“I get A LOT more attention from women. This didn’t happen to me before!”
How many months’ progress do your pictures represent? What were your stats for each picture?
18 months of progress. In the before picture I weighed 170 pounds. I was overweight/obese and my bodyfat must have been at 26%+. In the after picture, I weighed 135 pounds at 13% body fat. (I had cut and lean bulked.)
What has happened so far on the program?
Before Bigger Leaner Stronger I had never touched a barbell in the gym, so I started the big lifts from scratch. I began with a cut. This cut took 7 months. I lost 42 pounds. I went from my initial 170 pounds (overweight/obese) to 128 pounds and 11% body fat. Then I lean bulked for 7 months (reverse dieting in the process). This lean bulk took me to 142 pounds and 14.5% body fat (I gained 14 pounds).
In those first 14 months, my lifts went from 0 to 155-pound bench press, 205 pounds squat, 280-pound deadlift, and 105-pound military press (standing). For the following 4 months, I cut (without HIIT cardio) reaching the 12-to-13% body fat range at 135 pounds bodyweight (this is the after picture). I kept most of my lifts the same during this last cut.
What workout split from the book did you use?
5-day split. Now I enjoy lifting so much, I would never go down to a 4 or 3-day split unless absolutely necessary (medical reason of some sort).
What, if anything, almost kept you from buying the book or starting the program?
I didn’t think it would be hard. But it was easier than I thought it would be. By the time I got Bigger Leaner Stronger I was pretty convinced it would work. Mike does a very good job of explaining the science behind fitness. The testimonials and the large body of research that supported what Mike preaches gave me the assurance I needed to take the plunge. Besides, BLS is a cheap book. Especially if you consider how much you get out of it. It’s a steal.
What do you like most about the program?
The program works. For the first time, fitness feels like science: If you follow the process, you get results. Period. Also, following the program was easier than I expected. Results were better and faster than I anticipated. Two weeks in, I could already see a difference in the mirror.
How does this program compare with others you’ve tried?
This program is much more complete than anything else I’ve seen. Giving you everything you need in terms of food and exercise. If you want to lose fat and/or gain muscle, Mike has got you covered. It took me some time to get used to the compound lifts in the program since I had never done them before.
However, once you get the hang of them it becomes super-fun. Going to the gym is a fun activity I look forward to. Before Bigger Leaner Stronger, going to the gym felt like a chore. With other programs, I didn’t know what I was doing, and I didn’t get results. Mike explains what you have to do and WHY it works.
How has what you’ve achieved with your body changed other areas of your life?
For starters, I get A LOT more attention from women. Even when I’m going about my day, buying groceries or doing some errands, I often notice a person or two checking me out. This didn’t happen to me before (I’ve been overweight most of my life). This has made a huge difference in my dating life. For once, I’m the hot one. She’s the one who’s supposed to impress me. This isn’t being entitled or becoming arrogant.
The confidence you get from taking care of your meals and working out hard really does come across. You also start noticing when the other person isn’t putting as much work into their body as you are. I was very surprised with this change. I am enjoying it as a young man that I am. But I can only imagine how this kind of transformation can improve a woman’s romantic life (since men are perceived to be more visual).
Who would you recommend this program to and why?
Anyone and everyone who’s tired of feeling fat, ugly or ignored should take this program. You will get results. It’s guaranteed if you follow the program. People around you will be impressed with your rapid change. Moreover, the confidence (and the real, visible results) will improve other areas of your life, especially dating and relationships.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
This isn’t some B.S. gimmick. Mike shows you the SCIENCE of getting the body you want. Follow Bigger Leaner Stronger or Thinner Leaner Strongerand you WILL get results. It’s a process detailed from A to Z. All you have to do is follow it. There’s no guessing. So it’s up to you. 3 months from now you could still be where you are right now OR you could be a much more attractive version of yourself. Don’t wait, do it NOW.
Did you use any Legion supplements?
Yes. I used Triumph, Whey+ (several flavors), fat burners (Phoenix and Forge) and the pre-workout supplement (Pulse). I liked them, but my staples were the multivitamin Triumph and the Whey+ french vanilla tub (this tastes better than any other protein I’ve had. It’s creamy and delicious, you will get hooked!). The other Whey+ flavors were really good too. Peanut butter chocolate being another highlight.
Want to become a success story too? Here’s how he did it
The program that made this transformation possible:
The meal plan that makes building muscle and losing fat easy and enjoyable:
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Mike Matthews
Mike Matthews is the founder and CEO 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.
You can find Mike on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.
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