(Un)official 2026 T-ransformation Challenge

[TrainForPain]

Alright, team… it’s time! Let’s embark on another T-ransformation journey together!

What is a T-ransformation Challenge?
It’s our annual community opportunity to get after it together. We put up our current state, call our shot (goal), and get after success… all in a supportive team environment. In terms of popular demand - this our site’s favorite reality show.

Is this a weight loss contest?
It’s not! Although we tend to reward, historically, that poster that leans out the most, that’s by impact rather than design - the biggest visual change over 5 months is typically going to be a big fat drop. However, just like the MVP trophy isn’t exclusively a QB award, we are purposefully leaving the definition of this challenge vague. What that means for you is: pick a lofty goal, get after it with all your might, and let us help cheer on your achievements next summer… you’re in!

And how will you make this worth my while?
Oh, you greedy monster, you. But there are prizes!

Most transformed
I’m going to send you some Biotest supplements, based on your goals and preferences. No change here!

Other stuff
Again, purposefully vague! I liked our old “MVP” award, for most supportive posters, but you were all so noble I couldn’t send you anything. I’m going to leave this one open, and I might drop some suprise opportunities at the end - maybe I pick our favorite “mentor” or we have a “comeback” type that overcame some significant odds. There are no rules and the game is made up, so I’ll cross that bridge as I come to it.

I’m not fat enough
@T3hPwnisher consistently offers the “Bruce Randall Exellence in Corpulence” award for those of us that really beef up… will this be a year there is finally a taker?

Wide right (or left)
Again, @T3hPwnisher helps us with those participants that don’t quite achieve their goals and put themselves out there… supporting your continued transformation with some combination of Super Squats” and a gallon of milk, “Mass Made Simple” and a box of uncrustables, or “Feast, Famine and Ferocity.”

So what do we gotta do?

• Adults only, my friends. I love that we have the young getting after it, but I’m not encouraging Internet underwear pictures… before the age of majority, of course; at that point, we’re making it near-mandatory.
• Before: get your before picture in by Friday, January 9, 2026. I’d ask, please nothing before December 30 this year (it’s just too hard for me to keep up with). Your picture should give us something we can see - upper body frontal shirtless/ sports bra or something similar. Legs/ back/ etc. are optional but can be some pretty cool comparisons. Tag me with your pic so I grab it. Once I like your tagged post, you know I have your pic saved.
• Tell us your goal! Especially those of you not going for pure visual transformation, what are you chasing?
• Tag your log with the t-ransformation2026 so we can jump in and support you. The best part of this is the community coaching and accountability we’ll all receive!
• After: I need those after pictures no later than Saturday, May 23, 2026 (Memorial Day in the US). Same rules (and, preferably, lighting) as the before pics. Also, if you were going after something else (maybe you added 65lbs to your bench??), let us know in that close-out post so I can account for your big accomplishment in the voting.

What’s next?
What’s next is you! Let’s get ready to rock, call out your friends right here in this thread (this year… the tagging is yours!), and let’s all keep that momentum going!

[alex_uk]

@TrainForPain

I’m not fat enough
@T3hPwnisher consistently offers the “Bruce Randall Exellence in Corpulence” award for those of us that really beef up… will this be a year there is finally a taker?

On it!

[simo74]

Looks like its time to start eating or cutting hard depending on what your goal is next year. 3 weeks to make your start photo a bad as possible./ LOL

[Lonnie123]

@simo74

3 weeks to make your start photo a bad as possible

Been working on that for a year already! You’ve got a lot of catching up to do!

[jdm135]

Definitely in. Thanks for doing this.

[freshyfresh]

I’m in for this once again! I was trying to think about what my goals would be and I’m settling on a super total, some jump goal, and a running goal for the end of the challenge. My gf is interested in doing it too but she’s not interested doing anything on the forum

[OyAmPipMayo]

Google Search

[TrainForPain]

@freshyfresh

My gf is interested in doing it too but she’s not interested doing anything on the forum

Bring her on just for this?

[freshyfresh]

I’ll have to try!

[TrainForPain]

She’ll be “introduced” to a lot of badass ladies… hard to go wrong!
@EmilyQ @BethB @QuadQueen @Dani_Shugart @badgerbabe1223 @unicornsandrainbows @ChickenLittle @donnerschweer @planetcybertron

Who am I missing? There was a Marine (I think - I know service member) that killed it last year too. Forgive me, I can’t remember her @

[badgerbabe1223]

OOOOO OOOOOO I AM SO EXCITED. Now I have all the more reason to lock in.

[BethB]

That’s a pretty impressive group to include me in. Many thanks.

[Brant_Drake]

@alex_uk

On it!

I’m half tempted to do this also.

[donnerschweer]

The kind of old, kind of crazy, kind of broken but refuse to stop. Lifting, MTB, hiking, may try to ski again this winter. Moi

[TrainForPain]

I’m clearly the one getting old! Fixed

[shaneinga]

I’m in.

[T3hPwnisher]

I’m not fat enough
@T3hPwnisher consistently offers the “Bruce Randall Exellence in Corpulence” award for those of us that really beef up… will this be a year there is finally a taker?

Wide right (or left)
Again, @T3hPwnisher helps us with those participants that don’t quite achieve their goals and put themselves out there… supporting your continued transformation with some combination of Super Squats” and a gallon of milk, “Mass Made Simple” and a box of uncrustables, or “Feast, Famine and Ferocity.”

Just going to keep reupping on this. I remain a BIG fan (pun possibly) of excellence in gaining. I blame it on this very website, growing up reading Dave Tate’s stories of nutritional debauchery.

Because I’ve been on the Tactical Barbell train for a year, let me continue to make the reward ridiculous. Alongside the above mentioned, I’m also willing to purchase any single Tactical Barbell book AND an MRE

I’ll even make it NOT be Beef Goulash…if I can manage.

Alternatively, if someone wants to get on the MRE diet during the transformation program while running Tactical Barbell, I’m not sure WHAT reward I’ll offer…but I feel like it’d be worth SOMETHING. I’d probably find it more interesting than whatever is streaming, so perhaps just a cash prize of a streaming service for the duration of the program. Which I suppose means I’ve made you my own personal “only fans”…

But anyway, if you go that route, check here

Once again, I’ll be out of the participation this year, but very willing to support. As @TrainForPain mentioned in the startup thread, I recently released a mini-ebook, which contained my review of 17 programs and 8 different diets, and those were just the ones I felt worth writing about. It made me realize that, if nothing else, I can share a lot of experiences and ideas for those that are just looking for some inspiration.

[Cretin78]

I will continue to do as I stated in the other thread regarding this.

I’m not interested in actually winning, but interesting enough I’ve just began a new training structure and this will be interesting to see how I may progress here!

I’m now doing a 2-rep muscle building approach, however 1-rep can still be a factor.

My reasoning behind this is, I can lift a weight for 1-rep and that rep will gauge whether I should do the 2nd rep. If I don’t do the 2nd rep I call it a day and be happy with a 1-rep grinder. I will then attempt the same weight again at a later date for 2. If I get 2reps, add weight for next time.

My goals are thick, dense, hard muscle size, without getting tubby. I’ve already hit a lean goal. Vids are in my journal.

A little more tightness in the midsection is certainly ok, but I’m not going for perfect abs.

Outside of the 2-reps, I train everyday 7-days a week, doing lighter pump work. The only type of cardio I do is walking the hound, Supersets and 100rep squat sets. Outside of lifting I have no other activities that are active, I live on a dang computer for a living. I also usually get interrupted when training.

I’m essentially an instinctive lifter, I lost 40# of fat since 3-years ago. I competed in AM regional strongman from 2003 -2008. I have limited equipment, no racks, no benches. I enjoy the challenge of taking what I have or purchasing something different and finding ways to utilize it outside my comfort zone.

Example, no rack means I’m forced to do 100rep squats.

I also do a variety of lifts which meshes well with the 2-rep approach.

I plan to post up after Dec 30.

[alex_uk]

@Cretin78

no rack means I’m forced to do 100rep squats.

You tried Steinborn squats?

[Cretin78]

Oh yeah! I’ve done them since back in 2005.

I used too lift in my backyard and I’d go as heavy as possible then. But Im not doing that in my garage with steel plates.

I currently do my 20rep sets via steinborn style. I’ve got vids in my journal doing them.

I’ve recently been doing the continental squat and that is really a nice lift, I don’t even consider it for really leg building, I do them for the awesome good morning action, IMO best way to do good mornings!