One day I saw an infomercial advertising the legendary ab roller. The fitness models claimed rolling on the device several minutes per day was the secret to their success. I would finally have the body of my dreams!
So, I ordered the product.
At the time, I was an insecure and self-conscious teenager. A perfect candidate to fall for the marketing like millions of other consumers. That product sold for 100$ and it was pretty much my life savings at the time. Watching that infomercial fired a synapse in my brain and a desire for 6 pack abs was born. Ab roller workouts were now a part of my life. Instead of several minutes a day, I would often go up to two hours a day.
The result? Nothing.
I’ll never forget the lesson, that was the day I started bodybuilding and never looked back. Over the last five years, I have had a ripped midsection year round. Maintaining my 6 pack from 160 pounds all the way to 205 pounds at 6’0 in height. This did not come from an ab roller, magic product or magic pill. It came through sacrifice.
Getting ripped is all about discipline and dedication. This is what James shared with me that fateful morning.
3:45 A.M.
Alarm goes off.
4 A.M.
2 scoops whey protein/black coffee/1L water
4:30 A.M.
Drive to the gym.
4:45 A.M.
The moment my mind awakened to the truth.
My first training session with a professional fitness model started off interestingly enough. At 5’11 and over 200 pounds in the flesh, James was the real deal. Dry and shredded at 6% body fat with a certain mind-blowing fullness to his muscle shape. 31-inch waist with perfect 6 pack abs The rest of his body could best be described as “freakish”.
“Do you use creatine and BCAA’s?”
James stared at me for what seemed like five minutes. It was a strange moment.
“None of that stuff does a damn thing. Stick with me kid and maybe you’ll learn something. Follow my nutrition plan for a year solid. No cheating.”
My real education began that day.
When it comes to being ripped, The worse you feel the better you will look. I don’t feel that good at 6% body fat and like to maintain 8-10% body fat for emotional health. The human body does not want to maintain a shredded condition. It’s uncomfortable and can become unhealthy. I can attest to the fact that that some stimulant use is necessary to function while super lean. I have relied on caffeine intake for years to keep up my condition. Many others know this reality well and abuse fat burners, stimulants, diuretics and supplements to stay lean. Diet is super important for reaching a low body fat percentage. Resistance training is just as important re-composition your body. This works by increasing your muscle mass which will help burn off the body fat. It’s quite simple, muscle is an active tissue that burns calories at rest. The more muscle you have on your frame, the easier it will be to achieve and maintain 6 pack abs. Forget the new hot product for 6 pack abs and know the truth. Commit to resistance training and nutrition to achieve real results.