Then Vs. Now: Coaches’ Corner w/ Jason Haynes

Today’s post is our latest installment of a new series called the “Coaches Corner.”  Our Adonis Transformation Coaches will share their knowledge, experience, and best practices to help ensure your successful transformation.  To continue the series, our topic  comes from none other than Adonis Legend,  Jason Haynes.

 

Then vs now

AGR System Development: 2007 to 2015

 

Today’s post was inspired by some guys on the Adonis Forums who were curious as to some of my thoughts on the state of the AGR Systems these days, I began to think back to when I first began AGR…some time around 2007, if my memory serves.

Just the topic of this blog makes me feel like an old-timer…lol.

 <in my old raspy “Grandpa” voice> 

“You youngsters think it’s so bad now…well, let me tell ya somethin’:  When I started on AGR, it was called AI, and we didn’t even have a nutrition calculator…we had to do research and actually work towards finding our caloric intake.  We only had three programs…way before the specific categories and paths that you have now.   Yep, Eat-Stop-Eat and AI…that’s all we had…and we were grateful, dagnabit!“

 

Ugh…but old man-reminiscent ranting aside, the above statement is true, nonetheless.

The AGR Systems have come a VERY long way since I started back before Adonis Transformation 1 even saw the light of day.

 

A Stroll Down Memory Lane:

It’s been several years and millions of brain cells ago, but I do (kind of) remember the initial program:  Adonis Index 1.0…yes, 1.0.  There were three categories…Build, Burn, and Build and Burn.  They were designed to do what they were named.  Three RAGE workouts existed.

 

Adonis Index Origins:  How I began my journey into the Adonis Lifestyle.

Adonis Index 1.0 : How I began my journey into the Adonis Lifestyle.

 

That’s it.  No extra workouts, no booster series (much less the advanced booster series), no Category 1,2 and 3.  And no nutrition calculator.

Somewhere around AI 2.0 we got a chat forum introduced which was a typical phpBB forum (I guess that’s what it’s called) with bare basics…I honestly don’t remember pictures being posted but I figure we posted pics.  I can name maybe 10 other guys on that forum…but there were only 5 or so that were on daily (who were the ones to make big changes, btw, but that’s another story).

AI 3.0 is when big things started to happen, though, and this train really picked up steam.  We got introduced to such things like MBF (Muscle Building Foundation), ATX, IXP, the Gauntlet…advanced boosters!!  We got one new Rage workout, too.

 

AI Rage 3.0:  The beginnings of something special.

Rage Workout Series circa. 2010: The beginnings of something special.

Anabolic Again was first introduced (not an AI Product, persay, but a great program developed by Brad Pilon).

Honestly, I don’t recall when several things fell into the treasure chest that is now called (or associated with) the Adonis Golden Ratio (AGR)….things like Covert Nutrition, The Anything Goes Diet, Muscle Index, etc.

Even as I’m writing this, I just KNOW I’m forgetting to mention some things…there was just so many things throughout the years.

There were many guidelines to follow as to what to do when, and a pluthera of podcasts to listen to.

 

Anabolic Again Month Two: This was a Beast of Workout; Most Memorable!

Anabolic Again Month Two: This was a Beast of Workout — Most Memorable!

 

Things I wish we had “Way Back Then”

 

 

AGR nutrition Calculator

AGR Nutrition Calculator

 

 

The nutrition calculator is a game changer and to the best of my knowledge there is nothing else like it out there.  Back in the day, we had to “best guess” our nutrition….take a dozen or so online calculations for our BMR or RMR, average them and then tweak for our personal situation.  It was not a small time spent in research, calculation, and tweaking.  These nutritional calculators often had a range of up to 1000 calories between the lowest and highest numbers!!  Then factor in all the other things (ie:  “how does this particular website calculate ‘intense workout?’” some calculators didn’t figure in all the necessary metrics, etc) and we had somewhere to begin…but it often took WEEKS to nail it down.

(Side note:  John Barban even told me that I, and others like me, were his guinea pigs in developing the nutrition calculator….which used to, and still does, make me smirk).

Now, we have the Nutrition Calculator.  Just plug in a few numbers and get going.  And as all the guys doing the AGR systems have the same goals, we don’t have to worry about the logistics behind other calculators/websites.  Now, while it is true that there is ALWAYS a period of adjusting to an individual’s needs and situation, it is not NEARLY as long or drawn out as before…and certainly not all the work (on my part) as it used to be.

 

AGR Reloaded: The Complete AGR System at your finger tips!

AGR Reloaded: The Complete AGR System at your finger tips!

 

I also wish we had the “complete system” that is AGR these days…it’s all laid out for you.  If you want to do it for yourself, you can do so, but if you want a specific “guided path,” that’s available these days too!

 

immersion-advanced-growth-shoulder-specialization-part-1

Immersion Content: Advanced Growth Series

 

Advanced Boosters:  Yes, we had them around AI 3.0, but they were in addition to the base program…as in:  “do 4 days of AI and then add in 2 days of these boosters.”  Nowadays, they are a COMPLETELY different animal altogether:  the boosters are complete programs in themselves!!  Oh, how I wish I had those “back in the day!”

 

How Do You Cross A Minefield? Walk Carefully Behind Your Coach!

 

 

The Coaching program, which I am privileged to be a part of, is a HUGE thing that lots of guys could have benefited from.  I was blessed to have John Barban as my coach (back in the day when there was just a few of us on the system), and I cannot speak enough of the benefits of having a guide to help and encourage a trainee during the process!  We even have several coaches, so if one of us has a story or background that clicks with you, you can even request one of us, specifically.

Conclusion:

It has been my privilege to have been around AGR throughout the years…and to see its evolution into what it is now:  a Complete System that leaves the guesswork out of it.  It’s flexible if you want it to be, but if you want something all ready to be used, there is a roadmap that has been made over the years and with hundreds of men testing it and accomplishing great results.  

I do not know what John and the crew have in mind for the next phase of the AGR Evolution, but I do believe that the system will continue to get better and better.

Until next time.

Train hard, train smart.

Jason

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

ADONIS ORIGINS: Jason Haynes | Circa 2009-2010

ADONIS ORIGINS: Jason Haynes | Circa 2007-2010

Jason Haynes is one of the oldest members of the AGR community and has been around since he participated in the first and second AGR Transformation Competitions, of which he placed second and first, respectively.  Having found a system that he is confident in and that works, he has faithfully stuck by it ever since.  Now in his 40’s, Jason enjoys living the life of maintaining his physique easily and with little effort, thanks to the AGR system and tools provided.  He is also a coach in the Adonis Premiere Coaching program and desires to help anyone to achieve their fitness goals.

Precariously Stacked Piles of Pebbles: Coaches’ Corner w/ Jason Haynes

Today’s post is our latest installment of a new series called the “Coaches Corner.”  Our Adonis Transformation Coaches will share their knowledge, experience, and best practices to help ensure your successful transformation.  To continue the series, our topic  comes from none other than AGR Pioneer,  Jason Haynes.

Adonis Legend: Jason Haynes

Adonis Legend: Jason Haynes

 

Precariously Stacked Piles of Pebbles

I know it’s been quite a while since my last blog.  I would apologize…and truly I wish I could have kept up, but life got overwhelmingly busy and SOMETHING had to be put aside for a season:  and most of my internet-related activities were “that something” that had to be put aside.

While I put a little detail into what happened in my latest quick blog post on the AGR Forums, the gist is that at the height of the “craziness,”  I worked 6 days/week, went to school 5 days a week and studied 7 days a week…and all shopping/errands happened Sunday after Church.   We also had a newborn in addition to our toddler.  No time for TV (we don’t even own one) or even movies on the internet. If we were lucky, I got 30 minutes alone with my wife before we simply passed out from exhaustion only to be awakened shortly afterward by our newborn.  More times than not, I literally fell asleep on the floor while singing my oldest daughter to sleep, only to be woken up by her a moment later:  “Daddy…sing.”

(Ah, the memories.  Colossally exhausting days, to be sure…but a treasure to be remembered, nonetheless. )

And then, the several months of 4-5 hours a day of sleep really caught up with me…and as much as I regretted having to do it, I had to back off on training…then within a short amount of time, “the backing off” turned into a “semi-planned lay-off from training,” because of life constraints.  As much as I tried to fight it, and as much as I forced myself to train, my body just couldn’t handle it anymore.

“It’s just for this season,” I told myself.

This is too much

Now that that season has passed and I am now entering a new season of life, training has been coming to be one of the more prominent thoughts in my mind of “things I want…no, I need to do.”  However,  as I pursued it, roadblock after roadblock made it very difficult to even get moving into the most basic of training.  Simply put, something always happened that threatened to prevent me from training.

Seriously.  It was like all the spiritual forces of darkness were trying to make it nigh impossible to simply train.

It would have been all-to-easy to simply roll over and just say “forget it,” but I just wouldn’t let myself quit.  I wanted it too badly.

(Now, bear in mind that before all these changes happened, my style of living was “Make a radical change quickly and completely…deal with the issues as they arise,” however, these days my choices impact more people than just my wife and I…and carry a wider scope to what and who else is impacted.

Sound familiar to anyone out there? )

These days, I liken a busy life like a well-stacked pile of pebbles.

These days, I liken a busy life like a well-stacked pile of pebbles.

 

As we juggle busy lives full of family, work, service and good works, we learn that sometimes even the smallest additional pebble hastily added to our stack causes the entire pile to crumble.  We have to sometimes add the pebble gingerly, watching it carefully and adjusting it as necessary until it sits properly and does not cause the stack to topple.  Then, we can try to add the next pebble.

(Or maybe you prefer a “Jenga” illustration…moving something from the lower “tiers” to a higher level all the while balancing the stack lest it crumble into a heap…or something like that.  Either way, it’s the same principle.)

So…what’s the point, Jason?

While I fear many guys will use what I am about to say as an excuse to not get their lazy butts off the couch or to not pry the controller from their tendon-locked-fingers,  lots of us actually do have legitimate reasons for not training.  When we take away the “time wasters” some of us actually STILL have major challenges to deal with then it comes to consistently training and getting our diets in check.

In short, our pile of pebbles is stacked precariously as it is, and another few pebbles added hastily and simultaneously will most likely topple the stack…so the solution is to add one pebble at a time.  Add each pebble cautiously and “feel it out” before adding another pebble.  Make sure that the pile is secure before seeing how to add yet a new pebble.

If you are delaying doing a training program because you don’t have 5 days a week to train, try a 4 day a week program like the AGR systems.  If you don’t think you can do 4 days a week, do it for three days a week.  Heck, if you can only manage one day a week, do it…it’s better than nothing and as you adjust to it, you might find that you are able to manage another day…then another day…

If you are delaying a diet because too much is going on to focus on it…start simply.  Maybe intermittent fasting (like Eat-Stop-Eat) is something you would be interested in…or maybe as simply as drinking a few glasses of water before each meal would help curb your appetite.

Taking things slower and more methodically can indeed be implemented in a long-term strategy to attaining our goals and sustaining them.

And if you have tried to figure it out, or don’t know where to begin in figuring it out, our coaches (of whom yours truly is one) have experience helping hundreds of men (and women) “work around” their life constraints and to achieve great results.  Sometimes it DOES take an outside view to get a straight path and to help us to stay on it.

Until next time.

Train hard, train smart.

Jason

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

ADONIS ORIGINS: Jason Haynes | Circa 2009-2010

ADONIS ORIGINS: Jason Haynes | Circa 2009-2010

Jason Haynes is one of the oldest members of the AGR community and has been around since he participated in the first and second AGR Transformation Competitions, of which he placed second and first, respectively.  Having found a system that he is confident in and that works, he has faithfully stuck by it ever since.  Now in his 40’s, Jason enjoys living the life of maintaining his physique easily and with little effort, thanks to the AGR system and tools provided.  He is also a coach in the Adonis Premiere Coaching program and desires to help anyone to achieve their fitness goals.

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:

IMMERSION Clients May Login and Download Podcast Here

(If you are using Adonis Index Mobile, go to the left menu -> My products -> right menu -> Uncensored Season 3 -> enjoy, you can assign star to add it into Favorites for easier access next time, if you don’t have access to Uncensored Podcasts you can purchase Immersion Package inside the App Shop)

Not an Adonis Index IMMERSION client? Click here to find out more…

What’s the best strategy for fat loss and maintaining? Uncensored Podcast

The strategy is different when you have a long way to go compared to close to your goal.

The strategy is different when you have a long way to go compared to close to your goal.

 

How do you apply diet and exercise principles to your fat loss or maintenance strategy? It is different depending on your level of body fat and physical conditioning. It will be different for you when you get close to your goal compared to when you are just starting out.

John and Brad want to teach you a sustainable lifestyle. It’s not intuitive. It takes time and practice. It takes a bit of trial and error before you find your balance.

 

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

IMMERSION Clients May Login and Download Podcast Here

(If you are using Adonis Index Mobile, go to the left menu -> My products -> right menu -> Uncensored Season 3 -> enjoy, you can assign star to add it into Favorites for easier access next time, if you don’t have access to Uncensored Podcasts you can purchase Immersion Package inside the App Shop)

Not an Adonis Index IMMERSION client? Click here to find out more…

What about Low Carb VS Low Fat diets? Uncensored Podcast

 

What should I eat? There is so much controversy and confusion!

What should I eat? There is so much controversy and confusion!

 

What about Low Fat VS. Low Carb diets?

Why did low fat diets become so important?

What brought about low carb diet?

What about the amount of food?

What was found on the latest trial on low fat VS low carb?

Why did the weight loss in the trial stop after 3 months?

Should carbs and fats be separated out for the focus on a diet?

How do people who are successful at fat loss keep it off?

Do people seem to get weight loss in bursts?

Why do the weight loss bursts happen?

What is a good strategy to stay on track?

What seems to be the most realistic rate of fat loss per week long term?

How can choosing less carbs be beneficial and why?

 

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

IMMERSION Clients May Login and Download Podcast Here

(If you are using Adonis Index Mobile, go to the left menu -> My products -> right menu -> Uncensored Season 3 -> enjoy, you can assign star to add it into Favorites for easier access next time, if you don’t have access to Uncensored Podcasts you can purchase Immersion Package inside the App Shop)

Not an Adonis Index IMMERSION client? Click here to find out more…

 

What about Military Fat Loss Research VS Main Stream Research? Uncensored Podcast

The military research studies were used to design the Venus and Adonis programs for a reason.

The military research studies were used to design the Venus and Adonis programs for a reason.

What is different about military research studies compared to main stream research studies?

What is the difference between civilian fat loss research and Military weight loss research?

What do these studies have to do with how Adonis and Venus programs are setup?

What happens to men and women’s hormones during fasting from food and fat burning?

What is different for women regarding fat oxidation and fat burning?

How is the hormone Leptin different for women, according to these studies?

Mainly John and Brad wanted you all to know how these studies relate to the Adonis and Venus programs; The Virtual Nutritionist, The Reverse Taper Protocol, The Theory of Fat Availability, The Undulating Metabolic Override Program, and the gender differences in metabolism.

 

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

IMMERSION Clients May Login and Download Podcast Here

(If you are using Adonis Index Mobile, go to the left menu -> My products -> right menu -> Uncensored Season 3 -> enjoy, you can assign star to add it into Favorites for easier access next time, if you don’t have access to Uncensored Podcasts you can purchase Immersion Package inside the App Shop)

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

 

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