"I'm much more confident of my appearance, I don't have to hide my body in baggy clothes anymore!"
Serdar's Progress
Before
15 Weeks
15 Weeks
How many months’ progress do your pictures represent? What were your stats for each picture?
These pictures represent 15 weeks of progress.
Before I started my transformation, I was 227 lb and 27.5% body fat.
At the end of 15 weeks, I ended up at 197 lb and 17% body fat.
What has happened so far on the program?
I cut for a total of 12 weeks and I lost 25 lb of fat and maintained my lean mass. I reverse dieted for 3 weeks and lost another 5 lb of fat.
During the 8 weeks of the Bigger Leaner Stronger program, my bench press 1RM went up from 160 lb to 200 lb. My squat 1RM went up from 250 lb to 300 lb. My deadlift 1RM went up from 300 lb to 360 lb. My military press 1RM went up from 125 lb to 150 lb.
What workout split from the book did you use?
I used the 5-day split.
What, if anything, almost kept you from buying the book or starting the program?
When I bought the Bigger Leaner Stronger audio book 2 years ago, I was ready to lose some weight and I actually read and listened to too many books in a small time frame. I had way too much information and I was confused as to what I should follow.
So, even though I listened to both Bigger Leaner Stronger and Beyond Bigger Leaner Stronger, I didn’t follow the program. 2 years later, though, when I was in search for answers again, I saw the books sitting there in my Audible library.
At first I thought, “I already listened to those books.” But I knew I never actually applied what I learned from those books and I had to give it another chance. I’m glad I did.
What do you like most about the program?
The thing I like most about the program is the flexibility. Most programs have a certain schedule that you must follow whether it fits your schedule or not.
Bigger Leaner Stronger is different. You can do 3 days a week, 4 days a week, or 5 days a week. The workouts are done within an hour, so it will fit almost anyone’s schedule.
How does this program compare with others you’ve tried?
The diet was not restrictive at all compared to others I have tried. I could never follow a diet program for more than a month because I had to restrict the foods I loved. With this program, I never had to restrict the types of food I ate.
I paid attention to my protein intake and total calories. As long as I stuck to those 2 numbers, I could have occasional treats which helped me stick to my diet.
Workouts were short, intense, and effective. I was getting stronger every week, and I could see the changes in the mirror. I was in and out of the gym in under an hour.
Other workouts I tried usually had me go from one machine to the next for over an hour. However, the Bigger Leaner Stronger workouts focus on heavy compound lifts which allowed me to workout multiple muscle groups in a short amount of time.
How has what you’ve achieved with your body changed other areas of your life?
The first difference I noticed about myself is my energy. I used to set 3 different alarms to get out of the bed in the morning. When I got home, I would make any and every excuse to not get off the couch.
Now, I wake up with energy, and get out of the bed with enthusiasm. I am much more productive at work, and when I’m home, I cook, I play with my dogs, and I am way more active.
Also, I am much more confident of my physical appearance. I don’t have to hide my body in baggy clothes.
Who would you recommend this program to and why?
I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to become a better version of themselves physically. No matter how old you are, how out of shape you are, or how busy you are, you will be able to follow this program, and it will change you.
Maybe you won’t win a bodybuilding competition or be on the cover of a fitness magazine, but you will become bigger, leaner, and stronger.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Research Management. I have been doing cancer research in the leading research institutes and hospitals in the US. For some reason, I never thought of looking at this weight loss thing in a scientific way, and I listened to a lot of “gurus” who couldn’t even spell science.
After listening to Mike’s books and podcasts, I decided to use my scientific knowledge and resources to learn more about nutrition and fitness (and start writing about it on my own site). After reading hundreds of research articles on these subjects, I can say everything in Mike’s books are as scientific as it gets.
You won’t find any bro-science or “one little trick that melts the fat off” in any of Mike’s books. As someone who tried pretty much all the popular diets, I can say with confidence that the information in Mike’s books are golden.
Did you use any Legion supplements?
I used Phoenix for 2 months and it helped me break through my fat loss plateaus. It didn’t give me the uncomfortable, jittery feeling other thermogenic supplements gave me.
I used Forge in combination with Pulse for my morning, fasted workouts. I normally couldn’t workout in the morning in fasted state. I would feel weak and I would get nauseous. When using Forge and Pulse I feel strong and I can finish my workouts with no issues.
I have been using Fortify for 2 months. Even though I didn’t feel any difference in the beginning, after the first month, I realized my knee issues were almost gone completely. I could never run or do cardio without knee pain, but now I have no issues with my knee.
I have been using Triumph and Triton for 2 months. I feel more energetic and positive during the day. They also help me recover from my intense workouts faster. I don’t feel sore or tired from my workouts anymore, and I am ready to workout again the next day.
