Archives for August 2013

Simon Says…Lose 48 Pounds

Before we get into today’s post, the first order of business is the announcement of  our third and final contest for 2013,  Adonis Transformation contest AT12, which kicks off next Monday Sept 2nd and ends on Wednesday Nov 27th. 

As many of you in the U.S. are aware, Wednesday November 27  is the day before Thanksgiving.  It’s encouraged that you submit your final pictures earlier than the deadline but  nevertheless the full 12-week period will be available to those who need it.

You may enter any time starting next monday by using the tracker app found within the Adonis Index Community.  Remember  to enter your mandatory before pictures, along with all your starting measurements. The deadline  to submit your starting pictures and measurements is Friday September 6th at Midnight (Eastern Standard Time).

Now that all announcements are out of the way, it’s time to give credit, where credit is due… We often find ourselves wishing  we had more spots to award than just “The Top 10” in our transformation contests. 

Today’s post features AT11 contestant Simon Cozzolino, who lost a whopping total of 48 pounds during the contest! Simon putting forth an exceptional effort, had the most weight-loss amongst  AT11 contestants.   Although he did not appear in the Top 10,  make no mistake his transformation did not go unnoticed.

Check out Simon’s Before/After pics:

Simon Cozzolino-  AT11 Front Shot Starting Weight: 242 Finishing Weight: 194

Simon Cozzolino- AT11 Front Shot
Starting Weight: 242
Finishing Weight: 194
“Coming to the end, I now have a whole new wardrobe, friends,
family and colleagues are immensely impressed with my progress so far.” -Simon C.

 

Simon Cozzolino-  AT11 Back Shot Starting Weight: 242 Finishing Weight: 194

Simon Cozzolino- AT11 Back Shot
Starting Weight: 242
Finishing Weight: 194
“The Nutrition calculator was very simple, eat 1000 calories a day average- no problem I thought.
Wrong, this would soon become a major hurdle for me.” -Simon C.

 

Simon Cozzolino-  AT11 Side Shot Starting Weight: 242 Finishing Weight: 194

Simon Cozzolino- AT11 Side Shot
Starting Weight: 242
Finishing Weight: 194
“I couldn’t finish all of the reps at once, I even struggled to finish push-ups- but I stayed in the gym until every rep was done, every time.” -Simon C.

 

Simon Says…

Simon shares his thoughts and experience  about the AT11 contest:

Younger in life I was never this fat. I was into sports, very active and kept up my gym raining throughout my early twenties. However, it wasn’t until my late twenties that I started commuting to work for a better job.  Shortly thereafter, I was overcome with the balance of stress and time constraints and  I quit going to the gym.

After a couple of years passed my friends and family started telling me I was looking big, so I weighed myself and the numbers glaring back from the scale came as a major shock to me.  Nevertheless, I kept convincing myself I wasn’t really that  fat and that things were fine.

After shaking off those delusional thoughts, I needed a motivational boost, so  I bought the AGR system in 2010. I actually never started the program, it took me until 2013 at the beginning of  AT11  to actually take a step forward and  simply begin the program.

The Nutrition calculator was very simple, eat 1000 calories a day average- no problem I thought. Wrong, this would soon become a major hurdle for me.

The workout plans were really simple to follow, there were a few moves that I had no idea about, but the guide has links to short instructional videos which solved that problem.

The first 6 Weeks were a breeze, I lost the majority of my weight then- while the  workout plans was simple to follow, the actual workout itself was immensely tough because of my lack of recent training. I couldn’t finish all of the reps at once, I even struggled to finish push-ups- but I stayed in the gym until every rep was done, every time.

After 6 weeks the caloric deficit became harder to maintain while performing the exercises, so I dropped the amount of weights used and soldiered on- but it was HARD WORK.

Along the way, I missed my fair share of workouts and helped myself to some days off the diet. Those days off felt great!

Coming to the end, I now have a whole new wardrobe, friends, family and colleagues are immensely impressed with my progress so far- although I know I have a way to go to golden. I now look at my before pictures, and I could swear I was never that fat!  

 

Again congratulations to  Simon on an awesome transformation, we hope to see you in a future contest!

 yours in fitness,

Allen Elliott

 

Marrying the Numbers to Your Picture

In light of the recent AT11 Contest, I felt compelled to add the latest installment of  the  Golden Eye for the Adonis Guy series.

Today’s Topic: Marrying the Numbers to Your Picture

The AT11 contest entries  yet again challenged the beliefs of what was believed possible to achieve in a mere 12 weeks.  Nevertheless,  the contestants of AT11 provided some valuable feedback from their transformational journeys.   As you may recall from Monday’s post, contestants were judged in a total of five equally weighted categories:

1-  Final Adonis Golden Ratio (AGR) – 20%

2-  AGR  Transformation (Delta) Change -20%

3- Weight Loss (LBS) – 20%

4- Muscularity- 20%

5- Aesthetics/Photogenic Quality – 20%

Here is an example of charted numbers in each category:

TALE OF THE TAPE

Scoring Metric Applied in AT11 Contest

Scoring Metric Applied in AT11 Contest

The Scoring Metric above serves as a great benchmark tool for quantifying your overall transformation.  However, this is only part of the equation…

Although, you may be familiar with the phrase, “The Numbers Don’t Lie,” there is another quote that states, “Statistics are No Substitute for Judgment.”  In the AT11 Contest, the numbers told the truth for the majority of the contestants,  however as the last quote stated, mere facts alone were not a substitute for “Visual Assessment.”  How you present yourself on camera with both confidence and proper posing is critical to balancing the equation.

 

Marrying the Numbers to Your Picture

For the first time in tangible form we’ve now been able to identify both the “Science and  Art” of a transformational contest.  John Barban summed up our finding best by simply saying, “marry the numbers to your picture.”

Michael B. AT11 Results truly demonstrate how to marry the numbers to your physique!

Michael’s AT11 Results truly demonstrate how to marry the numbers to your picture!

In conclusion, your numbers are helpful metrics to keep you guided in a logical 12-week transformation process.  However, a “Visual Assessment” should marry to your numbers and help to root the emotions of how you actually look, with the logic of what your measurements are telling you.  Ways to improve upon your “Visual Assessment”  is to take progress pics and practice posing which in return build confidence.

Stay Tuned for Monday’s Post as we’ll be revealing  a “Special Awards” category to the AT11 Contest!

 

Yours in fitness,

Allen Elliott

 

Targets, Goals, and Missions

Here’s the next episode of the UNCENSORED Podcasts Season 3.

Today’s topic:  Targets, Goals, and Missions

Once you get to your goal, your new model is you.  It is your proximity to the target.  You have a range you like to stay in.

Once you achieve your goal, the new model is you. It is now your responsibility to maintain a close proximity to the target. Find a range you like to stay in that suits your lifestyle.

Maintenance is hard.  At some point you arrive at a point of diminishing returns.

You have arrived at your goal.  You reach a point where you look in the mirror and say “That’s my body and that’s me, and that’s pretty good.”

Before you got to your goal you may have had a picture of someone else, a role model or a fitness model.

But once you have arrived there, you have photographic evidence.  You have pictures, which now serve as a new point of reference.

You can’t have goals, targets, and missions for maintenance without undergoing a personal transformation first.

It’s also VERY important not to compare yourself to others, but it’s okay to have a model to help visualize your goal.

Once your goal is achieved, the new model becomes yourself.  You have entered the “Realm of Maintenance” and want to maintain close proximity to the target range of your ideal Adonis Golden Ratio measurements.

There will be times when you are not as tight, muscular, or sharp,  but you are able to reel yourself in; returning to the “Ideal” version of  YOU.

Tracking your measurements serve as a guide; keeping you on track as life comes at you.

Once you achieve the body you want, then the next goal is to work to keep it in a desired range that requires the least amount of effort on your part.

In the Fitness Model Industry we refer to it as walking around within “Striking Distance” of your “Peak Physique” typically one or two weeks out from being “Photo-Shoot” ready.

Once you decide on your target, goals, and mission, it’s  time to then set up your “inner circle” support group.  You need to include people who are going to help you stay on track and exclude those who would want to hinder you.

Set a goal date to help keep your team or inner circle on your side.  It can be an special event, a vacation, another photo shoot, whatever you want to keep you motivated.

 

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AT11 12-Week Transformation Winners Announced

The AT11 results are in and the transformations our guys made are simply amazing! This was the largest contest we’ve had yet… The competition was fierce and the contestants were judged in a total of five equally weighted categories:

1- Weight Loss (LBS) – 20%

2-  Adonis Golden Ratio (AGR)  Transformation Change -20%

3-  Final AGR Score- 20%

4- Muscularity- 20%

5- Aesthetics/Photogenic Quality – 20%

Congratulations to everyone who entered and completed their transformation goals! Here are the winners:

 Michael B. – 1st Place

Michael B. - 1st Place - Front Before/After Photos

Michael B. – 1st Place – Front Before/After Photos

 

Michael B. - 1st Place - Back Before/After Photos

Michael B. – 1st Place – Back Before/After Photos

 

Michael B. - 1st Place - Side Before/After Photos

Michael B. – 1st Place – Side Before/After Photos

 

 James Tonda – 2nd Place

James Tonda - 2nd Place - Front Before After

James Tonda – 2nd Place – Front Before/After Photos

 

James Tonda - 2nd Place -  Back Before/After Photos

James Tonda – 2nd Place – Back Before/After Photos

 

James Tonda - 2nd Place -  Side Before/After Photos

James Tonda – 2nd Place – Side Before/After Photos

 

 Lance Quenneville – 3rd Place

Lance Quenneville - 3rd Place - Front Before/After Photos

Lance Quenneville – 3rd Place – Front Before/After Photos

 

Lance Quenneville - 3rd Place - Back Before/After Photos

Lance Quenneville – 3rd Place – Back Before/After Photos

 

Lance Quenneville - 3rd Place - Side Before/After Photos

Lance Quenneville – 3rd Place – Side Before/After Photos

 

 Timothy Olson – 4th Place

Timothy Olson - 4th Place -  Front Before/After Photos

Timothy Olson – 4th Place – Front Before/After Photos

 

Timothy Olson - 4th Place -  Back Before/After Photos

Timothy Olson – 4th Place – Back Before/After Photos

 

Timothy Olson - 4th Place -  Side Before/After Photos

Timothy Olson – 4th Place – Side Before/After Photos

 

 Mark Kiser – 5th Place

Mark Kiser - 5th Place - Front Before/After Photos

Mark Kiser – 5th Place – Front Before/After Photos

 

Mark Kiser - 5th Place - Back Before/After Photos

Mark Kiser – 5th Place – Back Before/After Photos

 

Mark Kiser - 5th Place - Side Before/After Photos

Mark Kiser – 5th Place – Side Before/After Photos

 

 

William Heinrichs – 6th Place

William Heinrichs - 6th Place -  Front Before/After Photos

William Heinrichs – 6th Place – Front Before/After Photos

 

William Heinrichs - 6th Place -  Back Before/After Photos

William Heinrichs – 6th Place – Back Before/After Photos

 

William Heinrichs - 6th Place -  Side Before/After Photos

William Heinrichs – 6th Place – Side Before/After Photos

 

Daniel Carbonel – 7th Place

Daniel Carbonel - 7th Place - Front Before/After Photos

Daniel Carbonel – 7th Place – Front Before/After Photos

 

Daniel Carbonel - 7th Place - Back Before/After Photos

Daniel Carbonel – 7th Place – Back Before/After Photos

 

Daniel Carbonel - 7th Place - Side Before/After Photos

Daniel Carbonel – 7th Place – Side Before/After Photos

 

Jacob Hahn – 8th Place

Jacob Hahn -  8th Place -  Front Before/After Photos

Jacob Hahn – 8th Place – Front Before/After Photos

 

Jacob Hahn -  8th Place -  Back Before/After Photos

Jacob Hahn – 8th Place – Back Before/After Photos

 

Jacob Hahn -  8th Place -  Side Before/After Photos

Jacob Hahn – 8th Place – Side Before/After Photos

 

Henry Tom – 9th Place

Henry Tom -  9th Place - Front Before/After Photos

Henry Tom – 9th Place – Front Before/After Photos

 

Henry Tom -  9th Place - Back Before/After Photos

Henry Tom – 9th Place – Back Before/After Photos

 

Henry Tom -  9th Place - Side Before/After Photos

Henry Tom – 9th Place – Side Before/After Photos

 

Oscar Ramirez – 10th Place

Oscar Ramirez - 10th Place -  Front Before/After Photos

Oscar Ramirez – 10th Place – Front Before/After Photos

 

Oscar Ramirez - 10th Place -  Back Before/After Photos

Oscar Ramirez – 10th Place – Back Before/After Photos

 

 

Oscar Ramirez - 10th Place -  Side Before/After Photos

Oscar Ramirez – 10th Place – Side Before/After Photos

 

If you are wondering about what program(s) they used then check out the Adonis Index systems that all of them followed. You can also look forward to their interviews coming up later this month. Again congratulations to everyone, outstanding job.

Weight Loss Is Not An Industry

Here’s the next episode of the UNCENSORED Podcasts Season 3.

Today’s topic:  Weight Loss Is Not An Industry.

Is there really a tangible goal when it comes to weight loss?

Is there really a tangible goal when it comes to weight loss?

 

Is there really a  tangible goal when it comes to weight loss ?

After more than 100 years the  several approaches to weight loss have been  “Industrialized” into a wide variety of  products and services.

Here are a few for example:

Information-Based  Products/Services:

  • Clinics
  • Coaches
  • Personal trainers
  • Gyms
  • Forums
  • Books
  • Recipe books
  • E-books
  • Calorie counters
  • Blogs
  • Entertainment (weight loss shows and news)

Weight Loss Products:

  • Food
  • Gear
  • Clothing
  • Shoes
  • Equipment
  • Supplements
  • Pharmaceutical

If weight loss had a cure it would be the golden goose.  This is the crux of it all.  If weight loss could be solved with one paradigm or one fix, you would pay for it and you would get your money’s worth.

What drives people to over eat?  It is true to an extent that people are not as active now as in previous generations, but it’s only a factor.  People living prior to the Industrial Revolution were certainly more active all day long.

There is no comparison when it comes  to the one or two hours of high intensity work at the gym versus the laborious activities in manufacturing and agriculture performed all day long in previous generations.  As technology increases, we are slowly chipping away at our daily physically  activity levels. All of our daily chores are becoming automated.  Modern conveniences replace what would once require  hours upon hours of work.

We were built to move; the Information Age, strives for modernization and convenience so that will barely have to move at all.

There are hundreds of  driving forces behind why we eat too much (advertising, boredom, stress, etc.).

The bottom line is our appetite exceeds what we can eat for current activity level. Our metabolic rate is very low for our activity level. It does not feel wrong to eat 3000 calories in a day when our metabolic rate is under 2000.

We are designed for feast and famine. This is why we crave high caloric foods like sweets and fats.

We have gotten away from being able to feel when and how much we really need to eat. So the key would be to learn what just enough is, and sadly just enough is always going to be a little less than what you want.  When in doubt a little bit extra exercise is always a good idea, but not enough to burn you out.

You can’t get this answer from the “weight-loss industry”, in a pill, or in any of the “quick fix” answers.  One hundred years of industrial advances has not quite solved this.

If you want to know what it feels like to actually burn say 3000-4000 calories in a day try a form of exercise that takes at least three hours. That’s the sort of day where you might be able to eat ad lib or sort of unchecked.  Then as you are eating notice how quickly you can eat 3500 or so calories.

The bottom line is you will need to take steps to not become obese.  You will need to make an active effort from now on and for the rest of your life.

 

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Not an Adonis Index IMMERSION client? Click here to find out more… and hear a weird story too

 

TGIF: The Goal Is Frequency

Whether it be the closing of a busy week or your local restaurant hang out, TGIF is an acronym that many are familiar with.  However, for today’s post TGIF  stands for “The Goal Is Frequency.”   In the fitness context, frequency means how often a person exercises.  As AT11 comes to a close we will have the chance to interview some of the top contestants and inquire about their frequency of workouts during the contest.

iStock_000016525011XSmall

TGIF: The Goal Is Frequency

 

Successful transformations are often achieved by those individuals who determined the frequency of their workouts to be a significant key to their success.   Frequency also influences other characteristics and behaviors such as habit and momentum.  Habit is in direct correlation to frequency because the more times you step into the gym to workout that habit is strengthened and cultivated.  Someone who is in the habit of going to the gym regularly has a greater chance of developing momentum towards a worthwhile goal or deadline such as our transformation contests.

To give an example, how exciting would it be to go to a basketball game where there were no goals and the  only thing the players did was dribble and pass to one another?  Hardly worth watching and even possibly a waste of time.  The problem is there was nothing to shoot for… no GOAL!

In conclusion, to all  my brothers in Iron, I’d like to encourage both the beginners and the senior members to  remember TGIF: “The Goal is Frequency.”    Each time you step into the gym with an AGR workout you are armed with a game plan to achieve your “Golden” Physique, the ball is now in your court and it’s up to you to shoot  for the goal… Train Hard and Good Luck!

yours in fitness,

Allen Elliott| Adonis Golden Ratio Ambassador

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