Young Star

How to be ridiculously fit

October 21, 2011 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - Having six-pack abs does not mean you have a strong core. All it means is being aesthetically pleasing while suffering on the inside.

Now, I won’t claim to be an expert at fitness. I have never studied it but I have lived my whole life pretty much dedicated to it. And I want to be honest with you. I’ve done all the tricks and cheats in the trade until finally realizing that the only way to get ridiculously fit is changing your view on life. Yes, as much as it is annoyingly overused, fitness is a lifestyle change.

The Truth

There’s that ultra-muscle, insanely ripped guy pictured in that fitness magazine showing you the exercises you need to do to get that body. So you tell yourself, well, okay, I can do this. And you do. But for some damn reason when you take your shirt off, although your body has improved, it looks far different from said chiseled photo.

Workout: Side Planks. Main target: Obliques and hip abductors

What you will need to achieve “Ultra muscled insanely ripped guy in picture”:

1) Be an athlete.

If not:

2) Possibly steroids

3) Laxatives

4) SPF0 Tanning oil (cola/beer can work too)

5) Buckets of baby oil

6) A diet that is extremely gassy

7) Single digit body fat

8) Amazing Photoshop skills

Yes, I am not kidding. This was my life for years. Until I wised up and realized I was sick of it.

Being insanely muscled or ripped does not necessarily mean you are fit. It does not mean you can run a mile, jump a fence or balance on a beam. Having six-pack abs does not mean you have a strong core. All it means is being aesthetically pleasing while suffering on the inside.

Getting It Together

Workout: Prone flies. Main target: Chest and abs

Being fit is a combination of good food and exercise. Let’s start with food. Notice how I do not use the word “diet,” simply because dieting does not work. It’s all about lifestyle change.

I myself am a vegetarian, and it has done wonders for me. I am not here to sell you on being vegan, but I am here to tell you that the average person puts too much useless crap into their bodies. You really want to be fit? Well, this is where your commitment comes in. Cut the sodas, greasy food, alcohol etc. That alone, even without the exercise, will make a huge difference within a week. What works for me can be different for you. But what is important is getting a good balance of everything. It is all about portions but I wouldn’t recommend that for long periods.

With exercising, variety is always key. Besides keeping you from getting bored, a wide range of different activities constantly surprise your body, thus preventing it from plateauing. My personal workout is:

1) Weight lifting with interval training on the treadmill in the gym at least three or four times a week

2) Swimming around 2 kms and then running 710 kms once a week.

3) Red cord suspension training one to two times a week

Redcord

Workout: Prone Hip Flexion. Main target: Hip flexors and abs

Basically there are multiple suspensions hanging from the ceiling where you use your body weight to train in this unstable environment. It trains you to engage each muscle, especially your core to keep your balance to achieve the exercise. It is a workout used originally by therapists and athletes for rehabilitation and strengthening and is now made available for ordinary people. The best thing about redcord is you engage more than one muscle with each exercise, lessening training time. Plus core strength that is ready to be hit by a truck (sorry, I exaggerate).

Now that you have learned all the tricks, cheats and the real way to get it done, it is time to display your macho glory. Rub that oil, get that tan and never ever wear a shirt.

In the next issue: How to be ridiculously good-looking in spandex.

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Thank you to Arman for assisting with the workout.

B+B Infinity Redcord Studios 11th floor Infinity Tower 26th Street BGC (Fort Bonifacio)

Check out http://www.facebook.com/pages/Redcord-Suspension-Training-Manila/214898711896903 or call 0917-8992639 for more information.