The first plan I did after joining was Super Shredded 8, and with the intensity of those workouts I was hooked. The Tabatas mixed with resistance training left me soaked in sweat and feeling like I'd truly gotten a solid workout in. The structured approach definitely had a bigger impact than my traditional chest or back days, where I’d just go the the gym and do every exercise I knew that involved those muscle groups. I finally started to see clear changes in my body composition.
The next step I took was reading Dieting 101. I saw that I had been on the right track with what I was eating, but I learned I needed to better track how much I was eating. I bought a food scale and started tracking my macros. Once I figured out the macro targets for my body weight and started measuring my servings, I realized how much I’d been overeating. With this new-found info, I dialed my nutrition in and things really started progressing.
The next program I did was OSB, and this time I added 30 min of HIIT workouts on the stationary bike. I definitely got stronger, and learned new lifting techniques. With each of his programs, Jim does a really good job of explaining what to do, how to do it and – the best part – why you’re doing it.
The results were still coming along at a decent pace. I was getting more defined, but still not lean enough for my goals. The next workout plan I did was the Summer Shred Challenge, which combined the Show Time, Drop Set Countdown, and Giant Program.
My diet was still sitting at 1.5 grams per pound of body weight in protein, 1.5 grams per pound in carbs, and .5 grams of fat per pound. My progress kept on going: I’d gone from 35% body fat to 24%. I also started buying JYM Supplements during this challenge, opting for the JYM System of Pre JYM, Post JYM BCAAs+, Post JYM Fast-Digesting Carbs, and Pro JYM. I definitely could tell the difference between Pre JYM and the super stimulant stuff I'd been taking before. The focus was better, and the pumps were noticeable!
My next program was Ripped in 6, where I learned about and implemented cardioacceleration in addition to my 30 min of HIIT cardio. This is when things really started to pick up, and I decided to find a new way to focus on just fat loss. I saw Jim post about intermittent fasting, read the article, and made the change. I cut carbs back to .5 grams and started using Iso JYM to keep my fat and carb intake in check. I was at around 17% body fat when I made these changes.
After that, I did the Holiday Shred Challenge. With the IF, cardioacceleration, and HIIT workouts as well as the combo of Fail No Fail and Full-Body Shortcut to Size programs included in the challenge, I broke the 10% body fat goal I’d set for myself and had actually gotten as low as 5.5%. Following all of the things I learned from JimStoppani.com and using my grit and discipline, I finally achieved a long time goal.
My body weight went from 280 pounds to 223 pounds. So next up was the New Years Challenge featuring Jim's Variable Training Method and my goal was to gain muscle cleanly. I went back to Dieting 101 and started reverse dieting, adding .5 grams of carb every 7-10 days until I started gaining weight. I added Mass JYM to my supplements to help hit carb intake goals and started using techniques I learned by reading the intermittent eating article, eating every 3 hours. Current weight is 237 and body fat is still at 8%.
If you're willing to put in the work consistently, the science that Jim teaches is legit. I finally feel like there is someone in the fitness world not just pushing snake oil. Current supplements are Pre JYM, Post JYM, Iso JYM, Mass JYM, as well as ZMA JYM. My new goal is to hit 250 pounds while still in the 10% body fat range. Next plan is going to be Full-Body Shortcut to Size again. I really enjoy the muscle group focus while still working the full body to get both muscle gains and fat loss and help me reach my new goals.
