Justin Weaver

He dropped nearly 30 pounds while getting stronger than ever, thanks to a science-based workout plan and diet.

Written By Jim Stoppani, PhD

Updated July 19, 2024

For Justin Weaver, an impressive physical transformation was made possible only because of a significant mental shift.

“Grasping the mindset that ‘your body is a temple’ was big for me,” says the 32-year-old. “Everything you do and what you put into your body matters—your workout plan, daily habits, saying no to desserts and drinks when you’re doing a program. All those little things add up.”

Justin went all in on Xtreme Shredded 8 with a goal “to do something different and challenge myself,” he says. “I’m very competitive and wanted to push my body and mind! I wanted to feel confident with my shirt off for my 10th-anniversary vacation.”

Five weeks into the program, he was already seeing big changes. A “Bod Pod” body composition test showed that he’d dropped 9 pounds of body fat and gained 3 pounds of muscle in just over a month. And that’s just one highlight of his transformation. “I've lost almost 30 pounds and dropped a ton more body fat since last year,” Justin says. “This is the leanest I've been since 2017 and the strongest ever.”

He’s not the only one pleased with the results, saying: “My wife’s background picture on her phone is an after picture of my transformation because she loves looking at her lean hubby!”

How Justin Got Shredded

Two JimStoppani.com workouts in particular fueled Justin’s fat loss and muscle gains: the 6-week Shortcut to Shred he completed in January of 2024 and the aforementioned XS8 in the summertime.

“These programs were the catalyst for putting my body into fat-fighting mode and boosting my metabolism for excellent results,” he says. “I didn’t care if I looked weird at the gym always doing cardioacceleration between sets!”

Nutrition played just as big of a role in his results, specifically the SS8 Diet that accompanies XS8.

“It’s all about high protein,” Justin says. “I started in phase 4 [of the SS8 Diet] to get my body used to extreme output from the workouts. After about three weeks, I dropped my carbs to phase 5, then last month I went low carb and cut my calories to 11 grams per pound of body weight (205) and incorporated intermittent fasting .”

His most valuable asset through it all was his mindset. “My biggest motivation for sticking to the plan was grasping the ‘why,’” Justin says. “Not just working out to look good with my shirt off, but the ‘why’ of treating my body like a temple. I get one body to live in, and I want to help motivate others to live their best life. I’ve been through extreme bouts of anxiety where I stopped working out, which was one of the worst things for me. I’ve come a long way in my mental health journey.”

Justin’s Advice For Others

If you’re looking to start your own physical and mental tranformation journey, here are Justin’s gems of wisdom:

You’re Not Alone: “I know what it’s like to be the bigger guy with a big belly who’s constantly struggling to fit in their clothes, has a dad bod, and feels insecure when taking his shirt off. Anyone can make a positive change, especially when Jim lays out everything for you.”
Take It One Day At a Time: “If you fall off, it’s okay. Give yourself grace and get back into it the next day. Rome wasn’t built in a day. It takes time.”
Be Prepared To Make Changes: “Significant lifestyle changes I had to make were first cutting out alcohol completely, cooking with Kerrygold butter and olive oil, and prioritizing my healthy fats. Also, not going out to eat, cooking all my food, and counting it all with a scale. It would take me 30 minutes to prepare my meals in the morning before work—all of my food, snacks, and post-workout shakes to hit my macronutrient goal and not be tempted to go out to eat.”
Be a Planner: “My biggest key was setting myself up for success. I plan my day around the gym every morning and when I can work out. I go to the store every few days to stock up on rotisserie chicken, protein bars, organic eggs, etc. I bring my workout clothes to work and have everything ready in advance. My wife was tremendous in supporting and motivating me to work out when I was in a bad mood. I also use MyFitnessPal to keep my consistency.”
Prioritize Sleep: “Get a routine and focus on 8-9 hours of sleep every night. Turn off the TV, put the video game controller down, and give your body and mind rest.”

Get results like Justin

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