Beyond Bigger Leaner Stronger: The Advanced Guide to Building Muscle, Staying Lean, and Getting Strong (The Bigger Leaner Stronger Series) Paperback – June 16, 2014

Even if you are an advanced bodybuilder, I would read Bigger, Leaner, Stronger first. I ran across Michael Matthew's site by accident, just researching something about working out when I was trying to put a program together for myself. Of course, when reading the articles on his site, his books are advertised. At first, I'd just close them all and continue looking at different stuff. The thing is, I read so many people's rants about how great his books were, I finally just said what the hell and bought BLS. I'm fifty one and figured I've spend so many thousands of dollars on books, magazines, equipment, supplements and flat out bulls*** over the years, what was another ten bucks, right? Another thing was that he answers questions pretty quickly and I was impressed by this.All I can say is that if you actually read these books cover to cover, and actually listen to and do the things (including diet, folks...NO CHEATING), it is the best bodybuilding program ever put together. Yeah, strong words for sure, but after three and a half decades of failure, I was ready to blindly follow what looked to be the most sensible and complete thing I'd ever read about bodybuilding. Even then, I still farted around just picking and choosing what I wanted from his teachings for a few weeks until one Sunday I sat down and just said "screw it...I'm all in." I sat for nearly an entire day and worked out my diet, sodium levels and all, and I have basically eaten the exact same thing every day since. Now that doesn't mean that YOU have to do that, but I can deal with it. The first eight weeks have been incredible. I've doubled and tripled my strength on every single lift, and while the scale is still saying the same thing, I've went down a whole size in clothing. Yes, I've put on muscle and lost fat. I'm five eleven, 250 lbs, and suddenly people are saying that they can't believe how I look after a few weeks. Do you know what it's like having a girl in her mid 20s wink and say "keep it up, sexy"? I sure didn't until about a week ago, lol.I bought this book as soon as it came out, even though I knew I wouldn't be using it for a long time because (A) I like to "master" things, so I wanted to read it over and over before I ever needed to put it to use and (B) I was craving more. What I've found, is that this book helped me understand Bigger, Leaner, Stronger better, and some of the theory is a bit more in-depth, if you are into that. I also found a continued inspiration and new way to look at things from the first few chapters. Like I said, I'm into mastery, so I still read BLS over and over, but to me, these two are simply one book. I have also purchased Muscle Myths and a few others that Mike has written and they are all fine reads, but these two books are kind of like Led Zeppelin 1 through 4, or Rush 2112 through Moving Pictures--if you are going to get something, get these first. They are his Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall...enough classic rock comparisons, lol. There is a lot in these books you may not care to read, and I believe that Michael puts all of this in there because some of us want to get into the theory and science as much as he does. Some of us do not. For those that do, all the extra information is freaking outstanding. For those that don't, you know what? Skip over it. This sounds like an infomercial pitch, but after knowing what I know, I would have paid anything for it. You get EVERYTHING. The workouts, the theory, the science, the diet planning, proper form and info on where to go to get it for every exercise, how to cheat on your diet, when to take a week off, when to change it up, when and how much and WHAT cardio to do, you name it. Also, use his website. It is fantastic, and he answers your questions within a few days, a week tops. This is impressive considering that they come from many different sources. Michael doesn't just take your money and run, he is invested in your success and never, ever makes you feel like you've asked a stupid question, which I know I have!

Great advice to continue on from his first book. Easy to follow workouts, nothing overly complicated. Great book to help push on through to the next level.

A great addition to "bigger leaner stronger". This is one of the books that drastically changed how I exercise, eat, recover.It helped me get on track and gain muscles.

This was a fantastic book that is jam-packed with qualified information and research to justify the authors point. the biggest takeaway here is that whatever your goals are for your body, that they're numerous ways to achieve them. Constantly in the fitness space, people are looking for the silver-bullet, single solution that will help defeat their demons and achieve masterful results. Well, IT DON'T WORK LIKE THAT and Matthew presents great examples and ideas as to why and which solutions actually can work. I have applied his theory and have dropped over 25 pounds, lowered my body fat percentage by almost 10%, and maintained it over the course of 1.5 years. This is not a get rich quick scheme. This is a way of life. If you need something quicker you can achieve those same results, but it'll be in other fashions not explained in these books, not to mention it's much likelier that you revert back to whatever you were before the change. Commit and you will enjoy life much more. Just make sure that if you do commit to the teachings in this book and the BLS one, that you simplify your life. As with any change your plate has to be small so you can focus intently on the things that matter like getting into optimal strength!PLEASE READ: DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK IF YOU HAVE NOT READ HIS FIRST BOOK BLS (the one with the big yellow background). You need to read that first even if you know a ton on the subject. You need to know how he thinks to help further qualify the material in this book.