Written by Jacob Cassidy

Operation Herculean Begins

Topic: Operation Herculean

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Tomorrow marks the first official day of my muscle growth plan and the beginning of Skinny to Hercules. I’m attempting to gain 35 pounds of lean body mass by December 31, 2010, while keeping my bodyfat percentage in the single digits.

Today, I took my dry* weight, measurements, and pictures to mark the beginning of my physical transformation. Here are the results…

The pictures above are my relaxed poses to show what my body looks like when I’m not flexing. The pictures below are what my body looks like when I am flexing.

I took these pictures first thing this morning after using the restroom and before eating or drinking anything. The only way to get an accurate measurement of physical change is to make sure the variables in which the measurements are taken remain the same. I’m accomplishing this by taking my measurements and pictures first thing every Sunday morning using my dry* weight.

*Dry weight is what you weigh naked first thing in the morning after using the restroom and before eating, drinking, or otherwise putting anything in or on your body. My weight can increase 10 pounds over the course of the day just from eating and drinking (a gallon of water weighs 8lbs alone). Using this method keeps the variables the same so the measurements aren’t distorted like they are in all before and after pictures used in health and fitness advertisements.

This month, I’m going to be solely focused on getting my weight lifting habit implanted. I’m so decondition right now that I need a good 4 weeks to iron out some of my imbalances and work back up to being able to push myself physically at any intense level. Next month, I’ll fully get my muscle building diet underway, which is the most important aspect of building muscle, and start packing on the weight.

Every Sunday, I’ll be posting an update of my progress, along with how I felt mentally, emotionally, and physically during the week as it relates to my progress. I’ll also be sharing in detail what I’m doing so you can do the same.

These are my starting stats…

• Weight: 170.6 lbs
• Chest (relaxed): 42 inches
• Waist (relaxed): 33.25 inches
• Neck (relaxed): 14.5 inches
• R. Bicep (flexed): 13.9375 inches
• L. Bicep (flexed): 13.75 inches
• R. Forearm (straight arm flexed): 11.75 inches
• L. Forearm (straight arm flexed): 11.5 inches
• R. Leg (flexed): 21.875 inches
• L. Leg (flexed): 21.6875 inches
• R. Calf (flexed): 14.3125 inches
• L. Calf (flexed): 14.375 inches

Tomorrow I’ll be writing more about what I’m going to be doing over this next month to condition my body and get it primed to start gaining muscle mass.

Until then.

Jacob

P.S. I know the hair and beard is crazy ;). Later this week I’ll post about what’s going on there.

Posted on January 31, 2010

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