Ep. #632: How Brannen Used Bigger Leaner Stronger to Lose 15 Pounds and Beat Depression

In this episode, I interview Brannen, who used Bigger Leaner Stronger to cut from 186 pounds down to 171 all while building his inner strength to beat depression, anxiety, and even an alcohol habit. Before finding Bigger Leaner Stronger, Brannen was experiencing marital problems. A move cross-country as part of his enlistment in the Air Force and a toxic relationship left him emotionally exhausted and without a support network of family or friends. He started relying on alcohol to help him cope, which left him out of shape and depressed. Eventually he got divorced, but this took a lot of mental bandwidth and ultimately, he felt like he didn’t have much going for him. The good news is Brannen found Bigger Leaner Stronger, which gave him a step-by-step workout routine to follow, and he started eating healthier. He also started reading books and filled his time with leading his men while deployed. And when coronavirus hit and he couldn’t come home, he stayed the course and kept “doing the work.” Over time, his mental health improved and he got a lot stronger while losing 15 pounds and going from a 35-inch waist down to a 31-inch waist with 10% body fat. In this interview, Brannen and I talk about his story and the important lessons he’s learned along the way, including how to get back into the gym after a break, how important it is to put order in your life and live according to your values, how to deal with negative thoughts and grief, why showing up and being consistent is more important than perfection, how to avoid a victim mindset, and a whole lot more. So if you’re looking for a jolt of inspiration and like motivational stories, I highly recommend you listen to this episode. 5:50 - How has your performance been during COVID? Has your strength declined or stayed the same? 17:27 - What was your body like before and after my program? 22:25 - What type of problems were you facing when you found my work? 42:21 - So now you are in the gym and building some momentum, what happens next? 49:12 - How did you stay away from the victim mindset? 1:00:15 - Where do you plan on going from here in your fitness journey? --- Mentioned on The Show: Shop Legion Supplements Here: https://legionathletics.com/shop/ --- Want free workout and meal plans? Download my science-based diet and training templates for men and women: https://legionathletics.com/text-sign-up/