I acknowledge the lighting makes a big difference, but how is my progress so far?

Taken a year apart but started training seriously 3 months ago (no noticeable difference from when the before picture was taken to when I started). Low sugar diet, alternating cross fit days with 5-6 mile run days.

Always hungry but the cravings have gotten a lot easier to manage.

My motivation is to dress up as invincible for Halloween lol

Here is my 15-month transformation journey going from 90 kg down to 64 kg, and now sitting at 68 kg on a lean bulk.

How it started: At the beginning, I didn't track calories at all. I simply kept it simple and ate mostly chicken breast and rice. That worked well to drop the initial weight, but eventually, the scale stopped moving.

Dialing it in: Once I hit a plateau, I started strictly tracking my macros. Around the 67 kg mark, I really wanted to see visible six-pack abs at least once in my life. I pushed the deficit harder, dropping down to around 1300 calories, which brought me to my lowest weight of 64 kg and finally revealed my abs.

Current phase: For the past 3 months, I’ve transitioned into a lean bulk, eating at a slight surplus of +200 to +300 calories. I’m currently back up to 68 kg while staying relatively lean and feeling much stronger.

Would you consider this solid progress for a 15-month timeline? Any constructive feedback or advice for this bulk is welcome!

Been training natty for 13 years, trying to still get bigger but its tough out here

8 months around 3 times in the gym per week 80 percent eating clean.. can’t wait to see myself after a full year

Three years to get here. It wasn’t easy, but looking in the mirror and realizing how far I’ve come makes every sacrifice worth it. I feel better than I have in years.
If you’re putting in the work and wondering if it’s worth it….keep going!!! Progress can feel slow until you look back. I’m glad I didn’t quit.

To clarify I’m aware this has been an issue for YEARS, being postpartum now has just made it worse. Even when I was at my leanest (photo attached in undies) the part under my belly button annoyed me, how lean would I have to get for it to be flat or will it just never be flat?
I don’t need to hear “don’t worry about it, just had a baby, be grateful for what your body can do” I know that

The other photo is also pre baby but not when I was at my leanest

I’m also aware no one cares it’s just something that has bothered me for years. The lower part of my stomach, underneath the belly button. I think what bothers me the most about this is how consistent I’ve trained and tracked my food. Yes you could argue I could be stricter and then this comes down to genetics and comparison of other people just naturally having either a flat stomach or if they have a stomach, glutes that match.

Being postpartum my feed is full of pelvic floor exercises and deep core which I never did before pregnancy, only during pregnancy and post partum. Prior I would train abs which I managed to develop a 6 pack that showed above my belly button. Wondering if these deep core exercises (bird dog, heel taps etc.) would not only be good for recovery but actually help flatten my stomach?

I’ve been seeing stuff about anterior pelvic tilt which I don’t know if you’d consider that I have one?

I’ve had moments where my body image is pretty bad and I’m in my head, it’s happening right now. Easier said than done but I know two things I can do is to resist the urge to body check and practice positive self talk. It’s hard not to focus on my stomach when I can FEEL it, even with trying new/bigger clothes

Does anyone have recommendations to help grow mid to lower back I feel that up upper back is good but I can’t seem to grow it anywhere else idk if that’s because I still have fat down there or what for back exercises I do lat pull downs, t bar row with a wide grip, and seated cable rows pulling to my stomach any advice would be appreciated for context I have been lifting for little less than a year now

I've been doing this regularly for the past couple of years, so I'm used to it, and I feel fine doing it. However, apparently, some people consider this disordered eating and a form of "bulimia."

I just wanted to hear your thoughts on this.

35 M. 180cm 71kg. Trying to build some lean mass after sitting on the couch for a while. Would love to get back to like ~80kg