Here’s your new interview with one of the winners from the 9th Adonis Golden Ratio Transformation Contest.

Today John talks to Carlos Irizarry who placed 3rd in our last 12-Week Transformation contest. Read on to find out why “37 is the new 27” for Carlos.

But first, check out his transformation pictures:

Carlos Irizarry – AT9 3rd Place – Before Photos

Carlos Irizarry – AT9 3rd Place – Transformation Image

Carlos Irizarry – AT9 3rd Place – After Photos

Carlos’s Interview:

How old are you?  I am 37 years old.

When did you first start working out? If it was before finding Adonis Golden Ratio (AGR) can you briefly explain the types of programs/workouts you did before finding AGR?

I started  working out at about the age of 16.  However, I didn’t take it seriously until I joined the U.S. Army. In the Army, my workouts consisted of cardio, interval/pyramid  training, and some strength training but nothing really concrete amounted in order to create an “Adonis-Type” body.  While serving in the Army, I did my strength training after work and  hit the gym regularly in an effort to build some muscle.  Prior to the  Adonis Golden Ratio I was on the Somanabolic Weight Training program.

 Did you follow any sort of diet programs before finding the Adonis Golden Ratio? If so what were they and how did they work for you?

I didn’t follow any diet programs, all I did was listen to industry BS about needing to eat 3000 calories/day to build muscle and 1g of protein for every pound of body weight. I listened to that advice and all it did was get me fat. I was looking for answers and could not find it. It was very frustrating.

How exactly did you find out about the  Adonis Golden Ratio?

I actually stumbled upon AGR by mistake. I saw John  Barban talking on a video clip with Kyle Leon discussing a bench press technique.  At that time I was doing the Somanabolic Weight Training program. I was intrigued when John started to talk about the science part. I had been following the other system but I just wasn’t seeing the results. The eating habits were a bit much and I was not really thrilled with the workout program.

I wanted to learn more about AGR so I Googled it and was hooked when John talked about the science aspect of AGR.  A lot of things he talked about went against industry BS. So I said what the hell! I jumped into AGR.

What made you decide to enter the contest?

I decided to enter the contest because I said to myself I think I have what it takes and believed I could compete with the people I had seen win previous contests.  So I said I am going to go for it!

What did you expect from yourself during this contest?  

My expectations for myself were to remain disciplined and push hard to get the body I always wanted. I had conquered the diet portion so it was just a matter of hitting the workouts as outlined.

How did you fit the workouts into your daily routine?

I made the workouts a priority between family, school, and other elements of life. If you want the body that you envision in your mind, then you need to make it a priority. Many people thought I was a freak for telling them I couldn’t eat as much because I was almost at my daily calorie limit or I couldn’t join them at a specific time cause I had to hit the gym.

What did you do from a diet standpoint?

My diet program I used was Any Thing Goes Diet (AGD) at first which was great in learning things about  food that you would never consider and how to develop the mindset and overall approach to food itself.  Like John said, “a calorie is a calorie”. I used the AGD in the beginning of the transformation and during the end transitioned to the Reverse Taper Diet (RTD) which I really love and I use regularly now.

What did you find most challenging along the way and did you have any setbacks?

Patience was my big challenge but I had some small challenges which came  in the form of  adjusting my  eating habits. Sticking to the amount of daily calorie intake was challenging but once I got the hang of it, it was not an issue.

How did people in your life react as your body started to change?

As my body started to change it was cool to see other  people’s reactions. Family and   friends began to ask what I was doing, that it looked as if I  lost weight or I looked great. Some people could not understand what I was doing and said it would be too hard for them to make the change I made.  To keep things simple, I told them I was calorie counting and working out.

When did you realize things were really starting to change?

I really started to see the change around June or July of 2012 my abs really began to show. It had been since the age of 14 that I was last able to see my 6 pack and now at 37 years old I have them back. It’s funny, you know your body has changed when your 7 yr old daughter says “Daddy you have a six pack wow!”

How did you feel when you looked at your before and after pictures side by side?

When I Iook at the before and after pictures I am proud at the results of my hard work and discipline. I thought I would never find the answers to a great body. Everyday now I look in the mirror and say “37 is the new 27” because many people now think I am 27 yrs old.

What advice would you give to other guys who are sitting on the fence not sure about entering a contest?

I would say to other guys that it is possible to  transform your body and create a lasting great look. All you need to do is have the discipline and will to make it happen!

Whats next for you?

Next for me is to continue to work on my body to get it to where I really want it. Don’t get me wrong, I am happy with the look but there is always room for improvement in my book. I want to build more muscle and work on the weak areas of my body.  A future goal of mine is to re-enter  the transformation  contest and attain a physique similar to what Pete Dickison has.

Summary of Carlos’s Best Tips: