"Once you understand the program, all it takes is keeping with your macros and showing up to get the lifts done."
Alex's Progress
Before
19 Months
What has happened so far on the program?
19 months ago, I started Bigger Leaner Stronger and went from weighing 225 lbs at about 25% body fat to 180 lbs at about 10% body fat.
My first cut was around 4 months and I lost around 25 lbs, but was a little sloppy at first hence it taking so long. I maintained over the summer of 2015 and then did a bulk.
My body fat was becoming high before the summer of 2016 so I decided it was time for a cut.
On the second cut I ended up losing another 20 lbs, in which I’m sure I lost a bit of muscle, but at that point cutting the fat was the main goal. I then reversed dieted towards the end and am currently sitting at around 10-12% body fat on maintenance calories.
I really liked the idea of progressive overload and not doing a million reps, and being more efficient on the amount of reps needed to achieve that.
I tend to get bored by doing just running for cardio so the fact that HIIT was introduced into this plan and its benefits for muscle retention were a win-win for me.
I enjoyed how you only warm-up once per body part and it seemed to get you in the groove of going to lift heavy.
My bench maxed out at around 305 lbs for one rep, my deadlift was around 255 lbs (but couldn’t do more due to back issues), my squat was around 405 for one rep, and my military press got to around 205 for one rep.
I worked out using the 5 day split for the first year and then toned it down to a 3-4 day split because I felt like my arms were at the appropriate size while everything else catches up (chest and abs mainly).
What, if anything, almost kept you from buying the book or starting the program?
Nothing stopped me from buying the book. Once I read the reviews and the sample introduction on Amazon, it seemed like it was a legitimate product.
I actually found the book by searching for the strength training anatomy book and BLS came up in the results with high reviews.
Especially once I checked out the MFL website and saw how everything was linked to scientific research in the footnotes, I had no hesitation to buy it.
What do you like most about the program?
I liked it because it really got my nutrition on point, which was my biggest struggle. Also marking down my lifts and seeing them progress in strength was one of the most satisfying things that happened to me.
Once you understand the format of the program, all it takes is keeping with your macros and showing up to get the lifts done.
How does this program compare with others you’ve tried?
I tried a diet on bodybuilding.com but there was no rhyme or reason on why the diet was setup that way and didn’t make as much sense as restricting your caloric intake as described in your BLS book.
Also, the workouts contained a lot of super-sets and almost double the time in the gym. I felt over-trained and had no energy throughout the day with their workouts.
How has what you’ve achieved with your body changed other areas of your life?
I feel more confident in other areas of my life with other talents that I have such as my career, DJing music, going out to shows and dancing believe it or not.
I’m continuously learning about nutrition and evaluating my goals after each one is met. Using the correct supplements along with eating nutritious foods I’ve had much more energy and I definitely feel more productive throughout the week.
The program’s influence has become a domino effect and the transformation has influenced and inspired people from my friends and family to my co-workers as well.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I would recommend this to anyone who is trying to build muscle efficiently and obtain a healthier lifestyle. It is a great foundation to get started, especially within the first year, and then to build upon that. I have already recommended it to friends and family across the board.
Mike Matthews is the founder of Legion as well as the author of several award-winning fitness books, including Bigger Leaner Stronger, Muscle for Life, and The Shredded Chef.
His simple and science-based approach to building muscle, losing fat, and getting healthy has sold over a million books and helped thousands of people build their best bodies ever, and his work has been featured in many popular outlets including Esquire, Men’s Health, Elle, Women’s Health, Muscle & Strength, and more, as well as on FOX and ABC.
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Free Worldwide Shipping & Returns
Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!
Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you live in the UK or Canada, your order ships free when it’s over $99.
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Also, if you don’t absolutely love our stuff for whatever reason, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon.
We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.
That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.
Free Worldwide Shipping & Returns
Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!
Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you’re outside the USA, your order ships free when it’s over $199.
Why the restriction on international orders? Unfortunately, shipping abroad is very expensive, and if we didn’t require a minimum order size, we’d lose a lot of money. But! We're also hustling to improve our international logistics and will be passing our savings along to our international customers.
Also, if you don’t absolutely love our stuff for whatever reason, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon.
We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.
That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.
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