Shelby’s client Jason Pegg and his progress with Shelby
I just wanted to give you guys some feedback on my experiences with Shelby and the progress I made in the gym while dieting. it is kind of a long read, but worth it if you are thinking about using shelby or the 5/3/1.
I started with Shelby in late December. This was also the approximate time that I started on the 5/3/1 program My bodyweight was about 315lbs, down 10lbs from a career high 325lbs at the Powerstation ProAm. My bodyfat was somewhere between high and Walrus. I tried to get a DEXA scan done, but was too large for the machine. Shelby guessed it at low to mid 20′s, percentage wise. After about 10-12 emails back and forth to get all of the info and pictures that he needed, the diet started. the info shelby sent was very detailed, and covered not only food intake, but supplementation, cardio, and training recommendations. I was worried at first, as I hate being hungry, but was soon taken aback. I have NEVER eaten so much food in my life. it literally took me almost 2 weeks before I was completely adjusted to the sheer volume of food. It was, and still is, amazing. before, I wasnt eating that much food, volume wise, but it was ultra calorie dense. I had eaten mcdonalds literally every day for so long, I couldnt remember the last time that I hadn’t eaten it.
The cardio aspect was the hardest part for me to get in at first. at DC Barbell we do not have any traditional cardio machines, just some sleds and a Prowler. i had planned on walking the nature trail behind my house to do it, but the weather seemed to always be against me. it was always sleeting, or dumping freezing rain, and my trail was covered in ice. i eventually broke down and bought a commercial gym membership.
over the course of the diet, Shelby was always just an email away. I seriously think that the longest I had to wwait to recieve a reply was 6 hours, and this is because I sent it at around 1am on a Saturday nigh. the reply was there when I woke up, timestamped around 7am. during the day, I never had more than an hour between my email and his reply. This was great for me, as I get super paranoid about myself when i dont really know what is going on or what is going to happen.
Over the course of the diet, I dropped 30lbs, and my strength gain was incredible. when I started on the 5/3/1 my maxes were
Box squat: 800×1
Deadlift: 675×1
BB row: 315×4 done overhand but upright like Dorian Yates used to do.
My last 5/3/1 week went as follows
Box squat: 700×4
Deadlift: 600×7
BB Row: 315×7
I also added the new EFS Blue squat pad, which is soft like a couch cusion, and makes squatting VERY difficult. I hit a solid 820 at the Compound III at the UGSS as well.
http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?m=PD&cid=182&pid=2942
These rows were done with a flat back, which makes them much more difficult. My weight got as low as 280 in the morning a couple of times, but usually hovered around 285-290.
Hopefully this gives some of you guys who are on the fence some positive renforcement, and sways you to Shelby. I can truly say that I cannot remember feeling better in general I also have greatly reduced sleep apnea episodes. My wife thinks Im hot again, and people tell me that I look much more healthy. i can play much more with my kids, and probably the strangest thing, my hip mobility is greatly improved. This is odd, as I really didnt do anything specific to fix it.
