W
William Payne
Member
Member
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2024
- Messages
- 13
- Points
- 13
Hello
I am 35 years old.
I have casually lifted weight in a minor way for a few years now and have always had very physical jobs. A couple of years ago I hurt my spine and I had to go through a lot of rehabilitation which made me look a little bit more seriously at bodybuilding because the doctors were all telling me to lose body fat to take weight off of my spine and build muscle strength to be strong so that I can support my frame and take a load off my spine.
I joined a gym a month or more ago to get access to their cardio equipment, once I saw what they had for weights I was hooked and now I am there every second day working out. In fact yesterday was leg day.
Here is where I am confused. My motivation is to just get to 10-15% body fat and to build overall muscle strength and develop a nice strong physique. It’s a personal challenge for myself.
I look at more serious and pro bodybuilders to see how they started and many whether short or tall were little guys. Thin without any mass when they started.
I am 5 foot 6 and 270 pounds without barely doing anything. I may be short but I’ve always been the big guy. Always had wide shoulders, big chest, big thighs, big calves, prominent traps without doing anything besides being a fat ass.
What do I have to do differently than the more common little guys who are getting into bodybuilding?
To add I have also got very serious about diet and nutrition. Maintaining a low calorie, low fat diet and staying within a deficit.
From a mental perspective I am not worrying about weight and focusing on my appearance, how I feel and my body fat percentage.
Here is me from a year ago. I am definitely fat and overweight but I have never been rolls on rolls Michelin man fat. More stocky big frame type fat.

I am 35 years old.
I have casually lifted weight in a minor way for a few years now and have always had very physical jobs. A couple of years ago I hurt my spine and I had to go through a lot of rehabilitation which made me look a little bit more seriously at bodybuilding because the doctors were all telling me to lose body fat to take weight off of my spine and build muscle strength to be strong so that I can support my frame and take a load off my spine.
I joined a gym a month or more ago to get access to their cardio equipment, once I saw what they had for weights I was hooked and now I am there every second day working out. In fact yesterday was leg day.
Here is where I am confused. My motivation is to just get to 10-15% body fat and to build overall muscle strength and develop a nice strong physique. It’s a personal challenge for myself.
I look at more serious and pro bodybuilders to see how they started and many whether short or tall were little guys. Thin without any mass when they started.
I am 5 foot 6 and 270 pounds without barely doing anything. I may be short but I’ve always been the big guy. Always had wide shoulders, big chest, big thighs, big calves, prominent traps without doing anything besides being a fat ass.
What do I have to do differently than the more common little guys who are getting into bodybuilding?
To add I have also got very serious about diet and nutrition. Maintaining a low calorie, low fat diet and staying within a deficit.
From a mental perspective I am not worrying about weight and focusing on my appearance, how I feel and my body fat percentage.
Here is me from a year ago. I am definitely fat and overweight but I have never been rolls on rolls Michelin man fat. More stocky big frame type fat.
