take to make up for defficiencies, the role of betaine HCL in correcting stomach PH, a look at why ceoliacs absorb less protein - absorb very little fat - and carbs can potentialy ferment rather than be processed and then the usual look and gluten free foods.

I'm just yet to find out the solution to coeliacs absorbing fat (they still produce regular amounts of lipase but absorb less of the broken down fatty acids)

Showing definite improvement Rich... overall shape seems noticably better

Craig wrote:I think I need to do a gluten free body building article.

Yes do Craig... would be useful.

Spit wrote:I'd be interested to pool resources, I've been gluten and dairy-free since 2003 (six years, bloody hell!) and my diet is actually way more varied as a result- it's always good to hear tips from other Special Needs crew though, I found it a very steep learning curve at the beginning.

Tell me about it... I've read a few articles that seem to contradict each other (when does this not happen...).

Craig, it would be a good read!

Det, Cheers fella! I'm a lot happier with the way I'm looking now, and feel that this is helping to keep motivation levels up and push even harder, along with actually having a goal other than "I want to be big and strong" I'm definitely more driven than at any time before (even with life's distractions).

Oh how I love cycling...

Been training a lot more on the bike of late doing some long power cycles then straight into a run... Just thought a few pics showing how my legs are looking of late. I reckon they're looking a little bigger and definitely "harder".