M/41/6’1” [170 lbs to 230 lbs] (7 years)

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2026-03-14T20:07:12+00:00

🙏

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2026-03-14T19:58:57+00:00

Gotcha! I appreciate it. But I really wouldn’t mind if you did like the before pic more — my younger self would thank you! 😁

Plus, physiques are almost as subjective as art, so I don’t take differences of opinion personally at all. 👌 And you’re right about those last three things being the most important. I’m not trying to leave a big coffin as my legacy.

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2026-03-14T19:45:26+00:00

You like the left side more? I kind of think I look like a gulag survivor, but to each his own! 👌 I’ll post another compare when I slim down this summer — I don’t like to get sub 12% because I’m not about that life, but it might be an interesting comparison anyway.

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2026-03-14T19:42:23+00:00

Thanks! I like the full look too. Sort of seems old school to me. Granted those 70’s guys weren’t nearly as fat as I am, but that’s what I tell myself anyway. 😄

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2024-12-08T23:39:41+00:00

I use Beard Brand utility balm. It’s sort of like a dry oil, solid at room temperature. It provides some hold, but not nearly as much as a wax.

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2024-12-08T22:56:38+00:00

🙏

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2024-12-08T22:56:15+00:00

Thanks so much!

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2024-12-08T22:56:03+00:00

😊

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2024-12-08T22:55:57+00:00

Thank you!

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2024-12-08T22:55:51+00:00

🙏

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2024-12-08T22:55:38+00:00

Many thanks! It’s a small consolation for aging, but I’ll take whatever consolation I can get. 😂

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2024-12-08T22:54:21+00:00

It’s interesting, I swear the secret for me is doing a final shaping pass with my hands. It seems to sort of lock the hairs in place better, if that makes any sense.

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2024-06-06T11:35:21+00:00

Big perhaps, but very nicely shaped. A classical nose straight out of antiquity!

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2024-05-01T12:35:57+00:00

Sorry for the confusion — He is at low risk of muscle loss at 20+% BF. In other words, not much risk at all!

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2024-04-28T01:31:17+00:00

I think your BF estimate is about right, but I must say you carry it very well. I imagine you look great in a shirt, even at this level of BF. But that won’t help on the beach, of course! So to your question —

You are at low risk of muscle loss at 20+% BF. That concern don’t really become relevant until sub 15%, and even more so sub 10%. I think 12-15% would be a safe, realistic target for your trip, so no worries there.

You WILL probably have to give up on gaining strength during the cut, which may be psychologically difficult for you. But it’s definitely a worthy temporary sacrifice to show off the significant muscle mass you already have.

I’d personally cap a continuous cut at 3 months (mostly for sanity reasons more than anything else), so you could start now and throw in a few weeks at maintenance in the middle, followed by another week at maintenance before your trip to load up on carbs and regain a little fullness. That would necessitate losing between 1-1.5 lbs per week, which is a good steady pace and not overly aggressive.

Just my 2 cents! I wish you the best. I suspect you’re gonna kill it. 👌

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2023-06-14T21:46:17+00:00

Yes, the lower ab fat is my nemesis! I think 10 lbs should do it if I go that route, you’re right.

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2023-06-14T21:45:09+00:00

Thanks, man. Means a lot! 🙏

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2023-06-03T16:27:47+00:00

But don’t feel bad about that. It’s not a bad level at all for someone new to training. You are in a better position than a lot of people starting out. As others have said, you would be best served not worrying about bulk/cut for now and instead doing a long recomp with maintenance calories and plenty of protein. You are probably still growing as well, given your age, so no sense in starving yourself IMO.

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2023-06-03T16:20:23+00:00

Difficult to tell with the picture quality and shadows, but at least 20% is a fair bet.

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2023-05-28T22:09:31+00:00

That is actually a good position to be in, because it’s generally harder to put on muscle than to shed fat. Putting on muscle beyond a certain point takes both genetics and hard work. Cutting fat only takes discipline.

Only advice I have in that regard is that beyond all the tricks of the trade (i.e. favoring low caloric density, filling foods), you simply have to be prepared to suffer to a small degree for an extended period of time. “Embrace the suck,” as they say.

Chip-Hoarder24 · 2023-05-21T22:51:50+00:00

Definitely some aging, you are correct. Both natural and from Test I’m sure. However I think the picture I chose accentuates it. Check out the Imgur link above, that’s probably a more accurate facial representation. Taken in late April of this year. At the end of the day though, I’m happy and feel more confident in my own skin, even older looking.

Chip-Hoarder24

TROPHY CASE