TRANSFORMATION FEATURE: MIKE OLSEN

Why did you decide to do this Muscle Building Trainer, what was that ‘AHA’ moment?

I had just finished my first Ironman 70.3 race on June 2 and was disappointed with both my weight of 212 lb and my run time of almost 2 hours and 35 minutes in Ironman Hawaii 70.3. I decided I needed to fix my diet and get back into weight lifting if I wanted to drop some fat and get back into good cardiovascular condition and what better way than to follow a Kris Gethin video trainer series.

Why did you choose Kris’s Muscle Building Trainer over other programs?

While training for the Ironman Hawaii 70.3 I neglected my weightlifting in favor of more cardio so rather than jump into Kris's Man of Iron series where he does both, I decided I wanted first to build more muscle.  On top of that, I saw the 8-week trainer challenge was accepting entries, so I decided to join along with two friends. While both those friends fell off early in the trainer, their initial participation helped me choose this trainer.

What Kaged Muscle supplements did you take while doing this trainer?

In-Kaged
Fermented BCAA
Pure L-citrulline
Hydra-Charge
Fermented Glutamine
Clean Burn
Kasein (both chocolate and vanilla)

Which Kaged Muscle supplements that you used in the program were your favorite and why?

The Kasein was my favorite! The chocolate pancakes with vanilla frosting I ate made this not even feel like a diet! Up next was the IN-KAGED, which helped me push every rep, every set, and every muscle to a higher failure threshold.

Can you provide us with a 1-day sample of the diet you personally followed?

Meal 1: 3 Kaged Muscle chocolate protein pancakes about the width of the Kasein lid with vanilla frosting

Meal 2: 1 cup of oatmeal mixed with 1 scoop of protein powder

Meal 3: 6 oz steak, 3/4 cup of brown rice, topped with vegetables

Meal 4: 1 cup of oatmeal with 1 scoop of protein powder

Meal 5 (post-workout): 1 scoop of protein powder

Meal 6: 1 scoop of Kasein (50/50 mix of chocolate and vanilla).

What is the best piece of advice Kris provided you with during the program?

Control your environment; don't let your environment control you. As a business owner, I am always working, and it is easy to say I would eat healthy and workout, but I'm busy, or I'm traveling. Kris's advice to control your environment and his leading by example is the best piece of advice I garnered from the program.

What aspects of the trainer challenged you most?

Getting in all of my cardio, especially at least 6 hours apart to get the metabolism spike twice.

What is your advice for others wanting to do this program?

Find your "why" then dedicate yourself to this program and remember your "why" for those times you want to hit the snooze button or make an excuse for why you can miss a workout or have a cheat meal. 

What are the top 3 gym music tracks you listened to most during the trainer? 

1. Whatever it Takes (Jorgen Odegard remix) by Imagine Dragons

2. Chun-Li by Nicki Minaj

3. Bad Things by Machine Gun Kelly with Camilla Cabello

What tactics helped you overcome roadblocks in regards to family, social gatherings, diet, workout and career during this trainer?

My wife was the most significant help here.  As of August 30, 2018, she was projected to be sixth place in the world, 4th in the U.S. for the Ironman 70.3 All World Athlete rankings.  To earn this ranking, she ate (and cooked) a lot of the same food; she trained at an equally high level; and made sure I was not the only one at the restaurant in social settings ordering my food cooked with no oil, no butter, and no sauce.

The most important tactic was "no cheating." I did not allow myself to make an excuse for cheat meals. This helped change my mindset from finding a way to rationalize unhealthy eating to learning to enjoy cooking within the parameters of healthy food. Once I found some good oatmeal/protein powder combinations and the Kaged Muscle pancakes recipe this was easy to enjoy!