"This transformation has brought a great sense of confidence in myself."
Jose's Progress
Before
Before
Before
17 Months
17 Months
After
How many months’ progress do your pictures represent? What were your stats for each picture?
The before pictures were taken in December of 2017
Weight: 188 lbs
Body Fat: 19%
The after pictures were taken in May of 2019
Weight: 163 lbs
Body Fat: 12%
What has happened so far on the program?
I only recall cutting from the before and after pictures. I am planning on cutting down a little more for the summer and starting a reverse diet clean bulk in the fall. Excited for what is yet to come!
My bench press went from 145 (4 reps) to 215 (4 reps)
My deadlift from 225 (4 reps) to 355 (4 reps)
My squat went from 125 (4 reps) to 265 (4 reps)
My military press from 85 (4 reps) to 135 (4 reps)
What workout split from the book did you use?
5-day split.
What, if anything, almost kept you from buying the book or starting the program?
I will always recall my initial doubt of training in the 4-6 rep range for my lifts. I hesitated for a while and would cater more to the 7-8 rep range. After finally giving in, I noticed that I much rather enjoy working on the shorter rep range with relatively heavier weight to make each rep count.
My initial doubts when first reading Bigger Leaner Stronger was shying away from isolation type workouts. Of course, that all changed when I started seeing the results I wanted.
What do you like most about the program?
What I liked most about this program is that Mike made so that I understood why I was doing anything in the first place. The program was easy to follow because it gave me the freedom to customize the workouts to fit my needs.
My chest has always been lacking so for most of the program I designed it as an upper-body focus routine. The results were not fast but were better than expected and worth the wait.
How does this program compare with others you’ve tried?
I highly recommend that people understand how energy balance works and nutrition will never be confusing again. With Bigger Leaner Stronger, you will know how to eat to either lose weight or gain muscle.
Once the nutrition factor is understood, everything else comes together. Bigger Leaner Stronger provides that important information. This workout program has been the best in my opinion.
This is from a person that has tried most Beachbody workouts (P90X, Body Beast, Insanity) with little success. I love starting my strength training with compound lifts and it is something I recommend to all my friends.
As with all programs, it is important to track your lifts to progressively get better. You can do Bigger Leaner Stronger for years but if you are pushing the same weight all year round you won’t get anywhere.
How has what you’ve achieved with your body changed other areas of your life?
Ever since I was 16 years old, I wanted to be that guy that simply looked good shirtless. I think many of us have had similar experiences growing up. Now I am 26 and I am proud to have the body that I do. This transformation has brought a great sense of confidence in myself.
What I love now is that I can now embrace the journey and give it my all each day to gradually get that much better. I don’t care too much about appearances these days but I want to give it my all in all aspects of life.
Bigger Leaner Stronger has made my fitness journey that much easier and enjoyable. This means that I can be more productive in other areas of my life that I am trying to develop.
Who would you recommend this program to and why?
This book should be read by any fitness enthusiast at any point in their journey. This is the resource that I wished I had when I was younger, I would have saved myself so much time.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Mike is right, you can’t bullshit fitness. I have heard him say this countless times and it is true, you get what you put in. This doesn’t mean that it has to be hard. What worked best for me was implementing a system in which I created healthy habits that I implemented daily.
The little changes made for big results. At times, those changes won’t be visible but keep grinding and before you know it, you will look at the mirror and see that you are no longer that man/woman that first started the journey.
One last tip of advice, have mentors that can guide you. You don’t have to do this alone. Most of my mentors are authors but if you see someone that you respect and admire, don’t hesitate to talk to that person.
We are all in this world together and we were all once a beginner at something. Let’s continue helping each other out by sharing our wealth of knowledge.
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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In consideration of the services and/or products offered by Legion Athletics, Inc. (“Legion”) including, but not limited to, nutrition plans, exercise routines and coaching, and in addition to the payment of any fee or charge:
I knowingly and voluntarily enter into this waiver and release of liability and hereby waive any and all rights, claims or causes of action of any kind whatsoever arising out of my use of Legion’s services and/or products, and I hereby release and hold harmless Legion and its consultants, officers, contractors, agents, owners and employees from any and all responsibility, liability, cost and expenses, including for injuries, damages or disorders (physical, metabolic, or otherwise), resulting from my use of Legion’s services and/or products.
I understand that fitness activities including, but not limited to, strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular exercise, with or without the use of equipment, are potentially hazardous activities that involve a risk of injury and even death, and I am voluntarily participating in these activities and using equipment and machinery with knowledge of the risks involved. I hereby agree to assume and accept any and all risks of injury or death related to said fitness activities.
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This product doesn’t just “contain natural ingredients’’—every ingredient is naturally sourced from plants and animals. This product contains no artificial or synthetic substances of any kind.
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