Shredded Over Size: The Iron Resilience Standard

By Jon Stone
Founder of ironresilience.net
Discipline, Not Genetics

There’s a weird thing that happens when you get lean.

You drop 50 or more pounds of fat, veins start showing up, your jawline comes back, and your pants go from XL to medium. And yet, someone still points at a dude with a beer gut and says ‘he’s stronger than you’.

It’s not hate. It’s just the mindset out there. Big equals strong to most people. Even if that guy’s out of breath walking to the fridge.

The Powerlifter Bubble

Some guys live in this world where lifting is everything. Westside, chalk, five plates, bar bends, and chicken wings after the gym. They call it powerbuilding. They say shredded guys are weak. They love to joke about abs being ‘earned in the kitchen but lost in the squat rack.’

Alright, fair. They lift heavy. But lifting isn’t the same thing as building a body. And most of the time, they’re hiding behind strength numbers so they can keep eating garbage and call it ‘fuel.’

Not all of them, sure. But enough.

Two Different Roads

Let’s break it down. There are two types of lifters.

One trains for discipline, shape, performance, and confidence. He looks like he was carved out of stone.

The other trains to get strong and eat a lot. He’s proud of his lifts but hasn’t seen his jaw since high school.

Both work hard. Only one lives hard.

Why Size Matters to Some Women More Than Leanness

Here’s an important detail that often gets overlooked: many women, especially those raised around big, strong, stocky men—like construction workers, tradesmen, or heavy laborers—actually find bigger, more solid guys more attractive. They see size and bulk as real strength, not just muscle definition.

For them, an 18-inch “fatcep” might feel stronger and more impressive than a 16.5-inch shredded bicep. It’s what they grew up around. Even women who carry extra weight themselves tend to prefer partners who look solid and powerful over lean and shredded.

Skinnyfat guys usually get lost in the middle—neither lean nor truly strong-looking—and that often leaves them invisible in this dynamic.

The Shredded Aesthetic Protocol

Calories: around 2000 a day
Macros: 250g protein, 120-140g fat, under 20g carbs
Meals: OMAD (one meal a day) on work days, two meals on rest days
Style: Ketogenic, fasted training, high volume, dry and shredded

Sample Meals

Workday OMAD:
– 8 oz ribeye
– 3 eggs fried in butter
– Spinach and flaxseed
– Keto chai with almond milk

Rest day meals:
Meal 1: Greek yogurt, whey, almond butter
Meal 2: Bacon, eggs, avocado, sardines

Training: Push Pull Legs – 6 days per week

Day 1 – Push:
Incline DB Press 4×10
DB Shoulder Press 4×12
Lateral Raises 4×20
Dips 3 sets to failure
Overhead Triceps Extensions 3×15

Day 2 – Pull:
Pullups 4×8
Barbell Rows 4×10
Face Pulls 3×20
EZ Bar Curl 4×12
Hammer Curls 3×10

Day 3 – Legs:
Front Squat 4×8
Romanian Deadlift 4×10
Walking Lunges 3×15
Hamstring Curls 3×20
Calf Raises 4×20

Days 4-6: Repeat with variation
Add incline bench, Arnold press, rack pulls, hack squats etc.

Cardio: 45-60 minutes fasted walking daily
Optional: 2x per week HIIT (20 mins)

The Dirty Bulk Big Boy Setup

He’s not lazy. He’s in the gym. He moves weight. But he also eats like he’s bulking year-round. And yeah, he’s strong. But he’s tired all the time. Says cardio kills gains. And the only lines he has are in his forehead.

Calories: 3500 to 4000
Macros: 220g protein, 250-300g fat, under 20g carbs
Meals: 6 to 8 meals a day
Style: Dirty keto, strongman fuel, always eating

Sample Meals

Meal 1: 4 eggs, cheese, bacon, sausage, butter coffee
Meal 2: Ground beef, margarine, cheddar, bell peppers
Meal 3: Whey shake with almond butter
Meal 4: Chicken thighs, mayo, broccoli with melted cheese
Snacks: Hot dogs, pork rinds, cottage cheese, keto pudding

Training: 4-Day Westside Split

Day 1 – Upper Max Effort:
Barbell Bench 5×5
Weighted Dips 4×10
DB Rows 4×10
Seated Overhead Press 3×10
Rope Extensions 3×15

Day 2 – Lower Max Effort:
Deadlifts 5×3
Box Squats 4×6
Step-Ups 3×10
Hamstring Curls 3×15
Calf Raises 4×20

Day 3 – Upper Speed:
Speed Bench 8×3
Chin-Ups 4×10
Incline DB Press 3×12
Lateral Raises 4×20
Close-Grip Press 3×10

Day 4 – Lower Speed:
Speed Squats 8×2
Power Cleans 3×5
RDLs 4×10
Glute Ham Raises 3×8
Tibialis Raises 3×20

Cardio: 15k steps minimum on active days

What Do You Want to Be?

You can be big. You can be strong. You can even be both. But if you’re not shredded, you’re not finished.

You don’t have to do it like everyone else. But if you want the body, the clarity, and the power that doesn’t fade when the barbell is gone, you’ve got to take the harder road.

Get lean. Get dry. Get real.

That’s Iron Resilience.

Jon Stone
Founder, ironresilience.net
Discipline, Not Genetics

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