From Burned-Out Dad to Jacked: The 8-Week SS8 Rebuild That Changed Everything
After battling injury, job loss, and emotional burnout, Justin Schumacher transformed his body and mindset in just 8 weeks with the SS8 Challenge.
Justin Schumacher has been lifting weights for more than 20 years. He’s designed his own splits, followed his own nutrition plans, and built a solid physique over time. But like many longtime gym-goers, progress had stalled. Motivation was lacking. And accountability? That was starting to fade, too.
“A few years ago, I decided to commit to the annual Jim Stoppani membership to remove the guesswork and force some better accountability,” says Justin. “While this was a catalyst, I felt like I needed to really challenge myself, so I entered the Super Shredded 8 Summer Shred Challenge with two main goals: improve my cardiovascular health with HIIT and Tabata, and see if I could get into the best shape of my entire life before turning 40.”
That challenge turned out to be more than just a physical transformation for Justin. It was a full-circle comeback from one of the lowest points of his life.
Hitting Rock Bottom
Back in October 2024, Justin was in great shape. But then… one wrong move changed his life.
“I hurt my sciatic nerve trying to crack my back on a chair while traveling for work,” he recounts. “I suffered chronic numbness and hot and cold nerve sensations all throughout my body for over 2 months and was an emotional wreck because it was so awful. I was told to stop working out and just rehab, which I did, but I became a problem drinker in the meantime.”
That injury combined with the grind of business travel, the emotional toll of feeling like an absent father and husband, and losing his job right around the holidays, sent Justin into a spiral: “I made no resolutions. I let my circumstances define me and continued my spiral.”
Thankfully, a gym buddy intervened in January. Justin started tagging along, training at random hours, using the gym as a lifeline while unemployed. Eventually, he landed a new job, bulked back up to 260 pounds, and started easing into cardio.
Then came SS8…
8-Week Rebuild With the SS8 Challenge
Justin started the Super Shredded 8 Challenge in mid-May 2025 at 252 pounds and 16% body fat.
By the end, he was down to 235 pounds and 10% body fat (via calipers), with bigger arms and a smaller waist.
“My arms actually grew from 18¼ inches to 19 inches, and my waist dropped from a 34 to a 32,” he says. “I followed the SS8 nutrition plan Phase 1 for two weeks, stuck with Phase 2 for nearly the remainder, then went straight to Phase 6 the final 1.5 weeks to really deplete glycogen.”
His supplement stack included Pre JYM Plus , Pro JYM , Post JYM , and Alpha JYM X . His nutrition was dialed in. Alcohol and binge eating? Gone. “I got good at food prep and learned to optimize my time with early morning workouts.”
Justin’s primary motivation? His daughter.
“I wanted to be Super Dad for her,” he says. “I wanted to get healthy and be around. That’s what drove me.”
What Made the Difference
As someone who spends half his workday reading clinical studies in the wellness industry, Justin knows what’s legit and what’s fluff. That’s why he trusted Dr. Stoppani’s science-based programs and JYM supplements —and stuck with the plan even when it wasn’t easy.
“My biggest keys to success were simple,” he says. “One: My wife was fully on board. Two: I surrounded myself with people close to my goals. I told them, ‘This is the program I’m on. This is when I train. You can work in with me, but I won’t deviate.’ Three: TRUST the experts.”
That mindset helped him navigate major obstacles—like parenting, work demands, and a Michigan summer filled with lake days and temptations.
“I was that guy at the sandbar with a gallon jug of BCAAs and electrolytes eating lettuce wraps while others partied,” he says.
"Watch Me"
Now, Justin’s the example others look to.
The same people who asked, “Still hitting the gym?” are now asking, “What are you on?”
His answer? Discipline. Grit. Trust in the process.
“I got into the wellness products industry because I know I can help and inspire people, but I can’t help others if they don’t want to change,” he says. “So I decided to be the proof in the pudding and said, ‘Watch me.’”
He’s not done yet. His goal now is to drop to 7% body fat for the rest of summer and keep it under 12% during his next bulk this fall. After that? “I may look to step on stage for the first time next summer,” he says.
Justin’s advice to others wanting to make a change is this: “Do the hard stuff, act as if your life depends on it, and teach as you go. Being even 1% better every day is your first step to becoming your healthiest and best self.”
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