The Proof Is In The Details: Interview w/ AT-14 Winner Brad V. [BradnMI]

Here’s your essay interview with 9th place winner  Brad V. from the 14th Adonis Golden Ratio Transformation Contest.

 

Brad V.

Brad V. 9th Place AT14 –  Front Before/After Photos

Brad’s Transformation Interview:

 

 1.  What workout or nutrition routine did you do before Adonis Golden Ratio (AGR) System? What kind of results did you get?

For most of my adult life, the sources for most of my workouts were what I obtained from various fitness magazines and/or purchase of a few exercise books over the years.  I had OK success with adding strength but no success in obtaining a well-developed physique since I generally got tired of the routine and lost interest over time.

I had pretty good luck with Tom Venuto’s Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle around 2003-2004, but the real progress only happened when I was tracking my calorie intake.  However, since this was before on-line sites were available I had to use look-up calorie tables and spreadsheets, which eventually got kind of old.  I don’t recall the workout routine I was using at the time.  I was able to effectively lose weight and some fat but not to the point where I had visible abs.  I eventually got tired of the routine nature of the workout programs and lost interest so I never had success in obtaining a well-developed physique. The muscle I did develop was still covered by a layer of fat.

During the summer of 2009 after looking at vacation photos from July 2009 (see attached example), I decided to make a change and vowed to get in shape.  At that point in my life I was 55 years old, approximately 6 ft. tall and I weighed 226 pounds.  I consider this photo from July 2009 my before photo for my pre-AGR/ESE transformation.

Adonis Origins: Brad V. circa 2009

Adonis Origins: Brad V. circa 2009

So in August of 2009 I began the process of calorie restricted dieting and exercising.

At that time I had purchased Craig Ballentyne’s Turbulence Training programs and I began using these to complete my workouts at home; these were primarily a combination of body weight and dumbbell exercises.  My equipment consisted of a couple of sets of adjustable dumbbells, an incline bench, some resistance bands, and an exercise ball.  Through the fall of 2009, using TT workouts and regular dieting, I lost approximately 10 pounds.

2.  How did you find out about AGR?

I was introduced to Eat Stop Eat through the Turbulence Training website/interview that Craig had with Brad Pilon. I bought ESE (second edition) in October 2009, but I didn’t complete my first fast until November 9th,2009.  The first fast went well and I was hooked by how simple it was to “diet”.  By April of 2010 I had lost a total of approximately 50 pounds using ESE along with continued use of various TT programs.  I “enrolled” in ESE-University in January 2010, which I think may have been the first ESE-University, and I was “introduced” to John Barban and the AGR programs through that.

I purchased my first AGR program and signed up as a member of the forums (as an observer/reader, not a participant) in May 2010. However, that summer things got pretty busy (my father passed away) and my exercise habits really slipped, although I continued to fast at least a couple of times a week.  By the end of July I stopped exercising regularly and totally lost any type of an exercise routine.  As I mentioned in my AT-14 essay and discussed in answer #5 below, it really wasn’t until August of 2013 that I decided to fully commit to a transformation change.

3.  What was most appealing to you about AGR?

I’m a scientist (master’s degree in environmental health/toxicology), so I like, and really appreciate, the research based presentations / information that John and Brad present in the uncensored podcasts.  I’m a detail oriented person so the more scientific/research based information in the podcasts the better.

I like the variety and choices in the workout programs that are available in AGR.  I also appreciate the amount of information I’ve obtained from the uncensored podcasts and the forum.

I’m hooked on ESE (almost all of my fasts are dinner to dinner so it never interfered with family meals), and I love how I feel during and after a fast.  I rarely get colds or sick; I love not having to worry about dieting or thinking about eating breakfast/making a lunch to take to work.  In addition to the relatively painless process of eating less via fasting, I am fascinated by the beneficial health effects gained as a result of fasting, especially autophagy, and increased growth hormone & insulin sensitivity.  I have personally enjoyed seeing  (by charting/graphing) the tremendous improvement in my blood lipid results since I started ESE.

Brad V. 9th Place AT14 -  Back Before/After Photos

Brad V. 9th Place AT14 – Front Before/After Photos

 

4.  Were there any concepts or approaches you were skeptical about?

For my entire life I have had to “watch what I eat” . . . starting from the time I was a chubby kid.  So this spring when my waist measurements finally reached / dropped below golden and the nutrition calculator bumped up my calories above maintenance, I had a really hard time believing that I could start eating more and not gain weight/fat.  As a newly minted lean person this has been the hardest concept to accept. Trusting and following the nutrition calculator guidelines really took some getting used to.

5. When did you decide to jump on board full fledge with AGR?

As I mentioned previously, I have been hooked on fasting instead of traditional dieting since I first tried it.  However, as I mentioned in my essay, it wasn’t until I listened Brad’s 7-week experiment podcast last July/August that I decided I was going to work to reach golden in in 6 months by the time I turned 60. I generally listen to one or more of the uncensored podcasts while I’m working out, and it seems like I get something I can relate to out of every single podcast.  They are a great resource.

6.  When did you first decide to enter an Adonis Transformation (AT) contest?

I entered a couple of earlier contests but didn’t finish for one or more reasons.  During AT-13, when I started tracking my calories and macronutrients using MyFitnessPal, I found that I made really good progress.  And while I did technically finish AT-13, I wasn’t satisfied with how I looked in my photos so I didn’t submit them.

Brad V. 9th Place AT14 -  Back Before/After Photos

Brad V. 9th Place AT14 – Back Before/After Photos

7.  What was your experience going through the AT contest? Challenges that came up? Things you didn’t expect? 

I learned that the most important thing was I have to be consistent both with monitoring my calories and workouts. Since February 6th I have not missed a day of tracking my calories on MyFitnessPal and I have been kind of fanatical about working out at least 5 days a week throughout this period.  I have gotten to the point where I feel like I’m missing something if I take more than two days off in a row from a good workout.

Keeping track of calories and macronutrients on a daily basis throughout this process is a huge part of the progress I made.  By doing this each day, I have a good handle on my maintenance calories at this level of exercise.  Plus MyFitnessPal provides some pretty cool report options, for example I’ve printed example reports for April to July on one of the attachments documenting some of the records I kept.

Challenges – working through family and life changes associated with separation/divorce.

Regarding things I didn’t expect, I have to say probably the biggest thing was how cool it was to see the progress / results of my DEXA scans as a results of following the AGR nutritional and workout programs; see the actual evidence of losing fat and gaining lean mass because of the hard work and effort.

DEXA results Oct 2013 to July 31 2014 (2)-page-001-shrink

Click for Full Screen View – Summary of DEXA results Oct 2013 to July 31 2014

8.  How did people react to your transformation? Positives and negatives (if any). 

I have gotten mostly positive responses, although during earlier stages of my transformation I got a number of comments about being too thin and my family was often asked whether I was sick or had cancer.

Brad V.'s AGR Transformation

Brad V.’s AGR Transformation

9.  How do you react to the “Brand New” you? Have you noticed changes in your outlook and attitude in general?

I look and feel much younger than my actual age; I have more energy and even when people around me have or get a cold or some other illness, I rarely get sick so I know the new me is lots healthier.

I’m enjoying my new look but I am still adjusting to being so lean and having a six-pack for the first time in my life.  Seeing the muscle definition in my arms/shoulders is a real kick.

Thanks again for all the great resources and program information.

Editor’s Note:

Hey Brad,

Job well done!   Thank you for your willingness to change your habits by monitoring you calories and developing a routine of incorporating daily fasts into your lifestyle.  

It was interesting to learn  how you stumbled upon AGR via Brad Pilon and Craig Ballentyne’s programs.  I’ve done both Brad’s Anabolic Again and one of Craig’s Crazy 8’s body weight cardio circuits.  They were no joke! LOL

 Nevertheless, I hope that the DEXA information you shared during your transformation journey will help further people’s visual  conception of how the proof really is in the details!  

Keep up the great work and I look forward to seeing your posts in the community.

your brother in Iron,

What happens internally and externally when you diet? Uncensored Podcast

Get ready for a lot of change in your life ahead.

Get ready for a lot of change in your life ahead.

 

Do you want to know what happens in your life once you start dieting? There is a lot more going on than just eating less and losing fat.

Not only does it change your awareness of what you eat, but it changes your awareness of what others eat.

It improves your health and it will change your relationships in almost every aspect in your life.

 

  • What is a true caloric deficit?
  • At what point does your body use body fat for energy?
  • Why do we need to make different food choices when we diet?
  • What happens to awareness of cause and effect of what food does to the body?
  • What is your intent of dieting?
  • What actually happens when you actively intervene with diet?

 

Listen to what John and Brad have to say about this topic:

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Formerly Hi-Jacked by H.I.I.T. – Now Golden-Ripped! : Interview w/ AT-15 Winner Elijah Smith [ezs777]

Here’s your latest essay interview with 7th place winner  Elijah Smith  from the 15th Adonis Golden Ratio Transformation Contest.

Elijah Smith 7th Place AT15 - Front Before/After Photos

Elijah Smith 7th Place AT15 – Front Before/After Photos

Elijah’s Transformation Interview:

1- What workout or nutrition routine did you do before Adonis Golden Ratio (AGR) System? What kind of results did you get?

Before doing AGR, my prior workout routine was HIIT-based; I had bought into the notion that high-intensity circuits were best for both building muscle and losing fat; and since the workouts were shorter, I thought that would give me the best of both worlds: less time and better results. As far as my nutrition routine, I mostly just ate when I wanted to, and didn’t pay any attention to calories or protein at all. The results I ending up getting from that approach were two-fold: increased frustration from being unable to stick with the workouts, and fifty pounds of excess body fat from the unlimited calorie intake.

 2- How did you find out about AGR?

I first found out about AGR somewhere around 2010, shortly after I had purchased the latest version of Eat Stop Eat. I was watching some videos about Eat Stop Eat on YouTube, when I came across a video of John Barban and Brad Pilon talking about their new workout program for men. At first, I thought it was a scam; the idea of building the “perfect” body seemed too good to be true. However, after watching the whole video, reading some reviews, and skimming the sales page, I decided to take the plunge and purchased the AGR program. I figured, “What do I have to lose? There is a money back guarantee.” When I finished reading the Main Manual, I realized that this concept of a perfect body wasn’t totally made up, and that it was, in fact, based on a large compendium of research and data.

3- What was most appealing to you about AGR?

There were two things that appealed to me most about AGR: that I didn’t have to do any HIIT style workouts, and that I didn’t have to follow any complicated dietary guidelines.

The first workouts I ever did were basic weight-training workouts; we had a class called “Fit for Life” in high school, and it was mandatory. In that class, we learned how to lift weights properly, and were then given a workout plan for every week of the semester. The thing is, those kinds of workouts were doable for me; I enjoyed them, and I made a lot of progress (I both built muscle and increased strength). In retrospect, I realize that my goals became hijacked a short time later, and I began to believe that HIIT-style training was better, even though I didn’t enjoy it very much (part of this was due to the fact that it was shortly after this that I got involved in martial arts, and I wanted to improve my work capacity so that I could spar and train longer).

I really liked the fact that AGR didn’t have a “bad foods” list, nor did it have a pre-planned menu, nor was I required to measure and weigh every gram of food, nor eat at a specific time(s) of day, nor have a specific ratio of macronutrients. One of the reasons it had been so hard for me to lose weight in the past, was that I felt I had to restrict the types of food I was eating (i.e., most of the foods that I actually liked to eat); the fact that I can eat whatever and whenever I want (keeping calories in mind, of course) made this diet so much more sustainable.

Elijah Smith 7th Place AT15 - Front Before/After Photos

Elijah Smith 7th Place AT15 – Side Before/After Photos

4- Were there any concepts or approaches you were skeptical about?

I was initially skeptical that there was such a thing as a “perfect body,” or that having one could bring all of the benefits mentioned in “The Theory of Ideal Body Proportions.” I was also skeptical about weight loss being so simple; I thought, “Surely, there has to be more to this than just eating less.”

5- When did you decide to jump on board full fledge with AGR?

I decided to jump on board full-fledge with AGR in 2013, after trying a number of other diet approaches, and seeing no noticeable results. It was then that I decided I would ride this train as far as I could, and I began the yearlong process that would culminate in where I am today. I wanted to make sure that I didn’t repeat the mistakes I made in the past, where I tried to do too much and lose the weight too fast (only to rebound later). This time, I took the tortoise approach: slow and steady, and it definitely paid off in ways greater than I ever imagined.

6- When did you first decide to enter an Adonis Transformation (AT) contest?

I have attempted to enter so many contests in the past few years, I’ve lost count; however, the earliest contest I remember entering was AT-10.

Elijah Smith 7th Place AT15 - Back Before/After Photos

Elijah Smith 7th Place AT15 – Back Before/After Photos

7- What was your experience going through the AT contest? Challenges that came up? Things you didn’t expect?

My experience going through the AT-15 contest was filled with a plethora of different emotions: fear, excitement, astonishment (at times), uncertainty, regret, and pride. There were two major challenges that came up: perfectionism and my mother. There were days when I ate double the calories that I was planning to eat, and I felt the temptation to just give up, because all was clearly lost. I had to constantly remind myself of the 80/20 principle: that staying on track 80% of the time will get me to my goals; I didn’t have to be perfect.

Another big challenge for me was the negative feedback that I received from my mother; she would constantly express concerns that I was losing too much weight, that I looked emaciated, and she even expressed concerns that I was anorexic/bulimic, despite the fact that I ate a lot, and told her that I like food (perhaps too much, which was why I had the excess fat I did in the first place). Learning to ignore her criticisms was perhaps the biggest challenge that I faced all along the way. I had to come to the realization that I was doing this for me, and no one else. Since no one else has to live my life, it doesn’t make any sense to let someone else chose what’s best for me.

In going through a transformation, I have realized the important role that environment plays in your success; if there are a lot of stressors around you, weight loss can become next to impossible. However, by either mastering or removing yourself from a stressful environment, your ability to stay on track increases exponentially.

One thing that I didn’t expect was the weight loss to be so consistent; it was like magic: I ate less, and I lost weight. Every time I stepped on the scale, I somehow expected to gain weight (even though, at the beginning, I was eating about 1,200kcal per day). I think that all of the misinformation in the diet/fitness media has tricked a lot of us into thinking that weight loss is a magical process that cannot be explained, except by an esoteric lot known as “fitness gurus.”

8- How did people react to your transformation? Positives and negatives (if any).

Most of the people I knew reacted positively. It was very encouraging when people would ask me if I’d lost weight, even though I had never mentioned to anyone that I was in the process of reshaping my body (a la covert nutrition); that’s how I knew that I was doing something right. As I mentioned before, the one person that reacted negatively was my mother.

I have also noticed that I seem to get more positive attention than I did before, both from total strangers and people that I have known for a while. Sometimes I wonder how much of this is from my increased confidence at the fact that I feel good about my own body, and how much is from the “Adonis Effect,” relative to the increase in my AI.

Elijah Smith 7th Place AT15 - Adonis Origins: Before Photo from 5-14-13

Elijah Smith 7th Place AT15 – Adonis Origins: Before Photo from 5-14-13

9- How do you react to the “Brand New” you? Have you noticed changes in your outlook and attitude in general.

To be honest, I’m still surprised when I look in the mirror. I often ask myself, “Is that really me?” It’s as if I imagine that I’m going to look in a mirror one day and magically be 50 pounds overweight again. Other than the regular reminders that this is, in fact, the real me, I am very happy with my results, and they are what motivate me to keep working hard so that I can push even further to achieve true golden.

I have noticed some profound changes in my outlook and attitude; I find that now I am much more passionate about life, about doing everything that I can to make it the best that it can be. I also find that I am able to better exercise self-control in other areas of my life, areas where I have also previously struggled (e.g., finances, delayed gratification in general).

Editor’s Note:

 

Hey Elijah,

Congrats on your transformation.  I could really relate to your interview as I to was goal hi-jacked in a similar fashion.  Before AGR, I was big into running 5K’s and I thought HIIT training was the way to go to get the results I wanted, fat loss wise.  What I soon discovered was that I didn’t enjoy the workouts and it actually hindered my progress to “Golden.”

 Major kudo’s to you as well for surviving criticism from your mom. I know it must’ve been hard at times as she didn’t understand your fitness goals. It sounds like she was a strong influence and I’m sure she meant well.  At the end of it all congrats on making it to the other side and I hope that the “Adonis Effect’ continues to work in your favor on your journey of the Adonis Lifestyle.

your brother in Iron,

 

Why are we so fascinated with EXTREMES? Uncensored Podcast

Why-are-we-fascinated-by-climbing-the-edge

Why are we fascinated by pushing ourselves to extremes?

 

What causes fat loss plateaus?

What causes us to not to achieve our goals?

What is survivor bias?

How does survivor bias apply to power lifting?

How does this apply to diet?

What do we see and not see on results of diets and workout programs?

How does this effect our mindset?

Why are we as humans fascinated by pushing ourselves to our extremes?

What about the psychology behind why we like to watch the struggle for survival?

Could it be why we choose a diet we struggle with?

What is image illusion?

What is goal hijacking?

How does goal hijacking, image illusion, and survivor bias all tie together to stop you from achieving your fitness goals?

 

Listen to what John and Brad have to say about this topic:

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How much do adults weigh? Uncensored Podcast

 

how much do adults weigh, john barban, allen elliott, adonis golden ratio

How much do adults weigh throughout their life?

How much do you weigh?

How much should you weigh as an adult?

What about the set point theory?

Do you gain weight as an adult?

How about emotions an life events?

What’s different when you are younger compared to an adult?

What do you do in major life events?

Are we addicted to carbs?

Are we addicted to food?

What happens with stress in your life?

What is socially accepted for self medication?

What really happens to most adults with weight over time?

How about when you are comfortable with no stress?

What happens when your fitness is not is a priority?

 

Listen to what John and Brad have to say about this topic:

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Unstoppable Confidence & The New “Me”: Interview w/ AT-14 Winner Adam G. [driftbouncer]

Here’s your latest essay interview with 3rd place winner  Adam G. from the 14th Adonis Golden Ratio Transformation Contest.

Adam G. 3rd Place AT14 - Front Before/After Photos

Adam G. 3rd Place AT14 – Front Before/After Photos

 

Adam’s Transformation Interview:

1- What workout or nutrition routine did you do before Adonis Golden Ratio (AGR) System? What kind of results did you get?

Before finding the AGR system I really didn’t follow any nutrition plan. I simply tried to eat foods that were healthy and limit those that were not. Over time this strategy did not work as I continued to slowly put on fat. As far as workout routines are concerned I followed many different ones over the years with minimal results. The real problem was not necessarily the routines themselves rather it was the fact that I never gave any one routine 100% dedication. I either did not follow the routine long enough or tried combining several routines into one.

 

Side BnA

Adam G. 3rd Place AT14 – Side Before/After Photos

 2- How did you find out about AGR?

I found out about AGR from a fellow named Kyle Leon. I had been following his work out and nutrition routine ( very loosely might I add) and it was a good routine just not for me. Kyle sent an email out with a link to AGR and the rest is history.

3- What was most appealing to you about AGR?

The most appealing thing to me about AGR was it’s simplicity. Food wise you could eat most things you want within reason as long as I stayed withing my weekly caloric needs. As well all the workouts are laid out for you focusing on the areas that really mattered to me to get the body I desire.

Adam G. 3rd Place AT14 - Back Before/After Photos

Adam G. 3rd Place AT14 – Back Before/After Photos

4- Were there any concepts or approaches you were skeptical about?

I think in the beginning I was a little skeptical about the idea of not bulking up first in order to put on muscle. I was of the mindset that what I weighed was really important and had some reservations about losing a lot of weight fearing I would lose muscle as well. In the end this was not the case and I have learned weight is only a number, what I look like is really what matters.

Adam G. 3rd Place AT14 - Transformation Image

Adam G. 3rd Place AT14 – Transformation Image

5- When did you decide to jump on board full fledge with AGR?

When I discovered AGR I spent a lot of time reading everything I could about the system and the people behind it. The more I read the more interested I got. The philosophy behind the nutrition and workout plans just really appealed to me. The AGR system just made sense. It focuses on the body parts that matter in order to achieve the body I desire and the nutrition plan allowed me not you give up the foods I love. For me it felt like a recipe for success.

6- When did you first decide to enter an Adonis Transformation (AT) contest?

This was not the first time I entered an AGR contest, I believe this was my fourth try. But this is the first time I actually submitted my after photos. All the other times I pretty much talked myself out of submitting the photos. I told myself that I was not good enough and it was not worth sending in the after pictures. Those other times I looked much the same as in these after photos the only difference this time was was my mental approach to the situation. Even though I am still not happy with my after photos (I am truly my biggest critic) I said what the hell, what do I really have to lose? Now after the fact I am so happy I followed through and sent in the photos.

 

Adam G. 3rd Place AT14 - Transformation Image

Adam G. 3rd Place AT14 – Transformation Image

7- What was your experience going through the AT contest? Challenges that came up? Things you didn’t expect?

My experience going through the AGR contest was generally a good one. The hardest part for me by far was how light I was getting. Even though I was looking better and better in the mirror I felt like I was pushing to hard and could be losing muscle mass. In the end I realized  I was still as strong as ever (perhaps a little stronger) and that weight is just a number. I have never felt better.

Adam G. 3rd Place AT14 - Transformation Image

Adam G. 3rd Place AT14 – Transformation Image

8- How did people react to your transformation? Positives and negatives (if any).

Family and friends by far are the harshest critics. Many family members have told me that I look sick and need to put weight back on. Even my wife thinks I am to thin and would like me to put more weight on. Let me tell you, when the people closest to you are all telling you over and over how bad you look it was tough at times not to give in and just quit what I was doing. But I was not about to give up and used the negative comments as fuel to keep going because as far as I was concerned I looked and felt great. I also realized these comments were not meant to be hurtful my family and friends were just not used to the new me. As soon as I looked different than people around me were used to they thought I did not look right. On the other hand anyone who does not know me would not think I look sick at all. I know it will take time for those around me to adjust but I can assure them that I am healthy and feel great.

Adam G. 3rd Place AT14 - Transformation Image

Adam G. 3rd Place AT14 – Transformation Image

9- How do you react to the “Brand New” you? Have you noticed changes in your outlook and attitude in general.

I like the new “me” very much. I still have a little fat to lose and some muscle to gain before my physique is golden but I know I will get there. Over all I feel great and my confidence is higher than ever. I may not be the biggest guy around but when the shirt comes off I think I look pretty good. Also completing the competition and placing third is a huge boost to my confidence and helps justify to myself all the hard work I have put in and that there are others out there that think I look good too.

Adam G. 3rd Place AT14 - Transformation Image

Adam G. 3rd Place AT14 – Transformation Image

 

Editor’s Note:

Hey Adam,

Congratulations on your transformation to a brand new “you”!  It was refreshing to hear how your mindset changed for this particular contest and you decided to submit your “after” photos.  A decision well made, earning yourself a “Top 3” finish in contest AT-14.  Also big kudos to you on hitting some of the bodybuilding “mandatory” poses.

I can tell you’ve been practicing them. Because of this, we look forward to featuring you on some of our upcoming AGR covers.  Keep pushing on towards your quest to “Golden” and I’m sure your unstoppable confidence will guide the way!

your brother in Iron,

 

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