2.5 y in home arrest / life transformation

Height: 172 cm
Start Age: 23 (26now)
Starting weight: 48-49kg
Current weight: 78-80 kg
Time period: 2.5 years
(I am using only driada products.)

I’ll be honest with you guys: before this, I had no training background at all. Unfortunately, I was struggling with other types of addictions. Because of this, I was preparing myself for prison, so I decided to take a faster route and completely transform myself.
I went from 49 kg to 78 kg, with 4-month breaks in between.
This was the maximum I could get out of myself at home.

There are 2.5 years of work behind this (while under house arrest, with just a few dumbbells and a bench press, plus bodyweight training).

Obviously, due to being undernourished before, my transformation may appear more significant than it actually is. However, I think that since I didn’t have the proper equipment or knowledge from the beginning either, it’s possible that with a personal trainer and access to gym equipment (more weights), I could have achieved an even better physique.

I’d really like to hear your opinions. What do you think about the physique I’ve achieved, starting completely from zero with no prior knowledge?

I’m open to both positive and negative feedback. I know my access to equipment and resources is limited, but I’ve tried to make the most out of what I have available.

If you have any tips or advice for further progress, I’d really appreciate hearing them.

 

[Donvitosharkone]

Height: 172 cm
Start Age: 23 (26now)
Starting weight: 48-49kg
Current weight: 78-80 kg
Time period: 2.5 years
(I am using only driada products.)

I’ll be honest with you guys: before this, I had no training background at all. Unfortunately, I was struggling with other types of addictions. Because of this, I was preparing myself for prison, so I decided to take a faster route and completely transform myself.
I went from 49 kg to 78 kg, with 4-month breaks in between.
This was the maximum I could get out of myself at home.

There are 2.5 years of work behind this (while under house arrest, with just a few dumbbells and a bench press, plus bodyweight training).

Obviously, due to being undernourished before, my transformation may appear more significant than it actually is. However, I think that since I didn’t have the proper equipment or knowledge from the beginning either, it’s possible that with a personal trainer and access to gym equipment (more weights), I could have achieved an even better physique.

I’d really like to hear your opinions. What do you think about the physique I’ve achieved, starting completely from zero with no prior knowledge?

I’m open to both positive and negative feedback. I know my access to equipment and resources is limited, but I’ve tried to make the most out of what I have available.

If you have any tips or advice for further progress, I’d really appreciate hearing them.

Welcome to the contest, brother! And don’t worry, everyone’s welcome here.

Looking forward to following your journey. From 49 kg to almost 80 kg with the circumstances you described deserves respect.

Best of luck!

 

[hopistico]

Thank you for the support. Once I've served my sentence, I'll be back—this time training in a proper gym, working with a personal trainer, and hopefully achieving even better results.
If my journey can inspire anyone who's in a similar situation, has limited equipment, or is starting at a very low body weight, then that's all I could ask for. Keep pushing, guys. As you can see, nothing is impossible.

 

[Davy Tenebrae]

Height: 172 cm
Start Age: 23 (26now)
Starting weight: 48-49kg
Current weight: 78-80 kg
Time period: 2.5 years
(I am using only driada products.)

I’ll be honest with you guys: before this, I had no training background at all. Unfortunately, I was struggling with other types of addictions. Because of this, I was preparing myself for prison, so I decided to take a faster route and completely transform myself.
I went from 49 kg to 78 kg, with 4-month breaks in between.
This was the maximum I could get out of myself at home.

There are 2.5 years of work behind this (while under house arrest, with just a few dumbbells and a bench press, plus bodyweight training).

Obviously, due to being undernourished before, my transformation may appear more significant than it actually is. However, I think that since I didn’t have the proper equipment or knowledge from the beginning either, it’s possible that with a personal trainer and access to gym equipment (more weights), I could have achieved an even better physique.

I’d really like to hear your opinions. What do you think about the physique I’ve achieved, starting completely from zero with no prior knowledge?

I’m open to both positive and negative feedback. I know my access to equipment and resources is limited, but I’ve tried to make the most out of what I have available.

If you have any tips or advice for further progress, I’d really appreciate hearing them.

First off 49 kg to 80 kg at 172 cm is not “beginner stuff,” that’s a full structural rebuild. especially coming from addiction, undernourishment, and literal house arrest with dumbbells. that’s discipline under constraint. respect.

a lot of guys bulk 10 kg and call it a transformation. you added 30 kg over 2.5 years with breaks. even accounting for rebound weight and newbie gains, that’s serious work capacity and consistency.

the real win here isn’t just size it’s a body shift. you replaced one addiction with iron. that’s rare.

now the honest tips and suggestions:
-at 78–80 kg, your next leap won’t come from just “more time.” it’ll come from structure.
-progressive overload needs to be tracked tightly. reps, load, weekly volume. no guessing.
-prioritize back thickness, upper chest, and hamstrings if you want a more complete look. most home setups under-train those.
-if equipment is limited, manipulate tempo, pauses, and unilateral work to keep progressing.
-eat with intent. small surplus. don’t drift.

Also don’t underestimate what real gym access will do for you. machines + heavier compounds will expose weak links fast.
You proved you can grind. next phase is refinement.

 

[hopistico]

First off 49 kg to 80 kg at 172 cm is not “beginner stuff,” that’s a full structural rebuild. especially coming from addiction, undernourishment, and literal house arrest with dumbbells. that’s discipline under constraint. respect.

a lot of guys bulk 10 kg and call it a transformation. you added 30 kg over 2.5 years with breaks. even accounting for rebound weight and newbie gains, that’s serious work capacity and consistency.

the real win here isn’t just size it’s a body shift. you replaced one addiction with iron. that’s rare.

now the honest tips and suggestions:
-at 78–80 kg, your next leap won’t come from just “more time.” it’ll come from structure.
-progressive overload needs to be tracked tightly. reps, load, weekly volume. no guessing.
-prioritize back thickness, upper chest, and hamstrings if you want a more complete look. most home setups under-train those.
-if equipment is limited, manipulate tempo, pauses, and unilateral work to keep progressing.
-eat with intent. small surplus. don’t drift.

Also don’t underestimate what real gym access will do for you. machines + heavier compounds will expose weak links fast.
You proved you can grind. next phase is refinement.

Thanks a lot, I really appreciate you taking the time to write this. It means a lot.

You're right, the next step is structure and refinement. My goal now is to keep improving with the equipment I have at home, track everything more carefully, and bring up my weak points. I know there is still a lot of room for progress, and I'm looking forward to seeing what I can achieve in the next couple of years.

 

[Davy Tenebrae]

Thanks a lot, I really appreciate you taking the time to write this. It means a lot.

You're right, the next step is structure and refinement. My goal now is to keep improving with the equipment I have at home, track everything more carefully, and bring up my weak points. I know there is still a lot of room for progress, and I'm looking forward to seeing what I can achieve in the next couple of years.

Love the mindset, bro. You already proved that consistency beats perfect conditions, and that's something a lot of people never manage to do. Keep building on that foundation and don't rush the process.

Once you get access to a full gym, you'll unlock a whole new level of progress. Keep growing those muscles, keep us updated, and I can't wait to see your next transformation!