Jacques Fagan

USN-SPONSORED ATHLETE JACQUES FAGAN IS THE  CURRENT POINTS LEADER IN THE IFBB PLATINUM LEAGUE’S MEN’S ATHLETIC PHYSIQUE DIVISION. Since his last appearance on the cover of this magazine, Jacques has overhauled his approach to training and nutrition, to deliver a year-round aesthetic that delivers results, be it on the competitive bodybuilding stage, or for his sponsors as a loyal brand ambassador. We share an exclusive look into how he has constructed his formula for success, which now transcends all areas of his life.

- Pedro van Gaalen

You've added serious muscle mass to your frame. What approach have you used to achieve this?

For the last 12 months I’ve changed up my training, testing different methods from heavy weights in the off-season, to drop sets during competition season, in addition to changing my diet by focusing more on my calorie balance – putting back in more quality calories than I burn each day.

Why have you chosen to use drop sets as your dominant workout structure?

Time for me is very limited with the business I run full-time. With drop sets I can get a lot done in a shorter period of time. Drop sets also force a lot of blood into the specific muscles I'm targeting, and I burn more calories because of the explosiveness and limited rest between sets and workouts. Time under tension for the muscle also plays a vital role with regard to building size. For these reasons, I’ve found this training structure works best for me at the moment. And the more knowledge I gain about my body, the better results.

How have you changed your diet to add more muscle?