"I believe I am more confident, and I genuinely feel better."
Max's Progress
Before
3 Months
5 Months
8 Months
After
How many months’ progress do your pictures represent? What were your stats for each picture?
These pictures were eight months apart. In the first picture, I am 200 pounds and estimating about 17% body fat. In the second picture, I am 171 and about 8.5% body fat according to my scale.
What has happened so far on the program?
I was formerly an athlete, and I played baseball in college, so I was not new to working out. However, this type of lifting was something different. I also have done different diets, such as keto, and paleo, so I was not a stranger to weighing foods or tracking calories.
When I graduated college in 2019, I did not like the way I looked anymore. I was constantly searching for the right ways to lose weight, and someone who had proof of success, with fact-checked plans, easily understood data. Throughout my years of baseball, and training for that, I almost always learned that consistently hammering the basics is the only way for true success.
Mike made everything simple, and that is what drew me towards Bigger Leaner Stronger, and all of his information in general. I began to cut about two months after graduation. and cut for about four months. I reached about 174 pounds but felt like I did not have the muscle mass to look the way I wanted to at that weight, which was the lowest weight I can ever remember myself weighing.
During the first 2 months, I consistently gained strength, which eventually started to stagnate. I decided then I wanted to get strong, which became a bulk. I then bulked from October to February. Being young and invincible, I decided not to track, and just eat and lift heavy. This was a recipe for disaster, as I got really strong, but I also got up to about 18% bodyfat, extremely quickly.
I now have cut for about 10 months, slowly cutting, and am at my lowest weight ever, at 171 and about 8% body fat. I have lost 30 pounds, and about 10% body fat. During this time, it has been a fight to maintain the strength I had at the peak of my bulk, but I have had a decent time maintaining a fair amount of strength.
I have never been leaner in my life, I have never imagined I could look bigger and stronger with a shirt off at 170 pounds than I did at 200+. During this long cut, I have had my fair share of cheat meals, binges, and plateaus. The key was always continuing to push through it.
Remembering that if I had a cheat day, or binged out, that it was a minor setback, and that it was not a death sentence on my diet, was a key to being able to pull through some rough days. This lifestyle has been eye-opening and has increased my confidence in everyday life.
What workout split from the book did you use?
I did the 5-day split.
What, if anything, almost kept you from buying the book or starting the program?
Nothing at all. Bigger Leaner Stronger was cheap, easy to follow, and made sense. Additionally, there is so much unbelievable free information that Mike gives everyone access to, that most others would make you pay for. I can not say enough good things about this program and the wealth of knowledge available.
What do you like most about the program?
My favorite part of the program was how accessible Mike is, and how much information is available. If you have any issues, he is an email or a DM away. Additionally, I like how it was easy to begin to see results, and how they kept coming!
How does this program compare with others you’ve tried?
Flexible dieting is the best dieting I have ever done. I have done Keto and had success with weight loss; however, it was extremely limiting. It was also impossible to keep weight off and transition back to a normal diet. It felt like my body just reabsorbed every ounce of carbohydrate that I starved myself during the four months of dieting.
Additionally, I have never truly lifted like this. I have done different sport-specific programs, but this was my first time lifting consistently heavy. For me, it was fun to continually see strength gains.
How has what you’ve achieved with your body changed other areas of your life?
I believe I am more confident, and I genuinely feel better. I had a bad back for years, and for the first time, I can remember I have not had any issues.
Who would you recommend this program to and why?
I would recommend this program to anyone looking to get into health and fitness, gain knowledge, or learn how to lose weight.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Trust the process, be consistent, you will see results.
