My trainer and I are going thru the pre info / max weight stages today so that we can start the ‘Built like a Badass‘ program on Monday. I am extremely excited about the new program. While on your “Westside Part III” program I lost a total of 271 lbs. as of this past Monday. My starting weight in October of 2007 was 478 lbs. and 64.2% body fat. As of Monday (11/9/09) I weighed in at 207 lbs. and 18.6% body fat. I still have a little way to go, but I feel amazing. I can never thank DeFranco Training enough for inspiring me everyday to work hard.
THANK YOU JOE D FOR EVERYTHING.
Edward B.
NOTE FROM JOE D: Edward, please don’t thank me. I would like to thank YOU! After seeing your pictures, YOU have inspired me! What you have done with your body and your LIFE is amazing! And trust me, you just inspired the hundreds of thousands of people that are looking at your pictures RIGHT NOW on this site! Attack the BADASS Program with the same passion and intensity that you attacked the WS4SB Program; and in 12 weeks, you will truly be THE epitome of a BADASS!!! Please keep all of us posted on your continued progress and success!!
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Q: Hey Joe. I’m really liking the Built like a Badass e-book. Nice work! I just had one question. Are you suppose to stick with your original 1RM for all of the percentages throughout the entire 12 weeks or do you bump the weight up on the percentages after the Week 5 deload? Thanks!
A: Stick with the same 1RM throughout the 12 weeks (even after the Week 5 deload). As you get stronger, you should just perform more reps on your last set of barbell bench presses and squats or deadlifts. (Remember that the final set of your main lift isn’t “engraved in stone” all the time on this program.)
After you complete the 1st 12 weeks on the program, start the program over again using your new 1RM’s.
Q: Is 135 pounds the prescribed weight for the barbell complex prescribed during the 1st 4 weeks of the program?
A: No! Just because the guy in our video was performing the complex with 135 pounds; this does not mean that you have to use this weight. Everyone has different strength, conditioning and skill levels. Start light during Week 1 and then choose a weight that’s best for you during the following weeks.
Q: To whom it may concern – I have a question and a comment: First of all how the hell did you know exactly how many reps i can perform with 82.5% of my 1RM??? When I first skimmed over the program i thought the percentages were more for show but they were right on!!!! That sh#t was almost freaky!! For that, i tip my hat to you guys..
Now my question- i know you guys marketed this book to washed-up meatheads (like myself) but I was wondering if it can be used for competitive athletes as well? My nephew plays basketball at a junior college and i really think he would benefit from this program. After performing the first 2 workouts myself i immediately thought of sharing it with him. The workouts were like nothing i’ve ever experienced…hands down the most challenging yet interesting workouts ive encountered during a lifetime in the iron game. Before pushing it on my nephew i wanted to get the advice of the professionals who wrote the book. Thanks guys.. Dan
A: Dan,
The percentages and rep schemes in the ebook were finalized after approximately 15 months of experimentation. (Trust me; this wasn’t something we just threw together!) I truly believe that the percentages and rep scheme that we devised are THE best combo for size and strength gains that you will find anywhere. The data from our gym, as well as the initial feedback this week from around the world, seems to support my claim. Gone are the days of going to the gym and aimlessly throwing random weights on the bar; we just made life a hell of alot easier (and more productive) for gym rats across the globe!
As far as your nephew is concerned; yes, he can definitely benefit from this program! You are correct in that we originally designed this program with “washed-up meatheads” in mind. But, many of our athletes are currently on the BADASS program and are experiencing incredible results. Think about it; this program combines strength, plyometrics, bodyweight movements and conditioning – sounds to me like athletes can benefit from it, doesn’t it? Obviously, there are many factors that determine what program an athlete should be on. But, the BADASS program is – without question – a valuable option during certain times of the year for many different athletes.
Q: Joe – does your built like a badass ebook have any application for bodybuilders or guys who are just interested in aesthetics? I’m interested in purchasing the ebook but not sure if it applies to me.
John from Miami
A: John,
If it’s aesthetics you’re after, you would ABSOLUTELY benefit from our “Badass” program! In my opnion, if more people trained like athletes, there would be a hell of a lot more lean and muscular people walking around! And as a “side effect”, they would actually have some “go” to go along with their “show”! And let’s not forget the fact that they would be healthier!
Q: Joe D, I just purchased the ebook and it looks great! But i didn’t see anything in the book about nutrition. I remember you saying something about providing sample meal plans in the book. Am i missing something?
A: We originally were going to incorporate a small section with one or two sample meal plans in the ebook. But in the end, I decided to pull the meal plans and keep the focus of the ebook on the 12-week program. I started to think that providing one or two meal plans may end up doing more harm than good. For example: one of the sample meal plans was designed for a 200-pound man looking to keep his bodyweight steady while gaining muscle and losing fat. I envisioned a million emails from overweight guys looking to lose weight, skinny guys looking to gain weight, carb cycling questions, food allergy concerns, supplement recommendations, etc., etc., etc. Simply put, giving away a “little” nutritional information would have opened up a can of worms and I didn’t want that. I wanted the 12-WEEK PROGRAM to be the “star of the show”. Plus, I don’t like “throwing the kitchen sink” at people all at once because then you never know what’s working and what’s not. I really want people to try the BUILT LIKE A BADASS program without making too many other drastic changes at the same time. This program is that good! In other words – just by adding the program alone – you should see incredible changes in your physique and your conditioning. Once you’re able to judge how the program is working for you; you can slowly add more components (like changing your diet, etc.). With that being said, a “BADASS NUTRITION” ebook (that will include the actual meal plans of our professional athletes and washed-up meatheads) is in the works. An ebook dedicated entirely to nutrition and supplementation will be much more beneficial than a “half-assed” nutrition section in a training ebook. Trust me, it will be worth the wait!
SPECIAL BADASS ANNOUNCEMENT!
I want to strongly encourage anyone who will be performing our BUILT LIKE A BADASS program to take some “before” pictures of yourself upon starting this program, as well as “after” photos once you complete the initial 12-week cycle. Besides featuring ‘BADASS Success Stories‘ on this website on a weekly basis; the photos will be used to crown the “Baddest Badass“! (I can’t speak too much more about this right now.) All I can say is: Get your copy of BUILT LIKE A BADASS. Take a picture of yourself. Follow the BADASS program like your life depends on it. Take a picture of the “new you” after you complete Week 12 of the program.
Wait until you hear what we have in store…more to come on this topic SOON!!!
-Joe D.
Just finished Badass which I had done once before several years ago. At 57 yo I am more cut and in better shape than ever and reached the ‘300’ club on my last lift. During the COVID shutdown and with access to a private gym this has been a savior! I’m thinking of doing one more round of Badass before trying something new. I assume it can only get better the second time. Thanks Joe!