adonis index

10 Most Useful Lessons from Our Successful Adonis Contest Winners: Part I

November 2, 2012 by Allen Elliott

This article is focused on guys who are just starting to use the Adonis Index systems and are seeking clarity on how to use the workouts to their benefit. If you want to make a successful transformation and even win our contest this information is for you.

FYI make sure you read the whole article to its end!

Everyone who goes through our contests and crosses the finish line reports a huge shift in there perspective of life, accompanied with improved confidence, and also an amazing physical and mental transformation. The question is what sets the winners apart from the guys who give up and don’t finish (not everyone finishes the contest)?

So what exactly makes you a winner? What defines a champion?

Well, if you’ve listened to a couple of our interviews with the winners (if not I encourage you to do so) you’ve probably noticed that certain points were emphasized by almost all contest winners.

I’ve listened to every single interview we have ever done at least once and after listening to them I’ve realized that there were 10 key points repeated almost every time.

Here they are…

Lesson #1: Get Going…Learn on the Fly!

Usually when somebody gets into the Adonis Lifestyle community, he starts asking a bunch of questions, which is a great thing, because that’s what the community is for. However, the issue is when your couple questions turns into long term discussion over the workout’s or diet’s effectiveness even before giving it a try.

If you follow Pareto’s principle, then preferably you would want to spend 80% of your time practicing and 20% of your time reading new information or tweaking your current approach.

While the community is one of the best tools we have, you don’t want to spend 3 weeks there before actually going to the gym and trying the workout. All the information and help we provide should be viewed as a guidance and supplementation to your actions.

With that being understood, start going to the gym first and then use your down time on the weekends to listen to some podcasts and share your challenges inside the community.

Lesson #2: What Drives You to Take Action?

In my last article we’ve talked about figuring out your “why” – your reason why you are working out and maintaining a good diet. Which is in my opinion, your primary driver. Once you know the reason for your goals it’s easier to achieve them.

If motivation is an issue and you feel down all the time, read this: The Key to Lasting Motivation

Lesson #3: Don’t Change the Workout…Stick to It!

One of the issues with inexperienced guys who never get the body they want is that they jump from program to program. They are simply never satisfied with the structure of the program. They feel pumped for the first week or two and share their excitement with friends, but after about 3 weeks they become bored. Feeling frustrated because they didn’t see any massive gains, they jump to a different program and then wonder why they look the same as they did last year.

If you want results you need to go to the gym regularly and stick to the workout plan as it’s designed and continue to follow that workout plan in its entirety (yes, 3 weeks simply ain’t enough, muscle growth is very slow). A realistic and achievable goal is to stick to the program for 12 weeks. After comparing your starting and final progress pics, it’s up to you to decide in which direction you are to continue.

Lesson #4: Form Comes First Before Weight

This should go without saying but almost every beginner (myself included back in the early days) and the vast majority of regular trainees with some experience neglect this and everyone goes for the biggest weight plates and heaviest dumbbells in the gym despite the fact they are just not strong enough to train with them.

I firmly believe that the weight you are able to lift and the weight you are able to train with ARE DIFFERENT. The word “training” is not about lifting some weights, it’s about conditioning your muscles; it is for that reason we focus on proper form. If your form sucks and your bicep curls look like a “Good Morning” back exercise, you’re likely to be injured long before the time you will build any muscle.

Lesson #5: Focus on Muscle Activation

This goes hand in hand with the lesson four.

Anyone who has some solid weight training in their background knows exactly what muscle activation feels like. If you don’t have that much experience, don’t worry it’s something you will learn and master over time.

As you progress through the beginner’s stage and gain strength, you will be able to feel your muscles in a completely different way. It’s at this stage when you should feel comfortable with basic form and begin the art of focusing on the reps in each exercise more so than just the weight. For example, what do you’re muscles feel like as they complete each rep? If your goal isn’t to be a power lifter, but rather a “body builder” then this is what you should focus on.

I always though that building muscle is just about moving some iron around in the gym. On the contrary, guys who get the best results are usually the ones who can activate their muscles properly.

Check this out for more information: Give Yourself Permission to Lift Light

Anyway, this is the end of Part I, so stay tuned for Part II.

Talk to you soon,

Vaclav Gregor

PS: Would like to guess the other 5 key lessons we will talk about next Friday? Let me know in the Adonis Lifestyle Community here.

PPS: If you are wondering who are the ripped gentlemen on the picture above, you can check out their stories here.

Filed Under: Greg's Lessons, Sage Advice Tagged With: adonis index

How to Become a Triple Threat: Lessons Learned from FMI

October 27, 2012 by Allen Elliott

California Dreamin’

In my previous blog I introduced the Golden Eye for the Adonis Guy series, which will feature several topics not limited to but including my experiences, observations and “lessons learned” from fitness/fashion shows and my association with the modeling industry. In this installment I’d like to talk about my very first trip to the “Left” coast, better known as “California.”

Although I grew up in the Southeastern part of the United States, from an early age I found myself fascinated with the lifestyle and culture of the Southern California area. As I watched TV/movies or read in books & magazines, I observed that there was an emphasis placed on health, beauty, & fitness which revolved around a “laid-back” yet fun and entertaining lifestyle on the beach. I never forgot these childhood memories’ and would often daydream about what I would do if I was to visit or live there. I believe these values are directly related to the Adonis Lifestyle; living your life to the fullest while being confident that you look and feel your very best.

In essence, you are “Living the Dream” because many people wish or desire to get in shape, but very few accomplish this mental & physical transformation. With the support of the Adonis Lifestyle community, after undergoing a transformation of my own, I’ve been empowered to view my physique as a business. My first trip to California was of a two-fold significance. It was one-part “childhood dream come true” and one-part “business investment.” Although the flight from Atlanta International to John Wayne Airport was a little under 5-hours, my actual journey began over a year ago when I first learned of a fitness and sports network known as FMI.

Fitness and Sports Network’s FMI™ is the FIRST EVER entrepreneurial and entertainment career development production for fitness and sports professionals.

What Is FMI?

The date is May 21, 2011 and I am at my first National competition in the Men’s Physique Division. This was a special event not only because it was my first time qualifying but it was also the first time a “Pro Card” would be awarded to the top Fitness models. Needless to say, the stakes were high and the competition was fierce. I had the opportunity to meet and chat with several successful fitness models and learn from their perspective and their own personal journey in the fitness industry. I was eager to learn as I was just getting started myself. I wanted to know what it really takes to make it or what other opportunities maybe available that I hadn’t considered.

One particular fitness model was gracious enough to inform me of company know as FMI or Fitness Model International . He told me when he first heard of the company he attended one of their conference’s and although it wasn’t the most convenient to attend it was the greatest decision he had made in his fitness modeling career. Later that night, he would go on to make history by becoming the first Pro in the Men’s Physique Division. Our brief chat and observing what he went onto accomplish after the show left a lasting impression that this “FMI” thing was something worth checking out.

I’m sure by now you’re wondering what FMI is all about?

Fitness and Sports Network’s FMI™ is the FIRST EVER entrepreneurial and entertainment career development production for fitness and sports professionals. FMI offers multiple educational methods to provide it’s clients the best chance for multiple employment opportunities.

Now after returning from my first FMI conference, my only regret is not going sooner. One of my new year’s resolution was to “work smarter and not harder” in my fitness model career; this conference was in direct alignment with that resolution.

The conference was like attending a “Fitness Entrepreneur Boot Camp.” Whether you were a personal trainer, blogger, or model it didn’t matter where you hailed from in the “wide world of fitness” there were challenging lessons and informative lectures inspiring you to perfect your skill or craft. I personally signed up for the “Photography and Academic” course which afforded me the opportunity to shoot with some of the top Photographers on the West Coast and become educated on how to further market and develop my brand to a mass audience.

What I found particularly interesting about the academic course is that majority of the speakers were Alumni of previous conferences’ who had returned to share their wisdom and knowledge. The conference also gave us unique access via the “Q & A session” with a Talent Panel ranging from celebrities’ from the popular “Baywatch” TV series to Director’s of National Modeling Agencies. This was very encouraging as I was able to relate to some of their obstacles they were able to overcome to be successful.

“The 21st century Fitness Entrepreneur is a Triple Threat! They successfully Model, Write,
and Speak well on camera.” -Obi Obadike
FMI Photographer: Noel Daganta
Model: Allen Elliott

How to Become the Triple Threat: Modeling Alone Is Not Enough

While there were several topics covered at FMI, the over-arching theme I took away from the conference was in order to take full advantage of what the fitness industry has to offer you must become the triple threat. In other words, you need to diversify your strengths. I mentioned earlier at the beginning of this post that I was looking for opportunities in fitness that I hadn’t considered. Attending the FMI conference served as an introduction to several facets of the fitness industry that I’ve yet to pursue.

I learned that a Fitness Model in the Digital age has so much more to offer than modeling alone. In this paradigm of thought we are beginning to see a new breed of model known as the “Fitness Entrepreneur“.

A Fitness Entrepreneur is able to successfully model, write, and speak well on camera. This “Triple Threat” model is not only valuable to themselves as their able to take personal responsibility for their “Physique Business” by developing their own “World Class Brand” they are also highly sought after by major companies’ in the form of endorsement contracts, for their ability to market/influence a mass audience.

Never has their been a time where the “Fitness Modeling Field” has been so equal in regards to opportunity. While no one can guarantee that someone will succeed in their goals, one key element that all success individuals possess is the ability to F.O.C.U.S

“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand.
The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” -Alexander Graham Bell
Logo Design TradeMark Credit: William Lockley

F.O.C.U.S. – The Path to Becoming EXTRA-Ordinary

F.O.C.U.S.- Follow One Course Until Success — A great acronym which captures the essence of the actual word itself. In the pursuit of your goals whether it be fitness or anything else in life there will be obstacles. This was the story told by William Lockley, an Alumni from a previous conference. (He had a stunning transformation in which he lost lost 140+ lbs in 9 months with no gimmicks or surgery. You can check out his story here. )

For his business he has branded the term “F.O.C.U.S.” as it was the most resonating thought in his mind which allowed him to overcome obstacles that stood in his way. Keep in mind William’s transformation wasn’t overnight, but his ability to F.O.C.U.S. served as the pathway to an EXTRA-ordinary transformation.

In conclusion, I hope that by sharing some of the lessons learned from the FMI conference you will look for ways to apply these principles in your own lives’. Take advantage of the positive association around you here in the Adonis Lifestyle community.

Similarly to becoming a triple threat fitness entrepreneur, I’d encourage you to discover you’re strengths and then look for ways to improve upon them to have a greater positive impact on those around you. Last but not least, within moral and ethical reason be willing to do whatever it takes to achieve your goals and dreams despite the obstacles that may come in your way.

Simply put, Just F.O.C.U.S.

Yours in fitness,

Allen Elliott

Filed Under: Golden Eye, Identity, Sage Advice Tagged With: adonis index, Allen Elliott

Can You Do AI Workouts and Keep Doing Sports like MMA or Football?

October 22, 2012 by Allen Elliott

Here’s your new interview with one of the winners from the 8th Adonis Index Transformation Contest.

Today John talks to Cristiam Reinoso who placed 9th in our last 12-Week Transformation contest.

Check out his transformation pictures:

Cristiam’s 12 week progress with Adonis Index.

After going through different program Cristiam has decided to try the Adonis Index and he followed the program exactly as it’s designed, which is what we always recommend for the best results.

Cristiam understood from his gymnastics background that even though he may not be able to do all the workout programs at the beginning, as he keeps progressing the level of intensity he can handle will increase, it’s all just a matter of conditioning.

He told us that he knew he had it in himself to place in the contest, but he just needed some sort of motivation to push harder, this is when the forum really became a motivating force. Despite the competition everyone was super supportive.

So he decided to stick with the workout plan. He had the energy and as his conditioning was slowly improving he started to add more intensity to his training.

You have to understand that Cristiam is a very active guy. He is basically doing sports or some sort of physical training from five to eleven every day. Apart from strength training his activities include things like MMA or volleyball.

Because of all the sport activity Cristiam was always within striking distance, but never really ripped before the contest. What he also lacked was any sense of direction. This is one of the biggest down falls of the traditional bodybuilding approach. Most guys never get the body they really want, and their goals get hijacked by stuff like “performance training”, marathons or whatever is adored in the media.

And that’s what happened to Cristiam. He wanted a great looking body, so he tried all the famous programs you see online or in TV, he tried gymnastics, MMA and climbing among other stuff.

He tried eating lots of protein and timing his meals, but as you could guess he never got close to the ideal body.

Let’s take a look at the diet approach that finally worked.

Don’t Eat Your Breakfast

Each morning Cristiam woke up, had his coffee, skipped breakfast and continued fasting. He had a small meal in the afternoon and then something bigger for the dinner in the evening. He fasted for 16-18 hours daily.

FYI this is something that works for most people because it’s simple. Fasting creates an eating window, so you can focus on different things other than cooking and eating. You know you are not eating right at that moment, so you can think of something else and be more productive with your time.

And since you won’t be eating, you won’t get tired and sleepy, but in fact you’ll like feel more energetic instead. (might take a couple of fasts till you adjust and actually have more energy when fasted)

Another thing is that we have less “will power” towards the end of the day, we are more tired and usually have some sort of social interaction in the evening so it seem logical to eat at this time of the day rather than have a big breakfast and feel sleepy for the whole day like most people do.

Most people eat a big breakfast, spend the whole morning thinking about what they will eat for lunch, then clean the dishes, take a nap and suddenly it’s late afternoon and nothing got done. And when they actually go out with friends in the evening they play the whole “oh I can’t eat that, I’m dieting” game.

No surprise that the conventional eating pattern leads to a lot of frustration.

Just skip a couple meals each day and you will be surprised by how many things you can get done and how amazing you will feel.

Be Aware of Were the Water Deplete technique comes from

Water depletion is a technique borrowed (as most of the advice you hear from fitness media) from bodybuilders. So what you have to realize is that if you try these techniques they might get you just 10-20% of their results at best (if any).

There is a big difference in carb loading done when using the synthetic drug insulin and carb loading without insulin…just as there is a difference between water deplete done with diuretics and without diuretics.

So don’t expect the same results that you see in magazines. However, that doesn’t mean carb loading or water depletion might not help to get the best pictures. The best thing is to test it out and decide whether it’s worth the effort in the future or not.

FYI – for those techniques to work you will mostly likely have to be close to or under 10% bodyfat.

And if your look is naturally ‘dry’ and you don’t carry a lot of water then it might be something you don’t even have to do, as it would likely make almost no difference in your final look.

Tips from Cristiam:

Regulate your calorie intake
Fasting is an eating window, use it
You don’t have to fast for 24 hours, you can fast for 16-18 hours and do that pretty much every day (drink coffee and water during the day and introduce food in the afternoon)
Listen to your body and scale things up slowly
Trying to make it happen faster might result in rebound, you need to be able to hold it, be content with slower progress
It’s a lifestyle and about moving forward and not about getting overnight results
If you hate running you can find other activities for “cardio”
Detach yourself from food – the less you eat, the less you want to eat
If you get injured back off, rehab and recover, don’t push through pain

Links from the interview:

Main Adonis Index Workout
Advanced Adonis Triple Stack Workout
Eat Stop Eat
If you want to get in touch with Cristiam, talk to him about his approach and get more tips, here’s his profile in our community

Listen to the interview here, and please “like” it when you’re done:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Filed Under: Contest, Podcasts, Stories, Transformation Tagged With: adonis index, Adonis Index Contest, Adonis Index Transformation, Adonis Physique, john barban, Vaclav Gregor

Age well into your Golden Years with the Adonis Index

October 17, 2012 by Allen Elliott

Here’s the first part of this month’s UNCENSORED Podcasts Season 2.

Today’s topic: Aging.

This is a follow-up to this month earlier podcast about Silo Science, if you haven’t heard it yet, you can listen to it here: The Truth about Silo Science and Research Misinterpretation You See Online

Everyone ages, but the question is how WELL will YOU age?

Today John Barban and Brad Pilon discuss why Adonis Index is the only metric you really need to pay attention throughout your life.

It answers the fundamental questions “How do I know I’m doing okay?“.

You don’t have to worry about healthy foods, cardio or any sort of the conventional stuff and just hoping it will make you healthier and help you live longer.

When men age, most experience a decline in testosterone production. The medical term is known as endropause. While there is still a heavy debate about the proper way to mitigate this loss, everyone agrees testosterone is linked to man’s vitality.

Several benefits of testosterone include positive impact on depression, joint health, bone density and it also works as a prevention for certain diseases.

Testosterone plays a key role in our lives, in both men and women. If you have a feeling like your life sucks right now, it can actually be that you have low testosterone, so it might be worth getting it checked and if necessary getting a therapy. Testosterone injections aren’t just for bodybuilders, they can be used health reasons as well.

However, even if your testosterone level is low, you might not need to inject yourself with anything, there might be something else going on…

Well, if you are overweight you might be accidentally limiting your natural production of testosterone in your body.

Why is that?

Because bodyfat is the enemy of testosterone, it decreases this hormone.

Today we will be discussing how big of a role this hormone plays in your body and how much it affects your day to day life.

We will also talk about how famous research studies’ are often misquoted in fitness media. Lastly, we will answer the question of whether testosterone has to naturally decline in older men or can it be prevented?

After listening to the podcast you will have a clear view of the role testosterone plays in your body, you will have metrics for measuring how well you age and you will also be able to answer these questions:

Data from the studies come from a small group of people [yes or no]
How well a man ages is not in fact related to testosterone [yes or no]
Leanness and muscle mass in combination is great sign of aging well [yes or no]
Large volume of food at one sitting decreases testosterone [yes or no]
Weight training doesn’t help maintain testosterone levels [yes or no]
There are more things besides training, eating less and maintaining the ideal shape that can help you age well [yes or no]
Caring extra fat is just a matter of not looking your best, it’s not dangerous [yes or no]
Bulking can work for everyone [yes or no]
Testosterone is a healthy thing to inject into your body[yes or no]
Anyone can get back in shape [yes or no]
Drop in testosterone is directly causing depression, lack of libido and the lack of the youthful feeling [yes or no]

IMMERSION Clients May Login and Download Podcast Here

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

Filed Under: Podcasts, Uncensored Podcasts S02 Tagged With: adonis index, age well, uncensored podcast

Two Time Tongue Cancer Survivor Places in a Our Transformation Contest

October 15, 2012 by Allen Elliott

Here’s your new interview with one of the winners from the 8th Adonis Index Transformation Contest.

Today John talks to Lou Martinez who placed 7th in our last 12-Week Transformation contest.

Check out his transformation pictures:

Lou Martinez’s story is unlike any other we have ever heard and we’ve heard some pretty damn strong ones from our contestants. To find out how he has beaten cancer TWICE and despite his huge disadvantages placed in our transformation contest just keep on reading…

Today’s interview will be written, but it’s pretty short:

1. Give us a brief history of your experience with weight training before you found us.

Flash back: the early 1980’s. Farrah Fawcett was on my wall, Disco was on my turntables and in the corner of my room were dumbbells, a barbell, and a bench with a stack of clothes on it. Like many guys, I didn’t have a lot of discipline in high school, so the bench made a convenient clothes hanger. Things changed in college and in my early 20’s. Bodybuilding was the newest trend ushered in by Arnold in Pumping Iron, Stallone as Rocky, and Lou Ferrigno, as the Hulk. I started to work out seriously at Jack La Lanne /Bally’s and I even went to Gold’s and Venice Beach in California to work out where the big guys worked out.

I was always skinny, so I made progress, gained muscle, and put some meat on my bones. When I was about 27 I stopped working out because I got tired of the whole gym environment. I was going through changes in my career and looking to transform myself inside as well. I had spent too many years focusing on the outside and wanted to nourish the spiritual side of me. I got married a few years later and soon after had 3 kids. With a wife and 3 kids, the gym wasn’t a priority in my life.

As many of you know, I’m a two time tongue cancer survivor. It first hit me, out of the blue, in 2004, 2 months after my 40^th birthday. My tumor wasn’t noticeable at first. By the time the doctors found it, it was the size of a nickel. By the time I got scheduled for surgery, it would fill my whole mouth. The tumor grew unusually fast and large. The doctors originally wanted to operate, but it became too dangerous, so they decided to do chemotherapy and radiation instead. I had stage 4 cancer and the doctors gave me a 10% survival rate. Miraculously, the therapy worked, the tumor disappeared, and I survived.

My usual weight at that time was about 148. I lost at least 30 pounds if not more. I recovered quickly though because I added tons of herbs to my liquid diet (I had a feeding tube) and could eat some food by mouth. In a few months, I was back at work and in total remission. Two years later, almost to the date, the cancer came back, and they removed my tongue. While I recovered real quickly from the operation, I didn’t recover my weight. I had lost 50 pounds this time and it didn’t come back very quickly because I could no longer eat solid foods by mouth. I have been on a liquid diet, via a feeding tube, ever since.

2. Give us a brief history of your experience with dieting before you found us.

With respects to dieting, I never had to diet in my whole life. As a lean guy with a fast metabolism, I could eat whatever I wanted with very little worries. My goal was always to gain weight and get bigger. As a matter of fact, losing weight was taboo for me, especially after the surgery. It took me about 2 years to gain my weight back to 145.

One of the ways I did this was to go back to the gym 2 years ago. At first I was afraid to work out because of the reconstructive surgery they did in my mouth. They took my right pectoral muscle and used it as a new floor for my mouth when they removed my tongue. They also cut some nerves in my neck where they operated. I was worried to work out because I didn’t want to move things or disrupt anything. After my doctor gave me the ok, I started working out in my community gym and started seeing some real good progress. I gained my weight back and muscle too. While my chest would never be the same, I started to gain some serious muscle in other areas and looked better than I did in college when I first started working out.

3. What are your health/fitness/physique goals?

One of the benefits of joining my community gym is that it isn’t very crowded. I originally stopped bodybuilding because I was so tired of that whole world. This gym was a great transition back because it allowed me to really focus on my goals which were to gain muscle and strength without any distractions. It allowed me to go at my own pace without having to look, act, or perform in a certain way. Often in gyms, goals can get lost in who benches the most or who has the biggest biceps. I didn’t have any of that there because it was mostly an older crowd with very few people.

4. How does AI compare to other programs you’ve tried in the past (if any)?

When I stepped back into the gym, I did the things I used to do. I worked out 5-6 days a week, 2-3 body parts per day, and each body part twice a week. Like I said earlier, I made noticeable gains. After about a year of this, I got bored and started to look on the internet for help. I tried a few programs, but after a short while, I gave up. One of the things that bothered me was that ALL of them wanted me to have all of these rest days and only work on each body part once a week. Like a good student, I would faithfully follow each program and then realize I wasn’t gaining any muscle or getting bigger, so I would slip back into my old routines. I didn’t like rest days. Once in awhile I could see a benefit, but overall, it just kept me from growing. With the back and forth between trying different programs and doing my own thing, I really wasn’t making any new progress. I was frustrated and in a rut.

5. How did you find us?

I had read some of your materials last year, but I wasn’t really interested. At that time, I didn’t think that there was any emphasis on the lower body. With a focus on the upper body alone, I wasn’t willing to sacrifice the work on my legs. I inherited a long family trait of chicken legs, so a program with no legs wasn’t the answer. But like I said, I was at a standstill and looking for something.

In April, I was talking to a few guys on a website and happened to come across a post by Shan H. It had his contest pictures on it and he talked about his journey at AI. I was impressed. He was around my age, height, and he looked awesome. We started talking about his progress and he mentioned some of the philosophies of AI. One thing that struck me was our conversation on being big. We spoke about how “getting big” or reaching a certain random weight (mine was 160) was really an empty goal. What were you trying to achieve by “getting big”? This really clicked for me. It made me really look at what “big” meant, on the associations I had, and the values I placed on “being big”.

Soul searching is not new for me. When Cancer rocked my world, it changed my life. Being so skinny and not being able to eat food, devastated me. Healing from cancer required more than just a physical manifestation. It required me to take a good look at my thoughts, beliefs, and actions: past, present, and future. Losing all of that weight made me feel like I was back in high school bringing all of my old insecurities with it. Shan’s questioning of what “big” meant to me, was just another road inward on my healing journey.

It also sparked my curiosity and gave me an excuse to take a second look at the AI materials.

6. What made you decide to try out AI and join the contest?

In May, I went back and looked on my computer because I knew I had an AI pdf somewhere. It was an intro to the Adonis Index manual. I read it and was hooked. I really wanted to get a V-taper and a six pack. I figured if it helped Shan, it could certainly help me. Yet getting the actual workouts wasn’t easy. At the time, you guys must have been revamping the website because it took me about 25 minute to actually find the website to buy the workouts. Every time I googled it, I kept getting the Adonis Index and I wanted the workouts. At first, I thought it was a sign that I shouldn’t do the program, but I prevailed and I finally got it.

I joined the contest for a few reasons. I thought it would be fun, it would give me accountability, and it would help me overcome a big issue I had about my body. While the surgery was a success, it left me with a feeding tube, no pec, and slightly disfigured. I was very embarrassed and ashamed at how I looked. I never took my shirt off in public, not even in front of my kids. I wanted to heal all of the judgments I had about my body and to feel more comfortable in my own skin. I knew that posting pictures would be a challenge for me and an opportunity to let go of the shame. I was right on both accounts.

7. Explain what the experience was like going through the 12 week contest.

Because I liked the philosophy, I immersed myself in the workouts and the podcasts. I really enjoyed the online community too because it was great to be able to post my thoughts, questions, and resistance!! I had been so indoctrinated in the “classic” way of seeing bodybuilding and weightlifting, that it took me some time to integrate the new way of doing things. I had to totally rearrange my mind when I got on here. For example. When so many of the guys on here started talking about losing fat to start seeing abs, I freaked out. I was thinking, “Danger, Danger, Will Robinson! Are you guys crazy! I don’t want to lose weight. I just want to see my abs. Isn’t there a ton of crunches I can do? I didn’t sign up to lose weight. I did that involuntarily a few years ago.” My weight was precious to me. I couldn’t just start losing it for abs.

Needless to say, it took awhile for me to trust the program mentally. I mean, I never stopped using AI 3.1, but my mind needed time to catch up and it did.

One of the things I really liked about AI was the freedom. It was great to be supported to do as many workouts as I wanted to. I didn’t have to have mandatory rest days. This was awesome to me because I already knew that my body worked well with 5-6 workouts per week. Another thing that really sold me was the simplicity when it came down to food, supplements, and calories. I tried a workout program a few months before this one that I really liked. The program emphasized form and taught you how to train with proper form to get maximum results. The problem with the program was that it was extremely supplement heavy. It also continued to indoctrinate its readers with the whole 6-7 meals, tons of protein, and to exactly time your supplements. I had to stop because it got too rigid and time consuming. When I failed to do things in this specific way, I started believing I would not get any gains. After awhile, I stopped because it was too stressful and expensive.

8. What did you think of your results?

I am really happy with the results and the program. Blogging about my progress has been extremely supportive. I’ve met some really cool guys on here who have really helped me with the rough spots. I liked the workouts in AI 3.1. They were challenging and the change in reps and focus made things interesting. I was never bored. It took me a little while to get used to a program that was a bit unconventional. Most programs have the same standard workouts: bench 3-5 sets for 10-12 reps, squats 3-5 sets for 10-12 reps, etc. The different 4 week focus of each module plus the mixing up of exercises really excited me. BTW I thought the podcast about how the workouts were organized was super helpful.

I really enjoy my look. I have a 4 pack for the first time since high school and I know a 6 pack is on the way. My muscles look great, I’m strong, and besides a tweak with my shoulder, things have been smooth.

I was really able to work through the emotional process and issues I had with my body. As I embraced my new look and started seeing my body differently in the mirror and through my pics, I was really able to let a lot of the shame go. I could appreciate and acknowledge the progress I was making and my size and development. While this was part of my personal journey and not officially part of the program, having the AI community as another part of my already existing support system of friends and family, was an added bonus. Many of the guys could relate to what I was going through even though their situations were not the same. This built up my confidence and increased camaraderie.

Like I said, posting my pics online has been really helpful. This summer I took my shirt off at the pool and even at a water park. I wasn’t self-conscious. I didn’t worry who saw my tube or what they thought.

9. What are you goals moving forward?

One of the things I want to work on is my back/lats. I noticed in my pictures, it was really hard for me to get the width I wanted. My back looks cut up, but I really want that V pop. While I was watching the posing video with Eric Daye, I really liked how his Lats popped. He is my height, so I thought I’d use him as model or example. My goal is to make my back thicker and continue ripping my abs. I want to make my 4 pack a 6 pack.

10. What advice would you give to other guys who want to get in shape?

Trust the workouts right away, do them, and let your mind catch up. The AI transformation is not just physical; it is a mental/emotional one as well. I like to understand everything for full buy in. Because the info on here is not the standard workout info, it took me some time to really grasp the philosophies.

My advice: Listen to the podcasts. They were extremely valuable in really integrating the philosophies while I continued to do the workouts. Realize that as your body changes, it might bring up some old issues, thoughts, and habits that you might have believed your whole life. Get the support you need to deal with any emotional/ mental issues that come up to be healed. It’s all part of the process.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions until you get an answer that satisfies you.

Use the freedom on here to work out in ways that work for your body and your goals, even if that means to lift light or lose some weight. With that said, follow the programs as they are written. This is a tricky balance to follow.

The community is awesome and the guys on here are real supportive. Use it!

Have fun, be patient, and give yourself time to reach the goals you want have. Muscles don’t build over night.

And here is Louis’ essay from the contest:

…The mind is harder to change than the body. The bottom line is that my body doesn’t look like other men’s. That’s ok. I can confidently embrace what I have and build it to be the strongest version of me. There has been…Continue reading here

Filed Under: Contest, Podcasts, Stories, Transformation Tagged With: adonis index, Adonis Index Contest, Adonis Index Transformation, Adonis Physique, john barban, Vaclav Gregor

The Key to Lasting Motivation

October 12, 2012 by Allen Elliott

Let’s talk about motivation…

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.
– Zig Ziglar

What gets you going in the morning? What keeps you going during the day?

Do you wake up every morning pumped up because you can live out your dreams, work on amazing projects and do all the things you wanted to do or are you accustomed to the “same sh*t , different day” routine?

What do you do when you are tired and do not feel like going to the gym?

Do you dig deep within yourself in search of more strength and energy or do you simply “give up”, crash on the sofa and watch a couple episodes of How I Met Your Mother while chowing down on some pizza?

Some people know how to stay motivated and some are left relying on their luck, which person will you choose to become?

I said “choose” because I believe that we can choose who we want to become, what daily experience we want to have and what emotions we want to feel.

So the question is what do you do to keep yourself motivated?

If you are looking for external sources of motivation (like your coach or friends) you are approaching it from the wrong side. You have to learn how to “manufacture” motivation from within yourself whenever you need it.

The key to lasting motivation and being able to get back on track is when you are just not feeling it is in understanding one thing – your “Why” (meaning why do you want to achieve your goals).

Strangely enough, I was doing this without even realizing it until I recognized these similar traits from the winners of the Adonis Index and Venus Index contests.

Even though understanding your “why” is common sense (it’s not exactly some dark secret only a few chosen ones know about) most people still have no idea how to take advantage of this and often times feel helpless struggling to manage their daily activities.

We’ve had several contestants tell us that discovering your why is the best way to stay motivated for the long term.

Here’s something that I’ve noticed – Emotions come in waves, so you won’t always operate at a level of 100% determination to meet your goals and you will slip, everybody does, no one will ever have a perfect 12 week transformation. We are driven by emotions which is the force that shapes our habits.

However, even when you don’t feel like working out, you can still have an emotional state where you feel driven to do something that will help you grow; in this case going to the gym. You control all your emotions (good and bad, so nobody can make you angry, only you can), the only thing is creating the positive emotions will require more effort on your part (shocking I know).

Understanding your why will help you channel the right emotions to make the right decisions to get you closer to your ideal AI, because one of the keys to building an ideal body is workout consistency. I’m sure you’ve seen it yourself, people get gym memberships, but they lack any motivation to keep up their gym attendance so they drop out and never get in shape.

Time to Figure Out Your Why

The truth is that working out and even having an ideal body is not actually the outcome we want.

Take money for example, we don’t want the money, we want the lifestyle, we want to feel the emotions and have the experience that are associated with being wealthy, the same applies for building more muscle and having an ideal body.

A good looking body gives us feelings of confidence, accomplishment and happiness. It also means better job or social opportunities and positive feedback from others. It simply allows us to feel happier about ourselves, just listen to our podcasts and interviews if you don’t believe this to be true.

Your desire to build an ideal body has to be stronger than your desire to sit on the sofa and do nothing, which is very tempting because it’s comfortable and requires no effort.

Most men are in denial of their emotions, I know I was, but if you are in denial, you have already begun to lose control.

If you want to have control of your actions, you need to be in control of your emotions and know how to find that motivation within you every single day.

The best thing to do for yourself is to pause whatever activity your doing, close your eyes and take the next five minutes to just focus on figuring out:

-Why you want to build an ideal body?

-Why do you go to the gym?

-Why is the outcome important for you and how will it change your life?

Not that it’s written down, take a couple minutes out of your morning routine to imagine yourself achieving your goals. If you can see the benefits of achieving your goals, it will be easier to motivate yourself to go to the gym and stick to your diet.

Some contestants reported that they wanted to be more confident taking their shirt off, some guys wanted to be more healthy for their kids and/or grandkids, and some wanted to become actors and models, what’s your why?

FYI, I’m not a psychologist, nor an expert on emotions or the human brain, but I know that understanding your why helped me and our Adonis/Venus contestants get some pretty amazing results, so hopefully sharing this with you will lead to some new winners and some amazing transformations in our future contests.