My Story
Built From the
Same Place.
Before
My name is Max Barnes. In March 2024, I went to the doctor for a routine checkup. What I saw on the scale took me by surprise: 230 pounds, the heaviest I had ever been. The lab results were worse: pre-diabetic. What hit the hardest was the realization that I had been avoiding the truth for a long time. Avoiding the mirror, the scale, and my health. I looked exactly like how I was treating myself.
In April 2024, I finally stopped waiting. I committed to a guided nutrition plan and promised myself three weeks with no shortcuts. I trained consistently and focused on real food, and I did it in the middle of real life: 10–12 hour work days, a 120-mile round-trip commute, and family time that still mattered. I lost 10 pounds in the first few weeks and my energy started coming back.
Over the next year, I kept building momentum with the same schedule, the same responsibilities, and the same constraints. I kept my approach simple, stayed consistent, and let progress compound. In July 2025, I became a Precision Nutrition Certified Nutrition Coach. Today I weigh 180 pounds, lean, muscular, and energetic. But the real change goes beyond the physical. It's identity. I'm someone who keeps promises to himself. That's why Project Maximus exists.
What I Stand For
The Project Maximus Playbook is simple:
Background
My background is rooted in leadership and systems. I spent eight years serving in the United States Air Force, and today I lead a Proposal Management team in aerospace and defense. I hold a bachelor's degree in finance and economics and a Master of Business Administration. That same mindset carries into how I coach health. Simple systems, clear priorities, and sustainable progress.
After
"My job is not to give you the playbook that worked for me. My job is to help you write the playbook that works for you."
— Max Barnes, Project Maximus
I support 1st Phorm's mission and stand behind their core values. These are the only supplements I trust and the only ones I recommend.