Burly's 30 years of change...

[burlyman30]

Hey guys... this year marks 30 years since I first began to hit the iron. I have had some breaks in that time...some of them spanned a few years.

Some of these pics may amaze you, but not necessarily in a good way. :D Hopefully the overall progression will be motivating for some of you, though.

I just wanted to show what can happen over time when you consistently put forth discipline in the gym and in the kitchen.

Here I am (human skeleton on far left) at age 13, about 90 lbs, just a couple months before I began training...

http://www.imgur.com/hAmjoGj.jpeg

[burlyman30]

Here is a pic of me at age 17, at about 155 lbs...

http://www.imgur.com/PBydY.jpeg

[burlyman30]

Age 17, first BBing contest, weighing 132 lbs...

http://www.imgur.com/DbrPO.jpeg

http://www.imgur.com/zFz5r.jpeg

Age 21, weighing 154 lbs...

http://www.imgur.com/miFb7.jpeg

http://www.imgur.com/E7YcQ.jpeg

http://www.imgur.com/QDGVa.jpeg

[burlyman30]

Then I took some significant time away from the gym. Several years. And my muscle wasted away...

Age 35ish, 155 lbs...

http://www.imgur.com/HpjQS.jpeg

[burlyman30]

I returned back to the gym about 4 years ago, and began training and eating like I did in my 20s, not considering that my metabolism would be different. I put on 50 lbs in about 8 months. Some was muscle, but plenty was not.

Age 40ish, weighing 205...

http://www.imgur.com/G8qSL.jpeg

After a lengthy (5 months) bout of bronchitis and other illnesses that kept me out of the gym, I went in for some tests and found my testosterone level was in the toilet. Here I am a year ago just before I began feeling better again... at about 175 lbs...

http://www.imgur.com/eYuPK.jpeg

[burlyman30]

Here's some pics one year after TRT therapy. Taken last week. 184 lbs...

http://www.imgur.com/iiC8Avb.jpeg

http://www.imgur.com/ufOOQSK.jpeg

http://www.imgur.com/tNLlDdY.jpeg

I'll come back and update this a couple times a year... I still have more to accomplish!

[weekend]

once you lose more fat you will look better than ever!

when did you start using steroids though? that second pic for age 17 looks pretty juicy...

[Cobalt]

I'm pretty sure burly was born with those lats and traps. Massive at even 17 years, wow.

[burlyman30]

once you lose more fat you will look better than ever!

when did you start using steroids though? that second pic for age 17 looks pretty juicy...

No juice at 17. Not until after I did my round of contests in the teen division all natural, so I was 19. Won everything but Teen Mr. Oregon, where I was second to Aaron Maddron, who turned pro a few years later. He had 50 lbs on me.

Put on about 20 lean pounds from 19-21 after maybe 2-3 cycles and a precontest cut cycle.

[Sorrow]

Hell yeah! And I zoned in on the back as well! Thats some amazing development! A true testament my man, respect well earned.

[burlyman30]

I'm pretty sure burly was born with those lats and traps. Massive at even 17 years, wow.

Had the highschool record for pullups. I was reallllly good at pullups. Lol

Had no real thickness at that age... just width. Back always grew better than any other body part. I could wish all day that it would be chest, but genetics is a stubborn thing.

[burlyman30]

Hell yeah! And I zoned in on the back as well! Thats some amazing development! A true testament my man, respect well earned.

Thanks bud... hoping that back serves me well tonight. I'm going to have a DL session for the first time since July.

Edit: pulled 455. Not bad for a first day back.

[Jelisej]

At 17 you already look brilliant even at 132 lb- you look like Bruce Lee, at 21 there is even more improvement, actually at this point you could not look better really.
I'm thinking that you would probably be better off if you never took AAS.

Still looking good bro', if you reduce body fat you could look like Adonis again.
And it must be noted, that your experience is invaluable to other forum members incl. myself, so thanks for your contributions!

[burlyman30]

Thanks J. I only began to use AAS because my body had reached a genetic limit. I had put on 65 lbs and was stuck there for over a year. My body was not meant to hold mass, so it has always been a fight. My natural untrained state can be seen at my age 35 pic.

Thanks for all the kind words, J.

[Sperwer]

I knew there was some handsome hiding in there! 😎


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[burlyman30]

I knew there was some handsome hiding in there! 😎


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1)

WELL hidden. Haha.

[Grape Ape]

Holy hair!

[burlyman30]

Holy hair!

LOL

[h2s]

Incredible photographic journey, thanks for sharing.

[BoneDaddy]

Thanks for sharing this Burly. I find it pretty inspiring, especially on a personal level.

[burlyman30]

Its been a few months... thought I'd chime in again. Continuing to recomp slowly. Not sure if pictures will show it, but I continue to slowly get leaner and more vascular. Scale had me at 180 even tonight.

http://www.imgur.com/CIdfexn.jpeg

http://www.imgur.com/jvaaWeF.jpeg

http://www.imgur.com/cPnILCk.jpeg

[Scope75]

Looking SWOLE...

How are the lifts coming along?
Have you got your TRT nailed down yet?

[burlyman30]

Looking SWOLE...

How are the lifts coming along?
Have you got your TRT nailed down yet?

Thanks.

Bench is doing OK... somewhere north of 300.

Its been months since I injured myself doing deads, but I'm gearing up to incorporate them again.

Leg training has taken a back seat as my knee pain continues to plague me. I'm just happy for the days I can climb stairs or a ladder. Probably will be pursuing surgery in the coming year.

TRT is still getting worked out. My levels have been all over the board, so we continue to do blood work about every 10 weeks. As soon as we can find a happy middle ground we will go to blood work every 6 months. Overall feeling pretty good, though I feel better with the higher test levels that she doesn't like seeing.

Thanks for asking.

[Scope75]

Have you had any work done to your knee(s) before?
My dad has had 5 knee surgeries due to dirt bike wreaks but they are all the old school butcher jobs. Anyways what I'm getting at is my dads knees are fucked and I've had home pull gluten out of his diet and he's shocked at how much better his knees and whole body feels and he can now go up/down stairs normal instead baby steps/having to have both feet on the same step before moving to the next. He told me yesterday that they feel good enough again now that he probably won't be getting both his knees replaced like he thought several months ago.

Not sure how much you believe in the whole gluten deal but its worth a shot since you have nothing to lose.

[burlyman30]

Have you had any work done to your knee(s) before?
My dad has had 5 knee surgeries due to dirt bike wreaks but they are all the old school butcher jobs. Anyways what I'm getting at is my dads knees are fucked and I've had home pull gluten out of his diet and he's shocked at how much better his knees and whole body feels and he can now go up/down stairs normal instead baby steps/having to have both feet on the same step before moving to the next. He told me yesterday that they feel good enough again now that he probably won't be getting both his knees replaced like he thought several months ago.

Not sure how much you believe in the whole gluten deal but its worth a shot since you have nothing to lose.

I was strict primal diet for a while, so no grains, no gluten. No improvements noticed during this period. If I did have a gluten allergy, I'm sure I would have noticed something.

[Scope75]

Don't think my dad had an allergy just inflammation from gluten that most seem to have, but yeah you've been there and done that.
Well at least it seems like I hear lots of good things about knee replacement and surgeries now so you'll end up coming out fixed up.

[Jelisej]

Yeah, definitely can see difference. Belly is much smaller, as a matter of fact its quite good progress.
As for TRT, well, you know how unhappy I was (and I am) with your endo. At one point you were nearly there, and then she decided that your tt is too high which was incorrect, in reality I would say your tt was in acceptable range.
BTW, In most countries urologists can prescribe TRT as well, and usually they have more understanding, so that may be way to go...

In any case, glad to gear from you bro'. Keep good work going!

[somm]

Good job Burly, keep it up Bro!!

[USN HM 350Z]

Yeah, definitely can see difference. Belly is much smaller, as a matter of fact its quite good progress.
As for TRT, well, you know how unhappy I was (and I am) with your endo. At one point you were nearly there, and then she decided that your tt is too high which was incorrect, in reality I would say your tt was in acceptable range.
BTW, In most countries urologists can prescribe TRT as well, and usually they have more understanding, so that may be way to go...

In any case, glad to gear from you bro'. Keep good work going!

Exactly, I use my Urologist for my TRT, much more understanding and cares more about how I feel overall then what the labs show. Plus he is very generous when I ask for an AI.

[Cobalt]

When are we going to get a throwback to those pink shorts??

[burlyman30]

When are we going to get a throwback to those pink shorts??

Haha. A couple years ago I was hunting around for those and my wife says "I threw those away! I don't want you wearing those again!". She threw away my lime green ones, too!

So, to answer your question, I guess....never. At least not with the pink. If the time ever comes for another show, it'll be some fancy negotiations with the wife to allow it. And the color will reflect the times. Lol

[hossam]

very nice pics Burly, same journey happened with me and i am trying to come back now at age 39

and the gains are very hard to come but i am enjoying it :)

[ctAL]

wow awesome thread

[VayneZ]

Can't believe I never saw this thread before.
Always had mad respect for you Burly, but this just blew me away! Amazing physique for 17! and as Jelisej said, you had the ability to go really far as a natural bodybuilder!

Really impressive and this has really motivated me beyond words!

You're looking more massive than ever and I really like how your arms have developed lately! Hopefully we get some pics of you now after the mechabol run!

Thanks for this thread!