The Year 1 Challenge: Bigger, Leaner, and Stronger Than Ever in 12 Months

by Michael Matthews

The Year 1 Challenge is a workout journal companion to the bestselling book Bigger Leaner Stronger. It contains your first year's worth of workouts, as well as a collection of the author's favorite motivational quotes. You will use this journal to record your progress on the program.

Genres: Fitness, Health, Nonfiction

346 pages, Paperback

First published January 5, 2015

About the author

Hi,

I’m Mike and I’ve been training for nearly a decade now.

I believe that every person can achieve the body of his or her dreams, and I work hard to give everyone that chance by providing workable, proven advice grounded in science, not a desire to sell phony magazines, workout products, or supplements.

I’ve helped quite a few people achieve their health and fitness goals, and at their urging, I am sharing what I’ve learned and know works here in this website, and in my books.

So if you’re looking to get in shape and look great, then I think I can help you. I hope you enjoy my website and books, and feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions and I’ll do my best to help.

Sincerely,

Mike

http://www.muscleforlife.com/

Reviews

[Monsop Collado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great BLS Companion — Could Use a Digital Upgrade

The Year One Challenge for Men by Michael Matthews is a fantastic follow-up to Bigger Leaner Stronger. It helped me reinforce key training principles like proper form, progressive overload, deloading, and tracking progress consistently. The structure is clear, and the weekly programming makes it easy to follow and stay accountable.

However, I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5 because the eBook version isn’t very practical for tracking progress. It repeats the workout lists for each phase, but lacks an interactive format or usable templates. A digital companion—like an app or editable tracker—would make a huge difference. If Michael ever releases one, I’d buy it without hesitation.

Still, this book is a powerful tool for staying focused and consistent in your first year of training. Highly recommended for BLS followers.

[Bill Schretter · Rating 3 out of 5]

not easy to read - too much jargon

Not sure what his recommendation is for the average person weight program. He claims complexity does not add results, but the different periodization strategies he references are complex and are supposed to be ineffective. Not sure in the end what is actual recommendation is.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

basics for a newbie

If you dont know much about programming, don’t get bored easy, and just need the basics, this is accurate and would produce results. But it’s also a bit boring and repetitive. Now there are options like Marcus fully persist, others on train heroic, etc that follow these principles but are more exciting, etc.

[Philip Irving Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

Good quick guide for competing the routine. Repeat of phase one in my kindle versions. Some good graphics in big 3 workouts, but wish more detail in other exercises were provided.

[J.S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is perfect if you are looking for a step-by-step workout plan for an entire year! I wonder if anyone has ever completed this task. So if you are truly committed and work through this book, please let me know and share your experience!

[Costas Papadopoulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended

Packed with useful nutrition and workout info for anyone who wants to get in shape, build muscle or just lose fat.

[Terry Morawski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This journal and the companion book got me off the couch and in the gym lifting weights. Highly recommended.

[Robert Brown]

It's more of a Worbook/Journal for completing a 1 year weight training program. It's easy to follow, and I was very satisfied with the results.

[Alejandro González · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hace rato que lo terminé y se me olvidó por completo.

[Noore Alam]

Can any one give me this book? I really need this book

[Robert A · Rating 5 out of 5]

cuts through the BS and excuses

Great book on how to start and just do it! Great step by step info to take your body to whatever level you want it to be!

[Mark Lange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

Practical advise and easy to follow. Would recommend to anyone wanting to start or get back into a weightlifting program.

[J A Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

so much information

There are no fitness guides for those of us who are disabled. Very few gym have any accessible training areas.

[Kai Lin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A simple training program outlined for a whole year, not particularly insightful but in being organized does it make it much easier to plan a progression and in being ready-made does it make it much easier to actually undertake.

As a side note I always love how encouraging Michael is in his books. His advice always comes down to basic, unsexy truths, but it keeps things accountable and reinforces actual lifestyle changes and personal growth which is potentially the greatest result of it all; that he also roots for you along the way is a vitalizing thing.

To Michael: I wouldn't have made my first real steps without you and I certainly wouldn't have buckled down without your grounded approach. I look forward to what the next year brings, and then, after looking back on where all that hard work has taken me, the steps after.