Some old pics

Shelby · Oct 10, 2012

The guy that just posted a thread about "worst genetics ever" got me thinking, so I dug up some old pics.

This first pic is me in 1997, after a few months of weight training. I was 20 years old. Not very good genetics for bodybuilding I guess, but I liked it regardless.

Shelby · Oct 10, 2012

And these ones are from 2000 if I remember correctly. I had gained a decent amount of muscle by then and dieted down (I was crazy about diet and cardio) to see what I looked like. I think I was about 148 here.

Transformer · Oct 10, 2012

same glasses? lol they are your trademark.. incredible!

Johnny Ringo · Oct 10, 2012

Omg! That's crazy Shelby. Can u post some side by side then and from your Pro win?

Mad Matt · Oct 10, 2012

Man thats an awesome transformation mate

ajdos · Oct 10, 2012

...and here you are today an IFBB pro, imagine that.

scottswald · Oct 10, 2012

Johnny Ringo said:
Omg! That's crazy Shelby. Can u post some side by side then and from your Pro win?

and maybe some recent "offseason" pictures would be interesting

Stupes · Oct 10, 2012

Wow - this counters Hernon's thread about guys getting their pro card. No one in the world would have looked at you in 1997 and thought you had a chance in hell of getting a pro card.

Quite a testimony to dedication and mind over matter. IMO

Shelby · Oct 10, 2012

how about some small ones.. haha...

Shelby · Oct 10, 2012

sma · Oct 10, 2012

is that recent^^^ great thickness

E.J. · Oct 10, 2012

Shelby, thanks for posting this. Goes to show what hard work, dedication and time can do.

moparfreak360 · Oct 10, 2012

Awesome! Very motivational shelby thank u

saps · Oct 10, 2012

See that's why Shelby is the people's champion, the people's pro. He just works hard, no crying or bitching about genetics. Sensible and level headed

Shelby · Oct 11, 2012

sma said:
is that recent^^^ great thickness

Yah, a couple days ago. Don't want to get much softer than this for the offseason... feel decent, having good workouts and slowly growing.

Lenny · Oct 11, 2012

Shelby, love seeing where we come from...beginning till now - you have done great on your journey. Just for shits and giggles, this is a pic of me when I was 15 years, I could run like the wind then...cross country, wrestling, and track...those were good days too! I had my fro going as well at that age, I rocked it:headbang:

Shelby · Oct 11, 2012

Lenny said:
Shelby, love seeing where we come from...beginning till now - you have done great on your journey. Just for shits and giggles, this is a pic of me when I was 15 years, I could run like the wind then...cross country, wrestling, and track...those were good days too! I had my fro going as well at that age, I rocked it:headbang:

I think we know who wins the genetics battle here, my friend

brutus69 · Oct 11, 2012

i like when the studs here post pics of themselves when they first started. i wish more of you guys would do this. it shows what hard work and dedication can achieve, and can motivate the young guns. especially the ones who think they have "bad genetics." even the puny kids like me can grow if they work at it.

flexdurden · Oct 11, 2012

Shelby...WOW! The result of consistency and perseverance can't be more apparent in your work ethic and what you have achieved.

Perhaps you posted this previously, but what sparked your interest in training and when did the switch go off that you wanted to compete?

Shelby · Oct 11, 2012

mentalflex said:
Shelby...WOW! The result of consistency and perseverance can't be more apparent in your work ethic and what you have achieved.

Perhaps you posted this previously, but what sparked your interest in training and when did the switch go off that you wanted to compete?

I was never into sports or anything like that growing up. I was more into art, reading, writing, that sort of thing. After high school I trainhopped, lived in a cabin without running water or electricity, stuff like that (think anarchist vagabond... haha).
Eventually got a "real job" and started exercising just for fun and got into the magazines (All Natural Muscular Development, at the time) and was amazed at the physiques and what one could accomplish with the human body. So I started pursuing it for myself.
It took me about 7 years before I did my first show though, I got sidetracked with other things (travelling, powerlifting, etc.).
I've always just done it as a personal challenge. Never expected or planned to be a pro.