Results may vary. Proper diet and exercise are necessary to achieve weight loss and muscle definition.
I’m thrilled to share a success story with you today. Dan is a busy professional from Toronto, Canada who was struggling to get in shape with an office job. He was in a yo-yo pattern; he would try to get fit, but would never get the results he wanted, then would slip back out of shape again.
With intense focus, he lost 16lb of fat and gained 10lb of muscle. While these results are certainly not typical, especially for the amount of muscle he gained while losing so much body fat, it shows impressive body transformations are possible with the right mindset and a solid plan to follow.
Check out his interview below for more detail on how he made this impressive transformation.
Background
Age: 31
Occupation: Human Resources Professional
Residence: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Why did you get out of shape? What happened?
I used to be in pretty good shape back in college because I went to the gym fairly regularly. I didn’t eat well but at least I worked out. After college I started working full-time and sat on my butt in front of a computer for eight hours a day. I also sat on my butt for another hour or more commuting to and from work. Then when I got home I’d sit on my butt in front of the TV or another computer for a few more hours. I started getting doughy and sluggish. After six to eight months I’d get annoyed with myself and hit the gym. The problem was I never really achieved the results I wanted, which discouraged me, and I’d eventually go back to doing nothing. I’ve yo-yoed back and forth like this for the last ten years, never really achieving the results I wanted.
What sparked you to make a change?
Over the years I kept thinking that one of these days I’d get into great shape and then maintain it for life. It never happened. Then a few months ago I came to the conclusion that I needed to either handle this once and for all or give up altogether. I’m not a quitter, so given those two choices I decided to go for it 100%.
How did you come across BuiltLean?
I realized that these last ten years I had been trying to get in shape without proper guidance. During that time I had read a few fitness books and talked to some guys at the gym but I ended up with conflicting info which confused me. Cardio was the answer. No it was bodyweight exercises. No no, lifting heavy weights is the key. Nutrition was rarely mentioned. So I came to the conclusion that I needed a better education on Health & Fitness.
As I was doing research online I stumbled across an interesting BuiltLean article (Marc Perry’s interview with Dr. Christopher Scott about the “afterburn” effect). Over the course of a week I continued to read articles on the BuiltLean website, getting a proper education on exercise and nutrition. I liked how all the articles had references to the source material, so I felt like I could trust the information. I downloaded the free “Get Lean Guide” and the pieces started falling together. After reading it I understood why I had never gotten the results I wanted. I was still skeptical that it would only take 8 weeks with 3 workouts per week to achieve amazing results. I then read through some of the success stories, and it was John’s success story of “Six Pack Abs at 50” that solidified my decision to buy into the program.
BuiltLean Program Review
What results did you get with the BuiltLean Program?
Here are my results:
Before: 161.4lbs, 21% bodyfat, 34.5 inch waist, 45 inch shoulders
After: 155.2lbs, 10.5% bodyfat, 31.5 inch waist, 46.7 inch shoulders
Change: 16lbs fat loss, 10lbs muscle gain, lost 3 inches on my waist and gained 1.7 inches on my shoulders
This was beyond all my expectations. I thought I would lose fat but never expected to gain muscle as well. It does say that it is possible to gain muscle on the program if you haven’t worked out before or if you haven’t been physically active in a while, but I never expected it. My pants are all too large for me now and I have to tighten my belts to last notch in order to keep them up. I need to wear “slim fit” shirts now too. I’ve lost weight overall but I actually look bigger and stronger.
How did the BuiltLean Program help you reach your goals?
The program gave me the blueprint, a step by step guide to achieving my goal. It addressed every aspect of physical transformation – education, motivation, workouts, nutrition. Everything was covered and with just the right amount of depth. The educational component alone demystified workouts and nutrition.
What did you like most about the Program?
Tough to say, I found every aspect of the program to be useful. Everything worked together. If I had to pick to pick just one thing though, I’d say the motivation section. Without it I don’t think I would have been able to follow through with the other components. It just sets you up to win.
One of the biggest challenges I faced was on the first day of the program. I had scheduled Monday, July 8, 2013 to be Day 1. I live in Toronto, Canada and on July 8 we just happened to have the heaviest rainfall in the city’s recorded history. It resulted in major flooding and blackouts throughout the city. I nearly drowned my car on the way home from work and the trip took 2.5 hours instead of 15 minutes. I was mentally and physically drained, but that didn’t stop me from going to the gym.
I made it in there around 8:30pm with just over an hour left before closing. The roof at the gym was leaking and the place was mostly deserted except for a few people who I assumed were the “hardcore” folks. I finished my first workout and felt rejuvenated.
If I hadn’t gone through the motivation section of the program I wouldn’t have gone to the gym that night and likely the program would have been over before it started for me.
What are the workouts like?
They are short and intense. They’re never boring. No time is wasted. I’m in and out of the gym within an hour.
Can you elaborate on how your eating habits changed?
There’s been a total change in my eating habits. I’m eating consciously now. I know what I’m putting in my body and why I’m doing it. I eat to support my fitness goals. I eat 5-6 small meals a day. Whenever I’m at a restaurant I customize the meal. I plan my meals ahead of time for the next week and buy groceries accordingly so I don’t have to think about it during the week. Before starting the program, I never tracked how much food I was eating, or the quality of the food I was eating.
What have your friends thought after seeing your results?
My friends are very impressed and I get congratulated often. My girlfriend is thrilled with my results. She’s blown away by how quickly I was able to make such a massive change.
What would you tell someone who’s on the fence considering the BuiltLean Program?
Get it now! It’s the best decision you can make to improve your health and fitness. I know it seems unbelievable that it only takes 8 weeks with 3 workouts per week to achieve amazing results, but I’ve done it and so have a ton of other people. Just look at all the other success stories on the BuiltLean site.
Congratulations on your transformation Dan! The muscle gain in that short time is quite remarkable. Great job! I agree the motivation section of the program is quite helpful. It obviously helped you with great results!
Thanks! Yes, I really didn’t expect to gain muscle on the program. I have to attribute it to a combination of having been sedentary for 6+ months, eating properly with enough protein intake and the progressive overload nature of the BuiltLean exercise component.
Congrats! That is a huge transformation!
I have to say that the results of people who have been using this program are nothing short of awesome. They are not the typical fluff-filled stuff you typically see.
I understand that every program requires that you commit and stick with it, but there seem to be a lot of people who actually follow this program through.
At any rate, well done Dan. Your results are awesome!
Jeff