Transformer
Year 1 was all about building my foundation and gaining knowledge in the gym. Most of what I learned came from personal experience, guidance from a seasoned gym mentor, and hours of online research. In the first 2.5 months, I dropped from 185 lbs to 155 lbs—without even knowing what a calorie deficit was. I was simply training hard and eating less, not realizing the full science behind fat loss.
But as I became more educated, I started to feel too skinny, and that pushed me into a new goal: building muscle. That shift marked the beginning of Year 2, where I committed to a calorie surplus and focused on gaining size the right way.
Year 2 was my favorite year of lifting. By then, I had gained a lot more knowledge, and the gym had officially become more than just a hobby—it became a dedication. When you commit yourself to something for a long enough period, it naturally evolves into a lifestyle.
The first progress photo I took that year was in February 2022, weighing in at 159 lbs. Within just three months, I had gained 10 pounds, and it was mostly clean mass. From what I’ve learned, whether it’s losing weight or gaining it, 12 weeks is more than enough time to make a serious transformation—if you're doing things right.
Nowadays, I can usually get shredded from a bulk in about 6 to 10 weeks, thanks to the structure, discipline, and strategies I’ve built over time.
Year 3 was when I decided to fully commit to my first real bulk. It wasn’t perfect—my eating habits weren’t as dialed in as they should’ve been—but I still made solid progress. I gained a lot of size and built the foundation of the physique I have today.
Over the course of 8 to 9 months, I put on about 45 pounds. While that kind of mass gain was impressive, I made a few key mistakes: I cut too fast afterward, and I neglected cardio during the bulk, which affected my conditioning.
Eventually, I hit a plateau, and I knew it was time to cut down. I finished that cut sitting at around 177 lbs of lean muscle. After maintaining that cut for a while, I made the decision to go into another bulk, this time with more knowledge and a smarter approach.
Year 4 marked the beginning of my second committed bulk. I started at 177 lbs and pushed my weight up to 215 lbs. Like any serious growth phase, I hit a few plateaus along the way—but that’s just part of the process. When I reached 215, I knew it was time to shift gears and begin another cut.
I ended that cut at 182 lbs. While that might not seem like a huge change from my last cutting phase, the difference this time was in the quality of the bulk. This phase was more focused on shape and size, not just the scale.
After finishing the cut, I transitioned into a maintenance phase—one of the most overlooked but essential parts of the process. Right now, I’m focused on maintaining leanness while slowly building muscle until I feel ready to enter my next bulk.