Category Archives: Fat Loss & Cutting Strategies

Training Log – Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Posted on by
Reply

Training Log – Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Overview

I trained for 80 minutes today. Everything was rest-pause style, kept the intensity high. Walked to the gym (45 minutes), trained, then walked to work.

Session Details

  • Style: Rest-pause throughout
  • Focus: Legs + Core
  • Cardio: 30 minutes stationary bike post-workout
  • Condition: Low-carb, fully keto-adapted

Workout Summary

  • Barbell Squat
    4 sets × 2–15 reps
    Top set: 15 reps at a high load
  • Dumbbell Step-Ups
    3 sets × 3–6 reps each leg
  • Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift
    3 sets × 8–12 reps
  • Barbell Calf Raise
    3 sets × 12 reps
  • Leg Extension Machine
    4 sets × 12 reps
  • Seated Leg Curl Machine
    4 sets × 6–15 reps
    Top set: 6 reps at a heavy load
  • Hanging Leg Raise
    3 sets × 30 reps
  • Weighted Plank
    1 set × 1:06 duration
  • Weighted Crunch
    1 set × 40 reps
  • Stationary Bike
    30:00 steady-state

Nutrition

Estimated Intake:

  • Calories: ~4000 kcal
  • Protein: ~360g
  • Fat: ~328g
  • Carbohydrates: ~36g (trace)

Food Sources:

  • Pork roast, ground beef, bacon
  • Chicken thighs, pork chops, steak
  • Cheese, Greek yogurt, whey isolate
  • Sausages, cottage cheese
  • Avocado, almond milk, margarine
  • Pecans, flaxseed
  • Spinach, broccoli, bell peppers, onions
  • Keto desserts (homemade)

Reflection

The output was high, and recovery has been solid. With this kind of intake and training volume, body composition keeps shifting in the right direction. Enough protein to support muscle. Enough fat to stabilize hormones. Carbs low enough to stay fat-adapted and lean.

Nothing needs changing yet. But I’ll adjust if needed:

  • If fat loss stalls, I’ll trim fats slightly
  • If performance drops, I’ll add a small clean refeed
  • If sleep gets choppy, I’ll look at timing and micronutrients

Jon Stone
Founder, ironresilience.net
Discipline, Not Genetics

IRON RESILIENCE LINKS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonstone.ironresilience?igsh=MWVyeDdmNjIyZzlzYg==
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ironresilience91
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iron.resilience
Website: https://ironresilience.net

Power Breakfast: Salmon and Liver for Bodybuilders

Posted on by
Reply

Power Breakfast: Salmon and Liver for Bodybuilders

If you’re serious about building a physique forged in iron and grit, your first meal sets the tone. Forget cereal and toast. At Iron Resilience, we start the day with something primal — salmon and liver.

@ironresilience

Why Salmon?

  • Complete Protein: 20–25g of high-quality protein per 100g to fuel muscle growth and repair.
  • Omega-3 Powerhouse: Reduces inflammation, enhances recovery, and supports fat metabolism.
  • Micronutrient-Rich: Loaded with B vitamins (especially B12), selenium, and potassium for energy and hormone support.

Why Liver?

  • Nature’s Multivitamin: Packed with vitamin A, iron, zinc, copper, and folate. Vital for testosterone and immune health.
  • Muscle Support: Contains 20g+ protein per 100g, depending on the source (beef, chicken, pork).
  • Mental Clarity & Drive: B12 and iron boost oxygen flow and brain performance.

Why Oats, Greek Yogurt, and “Fitness” Breakfasts Are Weak

  • Blood Sugar Spike: Oats and yogurt are carb-heavy and raise insulin, leading to energy crashes and hunger.
  • Low Nutrient Density: Compared to liver and fatty fish, they’re poor sources of bioavailable vitamins and minerals.
  • Poor Protein Quality: Yogurt protein is incomplete. Oats need pairing with other sources to even hit minimal anabolic thresholds.
  • Estrogenic Effects: Most “fitness yogurts” are processed, sweetened, and mimic dessert more than fuel — a metabolic trap.
  • Gut Disruption: Many people unknowingly react to oats or dairy, leading to bloating and suboptimal digestion.

Start your day with purpose. Not with corporate breakfast propaganda designed to keep you soft, sluggish, and dependent.

Perfect for Breakfast

  • High Satiety: Protein and fat combo keeps you full and focused for hours.
  • Zero Carb Spike: No insulin crash — perfect for keto, OMAD, or intermittent fasting protocols.
  • Nutrient Frontloading: Dominates your daily vitamin and mineral needs before 9 AM.

Iron Resilience Pro Tips

  • Add a fat source like grass-fed butter, egg yolks, or avocado to hit your macros.
  • Rotate liver types to balance your nutrient intake and avoid vitamin A overload.
  • Use lemon juice or vinegar when cooking liver — it boosts flavor and nutrient absorption.

Final Word

This isn’t your average breakfast. This is a warrior’s meal. Salmon and liver fuel a mindset of discipline, strength, and dominance. Eat like a savage, train like a machine, and build your legacy.

Iron Resilience isn’t about comfort. It’s about command. And it starts with what’s on your plate.

Jon Stone
Founder, ironresilience.net
Discipline, Not Genetics

IRON RESILIENCE LINKS

Don’t Confuse Getting Away With It for Being Healthy

Posted on by
Reply

Don’t Confuse Getting Away With It for Being Healthy

By Jon Stone | Iron Resilience

I’m not here to sugarcoat anything.

I vape. I use weed. I eat processed meat. I drink caffeine.
I’m not claiming any of that is healthy—but I don’t lie to myself about it either.
I own my vices. I own my choices. I take the hit and I keep moving forward.

What I won’t do is let this clown world pretend that obesity is healthy.
That sugar addiction is “just another lifestyle.”
That confidence can replace competence.

I’ve been obese—twice.
Once as a fat kid who got bullied and lived in shame.
Once as a grown man who slipped into weakness, comfort, and darkness.

276 pounds. Over 40% body fat.
Scared to swim. Scared to train. Scared to face myself.

But I did face myself. And now I live on the other side of that hell.

This fake freedom people talk about?
It’s an illusion.

How free are you if from age 5 to 18 you’re stuck in school,
Then pay out of pocket or through your parents for 2–4 more years of “education”
Just to get a 40+ hour/week job where you’re told when to eat, piss, and speak,
Where most people are just lucky to survive, drowning in debt from houses, cars, and bills?

And even then—if you do land a job—it might go to a diversity hire,
Or someone overseas who costs 1% as much.
And you’re expected to shut your mouth, smile, and play along
While mainstream media and fake experts dictate your thoughts.

Say the wrong thing? You’re censored, canceled, fired.
Vote? Sure. Between two handpicked puppets who both serve the same machine.
Democracy? More like two wolves and a sheep deciding what’s for dinner.

Meanwhile, the food you’re offered is trash.
High-carb, high-sugar, low-protein processed garbage.
Cheap meals, fake meat, fake health, fake freedom.
And when your body breaks down, they don’t fix it—they drug it.
More pills. More vaccines. More distractions.
More addiction to gaming, porn, social media, and dopamine.

And money? Not even real anymore.
Fiat currency backed by nothing, going digital so they can switch you off with one click.
You need a passport to travel. A license to drive. A permit to build. A mask to breathe.
You pay taxes, obey laws you didn’t write, and bow to speech codes enforced by people you’ll never meet.

That’s not freedom. That’s a padded cage.

Just Because You Can Eat It Doesn’t Mean It Works

People love to point at some jacked guy eating Pop-Tarts and say, “See? Carbs are fine!”
What they don’t tell you is:

  • That guy’s on gear.
  • That guy’s training like a savage.
  • That guy’s a genetic freak who could outlift you on pizza and beer.

You are not that guy. Neither am I.

Even with “clean carbs” like rice or oats, the question isn’t “Can I get away with this?”
It’s “Is this helping me dominate my goals?”

If the answer is no, then it’s weakness.
Disguised as balance.

You want fat loss? Mental clarity? Hunger control? Discipline?
You go very low carb.
You go high protein, high fat.
You go ketogenic. War mode.

Because keto isn’t just for sedentary dieters—it’s for warriors.
Keto athletes exist. They’re breaking records.
Outperforming sugar-junkies on half the fuel.
Because fat-fueled means focused. Fat-fueled means hard to kill.

I’m Not Here for Usain Bolt or Arnold

I’m here for the man working 10-hour shifts.
The man who’s fallen off and needs to claw his way back.
I’m not training Olympians. I’m training you.

You—the man who wants out of the herd.

Herd behavior is drive-thru dinners and cereal for breakfast.
Energy drinks. Candy. Weakness. Excuses.

You want to stand out? Live different. Eat different. Train different.

My Life? It’s Not Pretty. It’s Powerful.

I average 30,000 steps a day.
I train 7 days a week. Rain, shine, pre-work, post-work, doesn’t matter.

Sessions are 45 to 75 minutes of pain—weights, cardio, masochism.
I don’t train for fun. I train to dominate.

I run a 500 to 1,000+ calorie deficit daily—even when I binge.
If I slip, I punish myself. Fasted training. Fasting. Mental resets.

I fall. I bleed. I adapt.
I don’t stay down.

That’s the Iron Resilience Way.
No excuses. No crying. Just cold truth and hard action.

You want comfort? Stay soft.
You want freedom? Start suffering.
Because real freedom doesn’t come from voting, carbs, or Netflix.
It comes from mastering your body, your mind, and your pain.

Resilience is forged in fire.
And I’m still burning.

Jon Stone
Founder: https://ironresilience.net
Discipline, Not Genetics

IRON RESILIENCE LINKS

Disclaimer:
I do not promote violence, extremism, terrorism, crime, or hate.
This is social commentary—raw, personal, and based on lived experience.
It’s about discipline, self-reliance, and rejecting the excuses that keep you weak.

Is Peanut Butter Good for Cutting Weight?

Posted on by
Reply

Is Peanut Butter Good for Cutting Weight?

By Jon Stone | Iron Resilience

Peanut butter is one of those foods that gets thrown around in cutting diets like it’s a magic bullet. Some claim it keeps you full, others act like it’s diet kryptonite. The truth, as always, lies in discipline, intent, and how dialed in your protocol is.

Peanut Butter: The Good, the Bad, and the Fat

The Pros:

  • High in fat, moderate in protein
  • Low in carbs (if you buy natural, no-sugar versions)
  • Decent micronutrient profile—magnesium, potassium, vitamin E
  • Helps kill cravings if used tactically

The Cons:

  • Extremely calorie-dense: 2 tablespoons = ~200 calories
  • Low protein-to-calorie ratio—not ideal for muscle retention during a deficit
  • Easy to overeat, especially when you’re deep in a cut
  • Many commercial versions are filled with sugar and trash oils

For the average guy? Peanut butter is fine in moderation.
For a serious cut? It’s a side character—not the hero.

Iron Resilience Protocol Reality Check

I’m on an extreme cut right now. I’m maintaining 250g of protein and 180–200g of fat per day while creating a 5,000-calorie daily deficit. I’m walking over 25,000 steps a day, training with high output, and my food is weighed, tracked, and planned with intent.

Peanut butter might make an appearance—but it doesn’t lead the charge. Steak, eggs, Greek yogurt, ground beef, sausages, and custom keto desserts get the job done better.

That said, for taste and variety, I built a few spreads that hit my macros clean.

High-Protein Peanut Butter-Style Spread

Macros (per 50g):
300 calories
20g protein
24g fat
3g net carbs

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp natural peanut butter (32g)
  • 1 scoop whey isolate (~30g)
  • 1 tbsp melted margarine or coconut oil (15g)
  • 1–2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
  • Dash of salt and cinnamon (optional)
  • Stevia or erythritol to taste

Instructions:

  1. Mix peanut butter and melted margarine.
  2. Stir in whey isolate slowly.
  3. Add almond milk for texture.
  4. Season to taste.
  5. Store in fridge up to 5 days.

Use it on keto pancakes, with eggs, or frozen into molds for a fat bomb boost.

Zero-Peanut Butter Anabolic Keto Spread

Macros (per 50g):
~280 calories
~25g protein
~21g fat
1–2g net carbs

Ingredients:

  • 1 scoop whey isolate (30g)
  • 1 tbsp margarine or coconut oil
  • 2 tbsp Greek yogurt or cottage cheese
  • 1–2 tbsp almond milk
  • Salt, sweetener, and cinnamon (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Melt margarine and mix with yogurt or cottage cheese.
  2. Add whey isolate and almond milk—stir until creamy.
  3. Sweeten and spice to taste.
  4. Chill and store cold.

This is a clean fat-and-protein bomb that fits any deep cut. Add flaxseed, crushed nuts, or cocoa powder to customize the flavor without wrecking your deficit.

Final Word

Peanut butter isn’t evil. But it’s not a cornerstone food during a serious cut.
If you’re the type of man who’s cutting on war footing—no cheat meals, no margin for error—then peanut butter is just another tool. Respect the macros, weigh every gram, and don’t lie to yourself about portion size.

You want results? Then treat every bite like it’s part of a mission.
Track it. Earn it. Dominate the day.

Stay hard. Stay disciplined.
—Jon Stone | Iron Resilience

Why You Shouldn’t Take Fitness Advice from Obese People

Posted on by
Reply

Why You Shouldn’t Take Fitness Advice from Obese People

by Jon Stone | Iron Resilience

We live in strange times. Overweight people hand out diet tips to shredded lifters. Obese keyboard warriors play coach to men with abs, grit, and results. People who haven’t seen their jawline in years crown themselves “fitness experts.”

Here’s the hard truth:
If you’re healthy, disciplined, or already walking the walk—you don’t owe these people your attention.

The Body Doesn’t Lie

You wouldn’t take money advice from someone broke. You wouldn’t learn mental toughness from someone who gave up.

So why take health advice from someone who doesn’t follow their own?

Words are cheap. Results are real.
You can talk about macros and workouts all day—but if you’re not living it, you’re not qualified to teach it. Plain and simple.

In this world, the only thing that earns respect is proof. Not opinions, not intentions. Your body is the evidence. Your routine is the resume. You either show up or you don’t.

Why Do Obese People Give Fitness Advice?

1. Ego Protection

Giving advice helps them feel involved in the fitness world without doing the hard part. It’s roleplay. Makes the ego feel safe while the body stays soft.

2. Fantasy Coaching

They live online, watching YouTube and reading Reddit—thinking that makes them a coach. But knowing theory and living it are two different things.

3. Backwards Culture

We flipped the script. Now, telling someone to earn respect through discipline is called toxic, and making excuses is called brave. That’s not strength. That’s cowardice dressed as kindness.

Are There Exceptions?

Sure—but don’t get it twisted.

Respect the message, but always verify the messenger.
If someone’s not applying the advice and not getting results, why would you listen? Especially if you’re already healthier than them?

The body doesn’t lie. Results are the only credential that matters.

Backed by Science: Not Just Opinion

Here’s what the research says:

  • Appearance Affects Credibility:
    People trust diet advice more from professionals who look fit.
    Source: The Guardian
  • Many Obese People Misjudge Their Health:
    Almost half of overweight women think they’re in “good health” despite the risks.
    Study Link
  • Knowing Isn’t Doing:
    Just because someone knows they’re overweight doesn’t mean they’re doing anything about it.
    Study Link
  • People Follow Advice When It Matches the Messenger:
    Patients take advice more seriously when it comes from someone who actually lives it.
    Study Link
  • Bias Toward Fit Coaches Isn’t Just Prejudice—It’s Pattern Recognition:
    Obese people are seen as lacking discipline for a reason—it’s often true.
    Study Link

Final Word

Look—this isn’t about shaming. It’s about standards.

You don’t need to take advice from someone whose results don’t back it up. Respect the grind. Ignore the noise.

And remember:

  • Your body is your proof.
  • Your output is your voice.
  • Lead by example—stay lean, stay locked in, stay unshakable.

— Jon Stone
Iron Resilience

Why I Chose Keto—and Why Sugar Addicts Hate That

Posted on by
Reply

Why I Chose Keto—and Why Sugar Addicts Hate That

I’m not an elite endurance athlete, but I walk 17–20 miles daily and train 45–75 minutes a day. Before eliminating processed carbs and sugars, I struggled with hypoglycemia, mood swings, and energy crashes. Transitioning to a ketogenic diet was transformative for me.

Plenty of serious endurance athletes thrive on low-carb and keto approaches. Ultra-endurance runner Zach Bitter broke the 100-mile world record on a ketogenic diet. Elite Ironman triathletes like Dr. Dan Plews use low-carb strategies to optimize fat metabolism and endurance. It’s not just about performance—it’s about longevity, hormone stability, and mental clarity.

Sugar Is Not Fuel. It’s a Metabolic Wrecking Ball.

Let’s be real: processed sugar isn’t fuel—it’s biochemical sabotage. According to Dr. Robert Lustig at UCSF, added sugar (especially in liquid form like soda and energy drinks) is “toxic,” contributing to insulin resistance, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. [UCSF Source]

A 2023 BMJ meta-review found strong evidence linking sugar intake to increased risks of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression. [BMJ Review, 2023]

Sugary Drinks: Liquid Fat Storage

Drinking calories is one of the fastest ways to ruin metabolic health. Sugary drinks like soda, “sports drinks,” and sweetened teas bypass satiety signals and spike insulin violently. Harvard researchers found that people who consume sugary beverages daily have a 26% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. [Harvard School of Public Health]

White Bread and Sugary Cereals: Modern Man’s Junk Fuel

White bread and cereals are marketed as staples but are actually ultra-processed, insulin-spiking garbage. Stripped of fiber, minerals, and protein, they act just like sugar in the bloodstream. A study in Diabetes Care showed that high glycemic foods like white bread increase insulin resistance and inflammation. [Diabetes Care, 2002]

Cereals marketed to children contain more sugar per serving than cookies. The Environmental Working Group found that some “healthy” cereals are over 50% sugar by weight. [EWG Report, 2014]

Weston A. Price Warned Us Nearly 100 Years Ago

In his foundational work Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, Dr. Weston A. Price documented how traditional, ancestral diets built strong bodies and minds—while refined sugar and white flour triggered rapid physical decay. He observed widespread dental deformities, bone narrowing, and behavioral issues appearing within a single generation when indigenous tribes switched to white bread, jam, canned goods, and sugar. [Weston A. Price Foundation]

The modern diet is not built for strength—it’s built for profit. It hijacks your dopamine, spikes your insulin, weakens your bones, and burns out your endocrine system. That’s the truth they don’t want you to hear.

The Keto Difference

If you burn 6,000 calories a day, sure—maybe you can get away with sugar and lard. But for the average guy trying to lose fat, build muscle, and protect his testosterone? High-carb diets are a hormonal trap. I lived it. I crashed hard on a grain-based diet. I leveled up on keto.

I’m not here to argue. I’m here to live. Want more? Read the work. Follow the mindset. Or don’t. I really don’t care either way.


Jon Stone
Founder, ironresilience.net
Discipline, Not Genetics

IRON RESILIENCE LINKS
Instagram: jonstone.ironresilience
YouTube: @ironresilience91
TikTok: @iron.resilience
Website: ironresilience.net

Why I’m a Caveman

Posted on by
Reply

Why I’m a Caveman

Animals don’t have depression. They don’t have girl problems, legal problems, job worries, or bank accounts.

I know I’m on to something when people say, ‘Jon, you eat like a goddamn caveman.’

And they’re right. I do eat like that. Because modern life is broken. There’s nothing left worth dying for anymore. No great wars, no battles, no real conquests.

We need to return to monkey. Seriously.

Modern life is hell. It’s a mouse utopia. A hundred years ago boredom and being fat and lazy was a luxury only the rich could afford. Now? Everybody’s bored, fat, and lazy.

People scroll on their phones all day, trapped in distraction and comfort. We trade real struggle for safety and end up weaker inside and out.

That’s why I live the way I do. Not to impress anyone or because it’s trendy. I want to be free from the cage modern life builds around us.

I don’t always train fasted. I don’t always eat one meal a day. I’m just a guy who knows this world isn’t made for us.

We weren’t built to sit all day, overfed, overstimulated, and spiritually empty.

We were made to move, to hunt, to sweat, to fight, to push ourselves. That’s how you escape the mouse utopia.

If you want to survive this modern hell, you’ve got to reject the easy life. Get back to basics. Become a caveman again—not for show, but for your sanity and strength.

So yeah, call me a caveman. I’ll take that over a domesticated man quietly dying in comfort any day.

Jon Stone
Founder, ironresilience.net
Discipline, Not Genetics

IRON RESILIENCE LINKS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonstone.ironresilience
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ironresilience91
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iron.resilience
Website: https://ironresilience.net

The Legal Alternative to Meth and Adderall: How to Get Focus and Appetite Suppression Without the Risks

Posted on by
Reply

The Legal Alternative to Meth and Adderall: How to Get Focus and Appetite Suppression Without the Risks

If you’ve ever seen what Adderall or meth can do to your focus and appetite, you know it’s like flipping a switch. Suddenly distractions vanish, hunger dies, and your brain locks in. But those drugs aren’t gifts — they’re traps. Addiction, heart strain, mental breakdowns, and crashes that wreck your life.

Most guys chasing that edge don’t need to destroy themselves to get results. There’s a legal, safer way to get razor-sharp focus and curb your appetite — and stay standing.

Here’s the real deal on the legal stimulant stack that works.

Caffeine — The Classic Powerhouse

Caffeine is the foundation. Between 200 and 400 mg a day wakes your mind and helps shut off hunger. But go over 400 mg and you risk anxiety, jitters, and heart issues. It’s a fine line.

Pair caffeine with L-theanine, an amino acid from tea, to smooth out the buzz and lock in calm focus that lasts.

Nicotine Pouches or Gum — The Underrated Weapon

Nicotine, used right, is one of the strongest legal appetite suppressants and focus boosters out there. Low doses around 1 to 6 mg can kill hunger and sharpen your alertness.

But nicotine’s addictive. Treat it like a tool — not a habit. Use sparingly.

Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine — The Old School Boost

These are legal but regulated stimulants that have been around for ages. Ephedrine can crank up your energy and suppress appetite hard, but it comes with risks — heart strain, jitters, and tolerance build-up fast. Pseudoephedrine is milder and found in some cold meds, but it can still give a mild stimulant effect.

If you’re thinking about these, be smart, cycle them carefully, and don’t push too far. They’re closer to the effects of Adderall than caffeine or nicotine alone, but not without downsides.

Adaptogens and Nootropics — The Mental Armor

Supplements like Rhodiola Rosea, Theacrine, and Bacopa Monnieri don’t hit hard instantly, but they help reduce fatigue, improve mood, and sharpen cognition over time. They build steady energy without crashing or burning you out.

How to Stack Them for Maximum Effect

Here’s a no-bullshit routine to get serious focus and appetite control:

  • Morning: 200 mg caffeine (coffee or strong tea) plus 200 mg L-theanine
  • Midday: 1–3 mg nicotine pouch if appetite or focus drops
  • Afternoon: Optional 100–200 mg caffeine with L-theanine for another push
  • Daily: Adaptogens like Rhodiola Rosea or Theacrine for steady mental resilience
  • Ephedrine cycles only if you know what you’re doing, sparingly and carefully

This stack is strong, legal, and sustainable. It won’t blast you off like Adderall or meth, but it will get you locked in without wrecking your body.

Final Warning: Don’t Chase Speed

Chasing the rush of meth or Adderall will burn you down. There is no legal substitute that gives you that exact fire — and that’s good. Use these legal stimulants smartly, respect their limits, and build your focus and appetite control over time.

If you want a customized legal stack to dominate your day and control hunger without risking your health, I’m here to help.

Stay sharp, stay disciplined, and keep your edge on your terms.

Jon Stone
Founder, ironresilience.net
Discipline, Not Genetics

IRON RESILIENCE LINKS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonstone.ironresilience?igsh=MWVyeDdmNjIyZzlzYg==
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ironresilience91
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iron.resilience
Website: https://ironresilience.net

Shredded Over Size: The Iron Resilience Standard

Posted on by
Reply

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

IRON RESILIENCE LINKS
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ironresilience91
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iron.resilience
Website: https://ironresilience.net

Why I Swapped Greek Yogurt for Cottage Cheese and Peanut Butter for Butter on Keto

Posted on by
Reply

Why I Swapped Greek Yogurt for Cottage Cheese and Peanut Butter for Butter on Keto

by Jon Stone

In ketogenic bodybuilding, the small things add up. You might think you’re doing everything right, but some foods that look clean on the surface can quietly hold you back. I’m not here to preach or sell a one-size-fits-all plan. This is just what I’ve learned through trial, error, and real-world discipline. If you’re running a strict keto system for physique and performance, these are the swaps that made a real difference for me.

Greek Yogurt vs Cottage Cheese

Greek yogurt is popular for a reason. It’s high in protein and easy to find. But even the plain, unsweetened versions still have a surprising amount of carbs from lactose. I found it spiked my cravings and left me feeling less sharp over time. For someone doing standard low-carb, it might be fine. But for strict keto with a focus on body comp and mental clarity, it’s not ideal.

I swapped in full-fat cottage cheese instead. It’s lower in carbs, higher in protein per calorie, and easier on my digestion. It also holds me over longer and doesn’t trigger the same hunger rebounds. It’s not fancy, but it does the job.

Peanut Butter vs Butter

Peanut butter is another food that gets overhyped. Yeah, it has fat and protein. But it also comes with omega-6s, lectins, and just enough carbs to mess with insulin and fat adaptation. On paper it looks keto, but for me, it always led to overeating and loss of discipline. It’s also one of those foods that’s way too easy to binge.

I replaced it with butter. Just butter. No sugar, no plant toxins, no hidden macros. It’s pure fuel. I’ll use it in coffee, cook with it, or just melt it over meat and eggs. It’s helped me stay deeper in ketosis and dialed in with less effort. Butter doesn’t lie to you.

Why These Swaps Matter

I’m not saying everyone needs to follow this exactly. Do what works for your body and goals. But if you’re running a tight keto approach for strength, aesthetics, and clarity, these swaps are more than just upgrades — they’re optimal.

You don’t need to overthink it. Just stay consistent, cut out what doesn’t serve you, and fuel up on clean, simple foods that support the mission.

Jon Stone
Founder, ironresilience.net
Discipline, Not Genetics

IRON RESILIENCE LINKS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonstone.ironresilience
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ironresilience91
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iron.resilience
Website: https://ironresilience.net