"I've lost 25 pounds and the results have been fantastic!"
AJ's Progress
Before
Before
Before
4 months
4 months
4 months
How many months’ progress do your pictures represent? What were your stats for each picture?
The before pictures were taken on February 6, 2017. I didn’t measure my body fat at the time, but the before pictures are a pretty good representation of what I looked like when I actually started the program in June.
I measured my body fat utilizing body fat calipers and I was approximately 220 pounds and had 18% body fat on June 11, 2017.
The after pictures were taken on the morning of October 17, 2017. I weighed approximately 195 pounds and had about 10% body fat.
What has happened so far on the program?
I cut from June 18, 2017 to October 17, 2017. I had about a 9 day break during my 16 week cut where I was out of town on business and really let loose (pizza, burgers, ice cream, and one very expensive, all-you-can-eat seafood buffet). Not counting my 9 day splurge, I’ve been on the program for 113 days.
On my journey, I started intermittent fasting about halfway through (16 hours fasting with an 8 hour eating window). I lost about 25 pounds and roughly 7-8% body fat. I did about 20 minutes of HIIT (sprints and stair climber) 3-4 times per week and heavy strength training 5 times per week.
I think I’ve done a decent job of preserving my strength. My all-time PR on bench is 400 pounds and today I feel like could put up a 1 rep max of about 375. I’ve lost a little strength but not much. I can put up about 150 pounds on the military press, about 350 pounds on squat, and at least 350 pounds on the deadlift using wrist straps.
What workout split from the book did you use?
Since I love working out, I did heavy lifting 5 days per week. On rest days, I usually did HIIT and an occasional lighter lifting session to work on my lagging body parts.
What, if anything, almost kept you from buying the book or starting the program?
I have a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology and have read a ton of books on fitness. I always had the working out part of the equation down but never had the discipline to really nail my nutrition.
I think the biggest challenge wasn’t whether to do the program or not, but deciding to focus on fat loss. Like a lot of guys, I was terrified of getting “small” or losing muscle. Once I decided to truly commit to to a cut though, I was all in.
What do you like most about the program?
Mike has put into writing everything I have come to know about fitness and body transformation. Bigger Leaner Stronger just clicked with me–it was straight, to the point, and lined up with my own experiences and research in fitness.
The results have been fantastic. I truly believe that you get out of fitness what you put into it. I did have my slip-ups during the program–I was on point with my eating plan about 80% of the time.
The main thing for me was that I stuck with it and continually moved forward. Bigger Leaner Stronger laid the course and groundwork for me to be able to do that.
How does this program compare with others you’ve tried?
I’ve tried a lot of programs. Bigger Leaner Stronger doesn’t make any unrealistic promises. Change takes consistency, discipline, and time.
Bigger Leaner Stronger is different in that it sets you up for a long-term and sustainable change.
How has what you’ve achieved with your body changed other areas of your life?
I’m a military member, seminary student working on a Master’s in Christian Education, father, husband, and part-time police officer. So I’m a pretty busy guy. I’ve always believed that being in the military–being a defender and soldier–meant that you have to work harder than everyone else, especially when it comes to fitness.
Every time I step foot in the gym I have to have a “warrior mentality.” I have to work harder than those around me because I’ve dedicated my life to defending them.
I did this program not only for me, my wife, and my children, but also to be an example to my fellow defenders and maybe help inspire them, too. As both a Christian and a soldier, I always want to “fight the good fight and run the race” (2 Timothy 4:7).
Who would you recommend this program to and why?
I’d recommend this program to anyone who is serious about making a life-long change because this program has all the tools to set you up for that type of success.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I’m just grateful to God for the many blessings He has given me and I look forward to continuing on with this journey. There were days when I didn’t want to get up at 4am to workout. I had to make my body work for me and discipline it.
I had to force it into submission and break through those mental barriers that we all face on a daily basis. You just have to get up, press on, and handle business. Don’t give yourself a choice; don’t have an escape route. You have to step into the arena and fight to make a change.
Did you use any Legion supplements?
I periodically used PULSE and FORGE and would definitely recommend both.
Want to become a success story too? Here's how he did it
The program that made this transformation possible:
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.
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.
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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