BEFORE	AFTER

Mirrors and magazines lie to you.

Looking at a mirror, you can trick yourself into thinking you are better off than what you really are. Like me, you may be guilty of trying to tighten up your abs just before turning towards the mirror, or flexing your pecs and bi’s a little bit to try get a “ripped” look.

Magazines on the other hand make outlandish claims about results you can achieve. They then provide before & after photos of bodybuilding professionals to shame you into believing their fate can be yours if you only spend hundreds of dollars on bogus supplements.

If you want real honesty, brutal honesty, the type of honesty that will compel you to change your life, you have to take a picture of yourself and hold in up in front of you without any type of rose-colored glasses on. The desire to change will arise out of the realization of where you are compared to where you want to be.

MY "STORY"

I enjoyed sports in school and worked out off and on for a few years, I knew there was something missing. Besides the fact that I was always the “little man” on the team or in the gym, I was not where I wanted to be. I wasn’t lifting the heavy weight I wanted to. I was eating whatever and whenever I wanted including desserts after about every meal. It was like a road trip without a map – I knew I wanted to get somewhere and by driving I was going in a direction, but I really had no idea where I’d end up.

Experimenting with different supplements and workout routines would only lead to ditching the routine in favor of another new fad. Frustrated, I started googling “how to gain weight,” “building muscle,” and “skinny man weight gain.” About that time, I came across Anthony Ellis’ program. After encountering the program, I stood on the sidelines for a while very skeptical of the type of results I could achieve.

Having scoured the internet for further info I concluded the program had to be legit and decided to take the plunge.

THE PLANNING

As soon as I received my package I knew I got more than my money’s worth but I also knew I had some serious preparations to make. Despite the demanding layout of the program, all the information presented in the book and the website was comprehensive and straightforward.

I read the manual a couple times and followed it’s instructions by taking my initial weight and body fat measurements, snapping the priceless “before” photos, acquiring the necessary quantities of food, and reviewing the prescribed workouts. The program required a higher level of discipline in my lifestyle than I had ever considered on my own.

It was like having a motivated personal trainer giving me all the necessary instructions to make the type of changes I had been looking for. The planning got me psychologically prepared for the rigorous training to follow.

THE EXECUTION

During the execution phase, I was very strict about following the details of program. One particular detail I completely ignored before using Gaining Mass was a good diet. I was amazed to discover how much sugar, salt, and fat I used to eat everyday compared to Anthony’s “clean” way of eating.

Paying attention to details like this helped me to stay focused and I could tell from week to week that I was progressing. My weight was systematically increasing, I was growing stronger, and my muscles were actually growing larger.

During this time, I began getting comments from people in my life who had been skeptical about the program I was following. All of the sudden they were saying, “Wow, I can really see a difference”, and “You’re getting bigger, man.” These results occurred simply by following the program.

THE RESULTS

After finishing the 3 month cycle of training, I anxiously took my “after” photos. I was thrilled at the results. I gained 12lbs of muscle and trimmed off a lot of excess fat that I had not really noticed before because I was so skinny. I felt better about my body than I ever had before.

The program gave me the tools and information necessary to change my body to the way I wanted it to be and laid the foundation for a right approach to achieving even better results in the future.

Nick

Random Post-12-Week Observations

1. Protein pancakes (recipe courtesy of Russian Rocket) with strawberries, sugar-free syrup, and non-fat whipped cream are the program equivalent of a decadent piece of cheesecake.
2. Isopure Zero Carb Chocolate Protein Powder with water and a splash of milk tastes enough like chocolate milk to me.
3. Frequent hearty meals and gallons of water = frequent hearty trips to the can.
4. Consistently tracking your weight, body fat, and workout stats are crucial.
5. People tend to respect a strict regimen whether they agree with your goals or not.
6. I was tempted to bow out after my lousy weeks 7 & 8 results, but decided to stick with the plan and it made all the difference.
7. Show up on Thursday nights and you can talk with AE and a host of other vets.
8. By consistently planning and executing, you move closer and closer towards your goal.

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