Quote: (01-22-2015 09:56 PM)civpro Wrote:
and yet due to my bad genetics
No. Stop using that bullshit excuse. Some Auschwitz survivors probably also had bad genetics but they did manage to lose weight when being in a caloric deficit, didn't they?
Quote: (01-22-2015 10:41 PM)Switch Wrote:And this is true too. When I started out, I was skinny fat. Conventional wisdom on all fitness forums is "Bulk hard brah or you'll be skinny when you've lost the fat!". I didn't care though, started working out while also being in a 500 cal deficit. OF COURSE you'll become a lanky skinny guy when you lose that fat, that's who you are, but at least you then have a good foundation to start bulking off of (and you can absolutely make some strength and muscle gains even in a deficit as a beginner). You gotta realize: when you're skinny fat, you're basically already 18% or more bodyfat, you just don't realize it. If you start bulking, you'll fastly climb into 20%+ territory and will simply become fat and it'll take a year or more to lose all that fat again. Better lanky and lean at first that fat and.... maybe buff, but no one can be sure since you're so fat
I'm no Adonis but one thing I know is that dropping fat first to 10% bodyfat or lower is a major ego boost. At that point you probably have visible abs or at least a flat stomach and objectively have a better body than 90% of men. Also, when you have low bodyfat, it is much easier to see the gains you are making. If you still have 18% bodyfat, whatever muscle you do build is hidden under a layer of fat and this is discouraging.
In your position OP, at 5'9 168, and depending on what muscle mass you already have, I think it would take 2-3 dedicated months of losing a pound per week to achieve an objectively 'good' body. From there, it will take many years to sculpt it into art.