Going above and beyond, Chad Shaw defied the odds to build an amazing body for himself and his family using the most unconventional of methods – turning his weakness into a weapon, he created a body transformation of epic proportions
Chads vital stats
Before
Age: 40 Height: 5ft 9in Body fat: 13% Weight: 169lb
After
Age: 42 Height: 5ft 9in Body fat: 6% Weight: 174lb
I’ve been battling serious health problems my entire life. Some of these issues drastically limited what I was able to do physically. This reality compelled me to strive to become stronger and more capable.
I was always limited in terms of exercises that I could do, but I continuously experimented until I could devise ways to work around my physical idiosyncrasies.
This particular body transformation was initiated by an emergency surgery on my intestines. Sections of my large and small intestines had to be removed due to a torsion that was impinging my intestinal tract. Following the surgery, I was extremely sick. I couldn’t eat solid food for months and my activity level was strictly limited. I helplessly watched my hard-earned body deteriorate into nothing.
I was extremely determined to get my body back. In the end I made this transformation for myself, as well as for my family. The stronger and more capable I am, the more I have to offer to the people around me. I’m just more efficient in general. I hate the idea of being average, or the idea of not living up to my full potential. This would make my life seem ineffectual.
Chads body transformation strategy
Depending on the exercise, I perform 1-3 warm up sets per exercise and then one working set per exercise. I typically operate in the 6-12 rep range because I feel that’s optimal for muscle hypertrophy.
My training is brutally intense, therefore my workouts must be brief and infrequent to avoid over-training. I train each muscle group bi-weekly, except for abs and calves, which I train once a week.
The fuel for the transformation
Meal 1: Smoothie made with 2 eggs, 1 scoop of Training Ground Pure Whey, 3/4 cup of chopped broccoli, and 3/4 cup of wild blueberries and strawberries.
Meal 2: 1/4 cup of raw almonds.
Meal 3: 8-10oz of chicken breasts, 1 cup of spinach, 1 cup of raw broccoli, 1 piece of celery, 3 mini peppers, 4 cherry tomatoes.
Meal 4: Whey protein shake.
Meal 5: 2 glasses of dry red wine while cooking, 8-10oz of grilled chicken/fish, 5oz baked potato, 2 cups of vegetables.
Musical inspiration
X Ambassadors Jungle
Fallout Boy
My Songs Know What You Did
In The Dark
Digitalism
Miami Showdown
Eminem Survival
Chads transformation supplements
Testosterone booster
Whey protein
Creatine
Vitamin and mineral supplement
BCAAs
Joint support
Pre workout
Fish oil
Vitamin C
Resveratrol
The body transformation workout
Chest
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Weighted dips | 1 working set | 8-12 reps |
| Guillotine press | 1 working set | 6-10 reps |
| Inclined dumbbell press | 1 working set | 6-10 reps |
| Dumbbell Flyes | 1 working set | 8-12 reps |
Biceps
Exercise Sets Reps
Barbell drag curl 1 working set 8-12 reps
Spider curl with Straight Bar 1 working set 6-10 reps
EZ bar reverse grip spider curl 1 working set 6-10 reps
Hammer preacher curl 1 working set 6-10 reps
Hamstrings
Exercise Sets Reps
Barbell deadlift 1 working set 2-4 reps
Laying leg curls 8 sets 8 reps
Seated calf raises 1 working set 15-20
Legs
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Hack squats | 1 working set | 6-10 reps |
| Leg extention (superset) | 1 working set | 10-12 |
| Leg press (superset) | 1 working set | 10-12 |
| Standing calf raise | 1 working set | 12-20 reps |
| Toe press | 1 working set | 12-20 reps |
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