I attained a six pack at 56 and you’re so right, I was no happier, however I did prove I could do it, still fit at 62 and so much happier with a few extra pounds. You’re a wise man.
I’ve always wanted a six pack. As a teen, as a college student, and now as a working adult. I’ve finally dialed my diet and work out routine and am happy to finally be able to do it (few lbs left to reveal all the abs). It’s not a magic bullet to happiness but you owe it to yourself to prove you can accomplish it if you want it enough. But at the end of the day do what you love and I love dieting, exercising, and pushing new heights.
I had a 6pack eating like crap, KFC every day. I simply smoked a fair bit which tanked my appetite, and took a load of gear. Even drank beer most nights. I believe its called the Ruhl x Priest diet
This is the down to earth and honest content I stick around for. Id beat myself up for years for not 'having the discipline' to become super shredded when in reality I just didn't want it. I didn't want to change my lifestyle so drastically just to have and then maintain a six pack and it took me so long to learn that. These are such positive messages you put out James and is someone young men today need to pay attention to
Its a clever strategy. James knows most people dont have the determination and discipline to get shredded and its pointless him talking like all other PT's which will put him in a crowded market, so he says these things to strike a cord with the masses and find common ground with all the people that cant be arsed with a 6 pack.
@@Shadman1603 he literal;ly doesnt have a 6 pack so in fairness it is authentic on his part. I am sure in this he called all these people boring and cut it out - it was the funniest part of the clip lol
Been hooked on my gym and nutrition for nearly 2 years now to get into the best shape of my life turning 40. However this video James is bloody phenomenal, everything you said is 100% fact, particularly the whole Alpha thing to impress other men. Spot on bud 👍
Awesome video. I tried for years to get an amazing physique because I never had any success with women. Then I achieved a solid physique and had to accept that my lack of success with women had nothing to do with my physique. Still working on social anxiety and confidence, but I workout now because I genuinely enjoy it, and I do it for myself
Absolutely love these videos! James has changed my mind set and given me the motivation needed to get my head back in the game! 4 weeks in and 4kg down!
Never usually comment on videos but on this occasion I have to, BRILLIANT! Everyone should sit and watch this video! We have such problems with poor mental health as a society and this is partly due to media, driving a perception of perfection and this isn’t a reality and none of us should be put under that pressure. Thank you so much James 🙏
I think the issue is that you can feel a lesser person when comparing yourself to those like Mike Thurston or MDF. This video really helped me realise that isnt the case; my priorties are just different from theirs. Their goals are not mine, and that's cool. These videos are massively what the fitness industry needs. I'll keep watching every morning!
lets be honest, Mike is juiced up and I honestly fall a sleep when he talks hes that boring... can you imagine being around this guy when he isn't drinking
Thanks James! You're one of the main reasons I'm back in the gym training consistently but not letting perfectionism ruin my progress. I love feeling healthier and fitter, but I now don't feel guilty about having an ice cream with my kids at the weekend. You're helping me set a good example for them, much appreciated.
As somebody with a six pack, that has sustained that since i was 15 (over a decade), yes, even through lock down I didn’t get the lockdown love handles. I can say that having a six pack changes nothing. The way you feel before you have a six pack to after you get one - is pretty much the same. If not worse. Change comes from the inside and if you think getting a six pack will change the way you feel about yourself (if you see it as an external thing not the person you had to become to sustain one) you will still be miserable well.. feel the same, if not slightly worse as you realise it hasn’t solved or filled that void that a lot of people (me included) struggle with. What I’m trying to say is find a way like James is saying in this video to see yourself for who you are, find out whether this is someone you like, or at least something you can accept, and then if it isn’t make the necessary changes. But do it in a way that nourishes you internally not for anyone else, but for yourself. You are the only person you have to deal with for the rest of your life, so be kind to yourself and that sometimes means doing the necessary steps to getting to that point, which just simply takes a lot longer. Sorry for the long message if anyone actually reads it, if it does and resonates with you i hope it helps. Anyways, James, great content man i love your approach it’s really refreshing. Have a good day everyone
Ok so when I was 20 percent body fat chubby belly fat face I felt like shit because of how I looked, I now sit around 12 percent body fat have decent abs leaner face and feel much more confident in myself not for others which led to me getting with a great girl, so explain how like you said, having abs and being leaner makes no difference to a person, and I bet I’m one of thousands of men with a similar story
Not to be weird in any way about it, but you have a way of speaking directly to my heart when it comes to fitness. It's not like you say anything I don't already know, but you say it in a manner that allows me to finally listen to it. I'm working towards a solid six-pack for the first time in my life at 24, and it is legitimately the hardest thing I've ever done. The sheer will and dedication it takes to give up everything you like and do everything you hate is unreal. I've never felt more burnt out and drained physically, mentally, and emotionally. But I do it as a commitment to myself that I have to achieve it at least once in my life. If I can do this, there's not much I can't do. I really appreciate your content, and sorry for the drawn-out sappy comment
I'm 40. Got abs. I can confirm I'm happier when I'm eating and drinking what I want and enjoying life, there's just something there where I have to have abs for half of the year. I do it for nobody but myself.
James, your level has gone up incredibly. To have a constant 6 pack is nothing but a hamster wheel that you can't stop from spinning or you'll lose it. Somehow people would think once you hit your physical appearance that's it, but the mental work it takes to maintain it leads to being obsessed with abs as it's sort of a trophy that you don't want to let slip from your hands. 📈💯💪
I'm 33 I've had a 6 pack for as long as I can remember. I'm a pt myself and I've done about 1.5 sit ups in my life. My 6 pack is a result of pure genetics. Yes I have a sensible diet but even so... abs are a fitness industry rip off. Great vid James.
This is me. 36 years old. Lucky if I train abs once a year, average diet (lots of cheat meals weekly), 6 pack year round. I lift weights 5 times a week and occasionally do cardio, but I know people who have their diet dialed in and train way harder than me that never have visible 6 packs.
@@pshardtime maybe their core is underdeveloped. They need to do workouts with standing variation instead of just seated to use the core, but many people just use momentum to cheat (that's why they don't hit the core), I try to control it as much as possible. I also train core twice a week.
@@bloodeagle2945 Abs are already there. You just working them out so they bigger and more defined. You can work out your entire body without touching your abs and they will still show as long as your diet is tuned in.
So I had a friend who challenged me to a six pack competition last year. He didn’t track his calories he just ate one meal a day and took up running. He turned into a skeleton after about 4-5 weeks as he was doing 5k-8k walking / running a day. No weights. Then when he was skinny he just worked out in the gym. I weight trained from day one counted my calories doing a recomp and I have to admit his way was way faster.
@@brankobakic9744 he lost everything. Looked like a marathon runner and I’ll. but his Vo2 max went up, he felt healthy and then putting the muscle on was a lot easier to see. Me on the other hand, everything was hidden behind the fat. I honestly thought my way was better.
@@TazBo-wd2ig your way is better for muscle retention as you can still build and maintain with resistance training. You friend will be burning calories like a mofo but with no resistance training muscle breakdown would be having a mad one
Good advice again James. I'm 46, I'm training for my health, mentally and physically and I just have a 4 pack, good lower back that's still make me jump from bed, and I love more and more training my legs as it had improved my knee "chrondopaty stage 3/4" because of better quads and hamstrings. My posture improved too, and I love going to the gym.
Absolutely loved this video and hits the nail on the head. As a young guy whose 5'6 and quite chubby, I realised I wanted to hit quite a few fitness goals while my body is still young enough to get that healthy and one of them is to have abs once. I fully rate living life and enjoying yourself and moderating ends to have more meaningful means but equally, I think it would be a shame for me personally (and perhaps others) to go through life never knowing quite how I looked at my best. Cheers again for the video, it came at the right time for me.
This is so important! I was without a doubt my most unhappy, irritable and disconnected from self and my relationships when I was trying to obtain my leanest physique. I worried constantly about what I was eating, how much I had trained, and still not stoked on the results. I find so much more joy in the balance my life has now that I have stopped obsessing over my physique. No, my muscles don't show as much as they used to but even when they did, I was still insecure. Getting ripped didn't solve any of the underlying insecurities or issues I had with myself physically because I hadn't done the work to figure out why I was feeling that way in the first place. Balance, healing, and joy are what I focus on now. Plus a life with no chocolate was just never going to work for me!
You’ve just hit the nail on the head for me. I’ve dreamed of a six pack since I was 12 years old I’m now 35! I don’t need a six pack I need a life! Gym 3-4 times a week and a drink at the weekend I’m happy
I found that once I got into my 30s I started asking myself. Why am I still chasing that teenager idea of getting a six pack? I would rather settle for being relatively lean and not having to starve the hell out of myself to get a six pack. It just becomes less important as we get older.
Only a Brit could be that brutally honest. Love it and you're 100% spot on! Most normal peeps aren't disciplined enough, that's why those that have that are admired. No PEDs at play mind you, of course not. 😊
I had one year of abs when I was younger but eating was a nightmare to maintain and I did a manual labour job on top of weights. You make a really good point and my life’s more enjoyable with a better balance. Hear for the honest truth you deliver so well
I've lost 75kg in the past 3 years and this video presents one of the biggest lessons I've taken away. I wanted to look like Mr Hemsworth... until I got a real sense of the work required. Ended up tracing a linear interpolation between a 154kg bipedal land mammal and Thor, there's a habitable region in that line you can only find by traversing it. Genetically I turned out to have an 8 pack. Spiritually, I have a 4 pack.
Based! It's a realistic cost/benefit analysis. I work out 5x/week, though strictly 60 minutes/session. I keep carbs low and eat ample protein, but I give myself that Friday night cheat meal and a couple drinks. I have a family, a great job, and other hobbies that I enjoy. Maintaining a flat belly is as much as I am willing to do and can afford to do without these other areas of my life getting short-shrifted because of it. If I have a 6pack, then I won't have all these other things I love, maybe only just a couple of them. If you're 20 something and single, then yes, maybe a 6pack is manageable. But as you age and add more things to your portfolio of life, it becomes more unrealistic without these other things suffering because of it.
Love the honesty James, it's all about that balance, even as an addict, there's a great book called: Staying Sober, which talks about those who just switch out one addiction for another, often replacing alcohol for caffeine and nicotine, which isn't great if you have issues with anxiety(which most alcoholics do). There was even a little anecdote in the book that said a man nearly lost his family to his alcoholism... And did lose his family, to running! He swapped his addiction to alcohol to being addicted to running in order to deal with his relapse symptoms, however it just made him absent from his family as if he wasn't working, he was sleeping or out running. Now I know I'm speaking about addiction but that book speaks about balance, it relates because attaining and keeping that 6 pack means you ain't really gonna have a balance, you're putting all your eggs in one basket, and that goes with other fields in life. How many guys work 70-80 hour weeks, getting to those pinnacles in their career, earning a lot of fucking money but missing out on their kids growing up? Somethings got to give doesn't it? I suppose it's what we as individuals value as success.
Im 50 and a lot of young guys say to me " wow your still big for an old guy, you must train loads or be on gear" Neither i just dont aim to have a six pack ( i have tried loads of times in my younger days and just been really hungry and irritable so after generations of trying i gave up) I have a flat stomach like a normal guy but not ripped abs. I probably stay at about 20% body fat and higher after xmas or a holiday. I remain strong and happy not dieting (only roughly tracking calorie intake and output) What James says is true, in the UK we rarely take our shirt off so why bother. Most guys with a 6 pack can't fill a shirt, you'll lose your shoulders long before you lose enough belly fat to see abs if you're a big guy. When the sun comes out just wear a wife beater and don't stress over getting in competition condition if you don't compete.
Just weak minded full stop. Reason you love this video is because it takes away any accountability .. heavens forbid you push yourself and make yourself uncomfortable.
@@greggjennings562 funny thing is, I have a six pack. But what do I gain from having a six pack? A bit of extra attraction from my girlfriend, and nice ego-boost, but she doesn't date me for my six-pack and I'm confident without it.
This is very true. True for me for sure. I train very consistently. But can’t motivate myself to do the diet work I’d need to do to get from 15% to 10%. James you’re spot on - I just don’t want it enough.
The worst the problem gets the more the pain, to the point that you actually consider seriously taking action. A 6 pack is not forever! Most of the fitness influencers are actually somehow forced to stay ripped because of the media dependency for income. And for many others won't go to a fitness professional if he or she hasn't got a 6 pack. Just paradox talk! Great content J!
I certainly agree with the sentiment. However some people , me included like that challenge of getting in said shape. So it's more kind of enjoying the process and seeing the progress instead of the actual end result.
Agreed. It is about the journey not the destination. If you don't like the process then visible abs aren't for you and that is fine. Some people love the lifestyle though.
Love this. Just got back to the gym doing group PT sessions and my body has changed massively however I’m still eating the stuff I like. I could deffo look leaner… but I like takeaways, ice cream and pastries! This video is probably one of the most body positive / mentally affirming videos I’ve seen for ages. Cheers!
Don’t say this often but this might be one of the best videos I’ve ever watched. Everything was just what I was thinking but put out in such an eloquent and comedic way 😂
Finally! Somebody finally gave us a down to earth video with logical and relevant approach to fitness and life correlation between those, not some hyper-motivational or "ultimate workout" BS that seem to be favoured by so many nowadays. You got yourself a subscriber, sir!
This is BANG ON! its ok to admit to myself that i just dont want it that bad.... also just stay aware of stuff i DO WANT that bad and focus on THOSE things!
Real talk, man. Finally someone talking the middle way, and enjoying your life rather than pushing the predominant message of pursuing this abstract idea excellence even at the cost of your own happiness or quality of life. Ultimate no one cares more than we do about any of it anyway. But the part about the watch... why do you care what some guy thinks about you when he's walking to work? The reality is, it's likely that you're riding your skateboard thinking about what hes thinking about your watch, when hes thinking about something else and could care less about you or your watch, and its just you in your own head. You could just be skateboarding and enjoying yourself
This video actually made me tear up a little. I’m relatively new to health and fitness (7-8 months), and I’m now at that point where insecurity is starting to creep in because I’m always comparing myself to others around me at the gym, even subconsciously. This felt like a talk with my dad and was what I needed to hear to prevent me getting jaded about the process. Thanks mate, you’re a real one.
It really is about balancing whats really important. In my early 20s i took up weight training and i managed to get a six pack. Wasnt completely ripped but it was visible. But everything revolved around my training. 2hr sessions 5 nights a week. I couldnt completely commit to the diet as i did like pints and food!. Back doing weights again at 40 but not nearly to the same extent. I am happy with my current progress but I will never have that 6 pack again because there are just too many other things i want more. Video is spot on
Totally agree , istopped smoking weed after 13 years, and the last 5 of which were me saying "im going to quit this tomorrow ", no matter how much i said that, in more meaningful and serious ways, it never happened.... until one day, it did. And the reason was because i really now wanted to quit. My brain has finally got onside with my mouth, and it happened. I totally realised after, that it was never going to happen while i didn't actually want it to... The mind. Powerful man.
I'm hurtling towards 50 & I'm working hard to stay fit enough to see my kids grow into adults I can be proud of .. At 36 I had the Adonis belt for 3 months & got as much poon as I could handle but ultimately I was broken both physically and mentally .. Love your life so live it to the max before you exit the meat suit
100% agree. You really need to know why you want something deep down to commit to it fully. Feeling good about yourself has a lot of benefits in life which shouldn't be underestimated. In the end it is about living your best life, whatever that is.
This is so refreshing to hear. Properly honest stuff and puts a lot into perspective. I too sometimes think with all my effort I put in to having an aesthetic body, I only take my top off maybe 5 or 10 times a year. The reward isn’t that great. However knowing this I have trained my mind to enjoy training as part of my lifestyle and then I’m rewarding myself with a six pack but actually enjoying the work to get there. It’s all about how we condition our mindset to achieve things and the balance.
this is why i love youre content you speak right out so ppl can understand everything and not just eat less and you will be happy there is so much more going on then just eat less
Really good video. Never worked out until 2021. Just didnt want to be me anymore. So my mission at the moment is getting a six pack. Not to impress other people, but for myself. I've never been able to take my top off in public. Super self conscious and I think a six pack would give me that confidence. I understand what you're saying and totally agree. But my mindset is in workout mode...well...we'll see in a couple of years if it actually makes a difference. Great video again!
I rarely comment on things and I have no idea how I found this video but this is solid advice! So many things we say we want, we don't want to put in the work required. Time to be more honest with ourselves and hopefully happier in the process. If It's important enough, we'll find a way to get it done. Subscribed!
I work out a lot, I eat well, I'm motivated. But I know that all the junk is life is so important as well - the occasional maccies when I can't be arsed to cook breakfast, sitting and playing video games for 5 hours on a saturday, or getting pissed. I used to feel bad about it, but why? I'm just living, so why should I care. I won't have abs, but I'll be happy and I am still stronger than most people I see - so there ya go. Love your videos James, it's just real advice to be honest.
Excellent post!! As a middle-aged man, most of that hit the spot. The juice is not worth the squeeze tbh, when you think about the investment and lifestyle changes that you will have to sustain. Or do it, take all the selfies/photos you need for validation and then slide back to your comfort/happiness zone.
So so accurate. When I was 20 I could get away with eating crap, training three times a week, playing football weekly and still have visible abs, because I was young, full of testosterone and my metabolism was through the roof…. But when I hit my mid thirties I had to work so much harder for minimal gains and I had to basically cut out all of the foods I loved just to look like I did in my mid twenties…. Simply isn’t / wasn’t worth it. Unless you have phenomenal genetics, the sacrifice is just too much for me. Fair play to those that do it though, takes hella discipline to stay committed for so long
Ive had a solid six pack when making weight for competition... Felt crap, was constantly looking at food as calories and genuinely not that happy. Four most of us i think the 4 pack is the way forward... Way more sustainable. Great video.
Hit the nail on the head. I only train 3 days a week and wrestling once a week. currently experimenting a second cutting phase but will stop after my 9th week cause ive realised enjoying myself and eating at maintenance was so much better
Interesting content. During the pandemic I got down to around 10-12% body fat. I felt and looked amazing, in my opinion. I am currently sitting around 18% and I want to get back down to those levels and I want to explain why. When I was 10-12% I honestly felt like I had more energy, I felt less sluggish, I wasn't even that hungry and, living in Italy I felt quite cool during really hot summers when everyone else was sweating like mad. I felt like I was being the best I could be and I was good at running and cycling. I was learning a new language, new instrument, you name it! This could all be circumstantial because of the pandemic too, I understand that. You might be thinking why are you 18% now then? Well, I love food, ha! So yeah I guess you are right about not wanting it enough but I do remember feeling like a machine when I was around 10-12% but I guess what you are referring to here is maybe like single digit proper ripped six pack abs? I may try and get closer to 13-15% this summer and see how I look and feel.
I have to agree, I sit year round at 7-8% bodyfat and coach my clients to achieve the same results IF they want them, having lower bodyfat is more demanding, of course, but the feeling of being lean and having confidence in yourself far outweighs the cons for me
Same mate I was around 18-20 percent chubby felt like shit got down to 12 percent had decent abs I leaned out in my face and feel much more confident, I totally disagree with a lot of what he says in this video
@@Big_bang_zhangwell I think the guys is just asking people is all that training is worth it? If it is, then do it but it probably isn’t a bad idea for someone to take a step back and question why they are doing certain things. Are you that much happier training or would maybe it be a better idea to settle a little and indulge and some things. To each their own as they say.
Wow man so down to earth and honest. Deep down this is how I feel bro, I recently got into the best shape of my life, got the 6 pack, etc. BUT I FIND MYSELF GETTING MORE COMPLEMENTS FROM MEN.. I also know this is not sustainable, once I get into a relationship I know I will lose this.
When I started training again I was looking to have a 6 pack, however after around half a year my belly is no longer flabby, I have enough muscle on my shoulders and chest to fill out a t-shirt and my waist is 28-30" depending on clothing brand. For me this is good enough, I did change my diet significantly by cutting out junk food, eating more meat and eggs and ditching the booze. I could go all the way and have a six pack, but in reality I was staring to get grumpy and lose energy from being in too much of a calorific deficit and the whole point of me training was to lose the beer belly, be strong enough to move furniture/deal with the garden and be fit enough to walk into town without feeling like I am going to die! I have achieved these goals pretty much and now I keep on lifting/running/walking to simply maintain a healthy body and mind. I live in the UK, and here we get about 3 days a year when it is warm and dry enough to even consider walking around without a shirt so it's not like anyone will see a six pack if I have one!
Have watched you for a while. I am not one to comment on videos, but mate. The stuff you say is amazing no bullshit and massively educational. Much respect keep doing what you are doing. Easily one of the people on RUclips I respect the most.
100% Agree on balance when it comes to chasing the dreambody and what you turn your lifestyle into to achieve it. In my late 20's I lost 35kgs over the space of 6 months and I was loving the slimmed version but once I got so comfortable with that body - I began going out more and my lifestyle changed and I ended up putting it all back on over the following 2 years. I believe you wil have changing targets and motivation and there isnt a best fit lifestyle but rather try to achieve what you want at the time and make it as sustainabale as possible but dont end up losing out on lifes experience along the way.
The exercise and consistency is never my issue. I gym 5/6 days a week without fail. Only miss training due to holidays away and or when I’m hungover (Once a month at a push) Hard part is the diet I am always fucking hungry. I wake up in the morning and have a 6pack. Usually it’s gone by lunch time 😂
Literally I dont see James Smith as a fitness guy/RUclipsr... he's more like a life coach with a hella down to earth articulation style, spittin' a hell of a lot of sense.
That's exactly how I feel with regards to lifting heavy and not wanting to get injured anymore now that I'm 30. I could probably squeak out 3-5 more lbs of muscle and lose another 5-10lbs of fat, but the amount of time, energy and focus that would take isn't worth the payoff. I'd have to increase my training volume and frequency about 50% more than what I'm doing now, which means giving up an additional 3-4 hours a week, not including going back to 5-6 meals a day and being super strict with meal prepping which is a PITA.
Take it from someone who has just turned 40 and had horrible back injuries on and off for 20 years due to lifting heavy - it’s not worth it. I’ve quit squatting and deadlifting for life. I’ve changed to machines for legs and pulldowns/chins for back. I’ve gotten over a 2 year episode of agonising sciatica about 6 months ago and am completely pain and injury free now. I’m never going back, I don’t want to get injured again and end up infirm in 20 years time.
Truth right there!! I enjoy training. I enjoy eating well but I’m also enjoy cider, haribo yellow bellies and pizza - not given them up for a six pack!
Agreed. I have good Ab genetics, have a slim build and have had abs since my early teens. A few years back I got to single digit body fat. No, not self diagnosed “Terry Crews: I’m 4% body fat”, actual single digit. My now 8-pack abs were not only visible but I had veins on my abs, obliques and my body fat was getting so low my vascularity on my arms, legs and even my traps improved. You know what? I’ll never fucking do it again. I’m even sure what I was trying to achieve in the first place apart from always pushing “to the next level” before eventually realising “yeah, that’ll do”. As a side note: I had my “what the fuck am I doing?” moment when sitting on the sofa fighting to stay awake at about 5pm I was “enjoying” my usual snack of baby spinach straight out of the bag to suppress hunger (instead of a bag of crisps like a normal person). My neighbour asked if I wanted to go over for a BBQ and watch England Vs Belgium in the 2018 World Cup. I grabbed my delightfully shit pack of chicken sausages (again to be ‘lean’) and refused to drink a beer all night and instead had diet lemonade and water in the most perfect BBQ weather you could ask for. Not to mention I didn’t have work the next day so could’ve gotten shitfaced. If you like being that ripped then great. But to be clear, I really loved fitness back then. I loved it enough to do it 5-6 days a week regardless of what shape I was in. Somehow I decided to push it to a level where half of the other stuff I liked doing was no longer an option not to mention how drained I felt every day. Am I glad I did it… not really. Am I bitter… nope. I looked great, it was just a shit way of life whichever way you slice it.
Would you be where you are now if you hadn't have done it? Could you have convinced your past self not to go so far? Personally, I think the answers to some questions, answers you can actually accept, come from really pushing it. Granted, you're gonna end up in some awful places, but I think that's what it takes for some things
Yes absolutely. I guess the only way to know it wasn’t worth it was to give it a shot. Nowadays I go with coach Greg’s advice of just living it at a comfortable weight at as low of body fat percentage as that may be.
Dude got be happy & thankful with what u have & what u achieved very right in his head.Too ambitious will lead u to depression.I am firm believer of this
It’s hard to get to the 6 pack but I don’t think it’s very hard to maintain it, so long as your counting calories. Am I just lucky or is this guy not differentiating between having a 6 pack and being absolutely shredded?
First year I have found real consistency in my training regime, and videos like this are invaluable for my motivation, I don't want to be perfect I just want to be better.
I was with a six pack obsessed body builder and he just made me feel self concious, as a female it wouldn’t even cross my mind to seek a six pack guy. I take care of myself, train etc. but still, not one bit appealing. It always strikes me a “too try hard”, keep it real and live your life ffs ❤
I like you! Thank you for existing and posting on RUclips. I promise to make more of an effort to not be a wanker and just bounce of your videos before hitting the like button. I was 450lbs/204kg. I'm on a Keto Diet. Now I am like 430-something-lbs/192kg. I keep having to correct people that I am not doing this to be sexy. I am doing this to be healthy. I plan on having a belly at 250lbs/113kg.
You know what. I genuinely loved that video. Can't agree more. (I'm aware of my display pic, and proud I got there, though my life was horrible for nearly a year to get maintain it until i cracked).
Best quote…..”the guy who is trying to live forever, isn’t living right now.”
Perfect mate. Love that. 👊🏼
It's about balance. You can 'live right now' and eat good food, it's just about not eating like a fat shit 24/7.
I attained a six pack at 56 and you’re so right, I was no happier, however I did prove I could do it, still fit at 62 and so much happier with a few extra pounds. You’re a wise man.
I attained a six pack at 68 I really liked the way I looked. I still have a six pack at age 92.
@@MrDeanmfitzlol
I’ve always wanted a six pack. As a teen, as a college student, and now as a working adult. I’ve finally dialed my diet and work out routine and am happy to finally be able to do it (few lbs left to reveal all the abs). It’s not a magic bullet to happiness but you owe it to yourself to prove you can accomplish it if you want it enough. But at the end of the day do what you love and I love dieting, exercising, and pushing new heights.
@@spareemail2221 was probably bud light
attaining the 6 pack at that age is happiness, maintaining it is not
My ears are burning
My weiner burns when I pee...
Remember to drop the cigarette before you pee
I had a 6pack eating like crap, KFC every day. I simply smoked a fair bit which tanked my appetite, and took a load of gear. Even drank beer most nights. I believe its called the Ruhl x Priest diet
Shut up you gorgeous beast
Sorry why is one of the sexiest men alive complaining hahah
This is the down to earth and honest content I stick around for. Id beat myself up for years for not 'having the discipline' to become super shredded when in reality I just didn't want it. I didn't want to change my lifestyle so drastically just to have and then maintain a six pack and it took me so long to learn that. These are such positive messages you put out James and is someone young men today need to pay attention to
Its a clever strategy. James knows most people dont have the determination and discipline to get shredded and its pointless him talking like all other PT's which will put him in a crowded market, so he says these things to strike a cord with the masses and find common ground with all the people that cant be arsed with a 6 pack.
@@Shadman1603 he literal;ly doesnt have a 6 pack so in fairness it is authentic on his part. I am sure in this he called all these people boring and cut it out - it was the funniest part of the clip lol
Please, never stop being this honest. It's really, really refreshing to see someone this real in the online fitness community.
Been hooked on my gym and nutrition for nearly 2 years now to get into the best shape of my life turning 40. However this video James is bloody phenomenal, everything you said is 100% fact, particularly the whole Alpha thing to impress other men. Spot on bud 👍
Awesome video. I tried for years to get an amazing physique because I never had any success with women. Then I achieved a solid physique and had to accept that my lack of success with women had nothing to do with my physique. Still working on social anxiety and confidence, but I workout now because I genuinely enjoy it, and I do it for myself
This is the most honest, no BS video on weight loss that ive ever seen. So raw and complete 110% truth. Quality content!
Absolutely love these videos! James has changed my mind set and given me the motivation needed to get my head back in the game! 4 weeks in and 4kg down!
Keep it up, mate! Keep going. You got this!
Never usually comment on videos but on this occasion I have to, BRILLIANT! Everyone should sit and watch this video! We have such problems with poor mental health as a society and this is partly due to media, driving a perception of perfection and this isn’t a reality and none of us should be put under that pressure. Thank you so much James 🙏
I think the issue is that you can feel a lesser person when comparing yourself to those like Mike Thurston or MDF. This video really helped me realise that isnt the case; my priorties are just different from theirs. Their goals are not mine, and that's cool.
These videos are massively what the fitness industry needs. I'll keep watching every morning!
Best not to worry about blokes who are juiced, lot easier having abs if you are !
lets be honest, Mike is juiced up and I honestly fall a sleep when he talks hes that boring... can you imagine being around this guy when he isn't drinking
The guy, in a bid to live forever, isn't living right now! Words to live by 😂
Most of the guys necking some coke often say that line and fomo as well 😅
@@potatowaffle5653 😂😂😂
Thanks James! You're one of the main reasons I'm back in the gym training consistently but not letting perfectionism ruin my progress. I love feeling healthier and fitter, but I now don't feel guilty about having an ice cream with my kids at the weekend. You're helping me set a good example for them, much appreciated.
As somebody with a six pack, that has sustained that since i was 15 (over a decade), yes, even through lock down I didn’t get the lockdown love handles. I can say that having a six pack changes nothing. The way you feel before you have a six pack to after you get one - is pretty much the same. If not worse. Change comes from the inside and if you think getting a six pack will change the way you feel about yourself (if you see it as an external thing not the person you had to become to sustain one) you will still be miserable well.. feel the same, if not slightly worse as you realise it hasn’t solved or filled that void that a lot of people (me included) struggle with. What I’m trying to say is find a way like James is saying in this video to see yourself for who you are, find out whether this is someone you like, or at least something you can accept, and then if it isn’t make the necessary changes. But do it in a way that nourishes you internally not for anyone else, but for yourself. You are the only person you have to deal with for the rest of your life, so be kind to yourself and that sometimes means doing the necessary steps to getting to that point, which just simply takes a lot longer. Sorry for the long message if anyone actually reads it, if it does and resonates with you i hope it helps. Anyways, James, great content man i love your approach it’s really refreshing. Have a good day everyone
Ok so when I was 20 percent body fat chubby belly fat face I felt like shit because of how I looked, I now sit around 12 percent body fat have decent abs leaner face and feel much more confident in myself not for others which led to me getting with a great girl, so explain how like you said, having abs and being leaner makes no difference to a person, and I bet I’m one of thousands of men with a similar story
@@Big_bang_zhang that's amazing to hear man well done!
Not to be weird in any way about it, but you have a way of speaking directly to my heart when it comes to fitness. It's not like you say anything I don't already know, but you say it in a manner that allows me to finally listen to it. I'm working towards a solid six-pack for the first time in my life at 24, and it is legitimately the hardest thing I've ever done. The sheer will and dedication it takes to give up everything you like and do everything you hate is unreal. I've never felt more burnt out and drained physically, mentally, and emotionally. But I do it as a commitment to myself that I have to achieve it at least once in my life. If I can do this, there's not much I can't do. I really appreciate your content, and sorry for the drawn-out sappy comment
I'm 40. Got abs. I can confirm I'm happier when I'm eating and drinking what I want and enjoying life, there's just something there where I have to have abs for half of the year. I do it for nobody but myself.
James, your level has gone up incredibly. To have a constant 6 pack is nothing but a hamster wheel that you can't stop from spinning or you'll lose it. Somehow people would think once you hit your physical appearance that's it, but the mental work it takes to maintain it leads to being obsessed with abs as it's sort of a trophy that you don't want to let slip from your hands. 📈💯💪
It’s true I let mine fade 😂
@@jamiewalker8772, it's good to know that there are other attainable options out there such as 4 pack, 2 pack and a dad bod. 😁📈💪
I'm 33 I've had a 6 pack for as long as I can remember. I'm a pt myself and I've done about 1.5 sit ups in my life. My 6 pack is a result of pure genetics. Yes I have a sensible diet but even so... abs are a fitness industry rip off. Great vid James.
Yeah it’s also crazy that everyone has a six pack even 600 pound people. It’s just not visible.
This is me. 36 years old. Lucky if I train abs once a year, average diet (lots of cheat meals weekly), 6 pack year round.
I lift weights 5 times a week and occasionally do cardio, but I know people who have their diet dialed in and train way harder than me that never have visible 6 packs.
@@pshardtime maybe their core is underdeveloped. They need to do workouts with standing variation instead of just seated to use the core, but many people just use momentum to cheat (that's why they don't hit the core), I try to control it as much as possible. I also train core twice a week.
I saw an information a while ago about abs, 70% are from compound lifts and only 30% are from isolated workout. I don't know if it's true
@@bloodeagle2945 Abs are already there. You just working them out so they bigger and more defined. You can work out your entire body without touching your abs and they will still show as long as your diet is tuned in.
“The guy in a bid to live forever isn’t living right now.”
One of the best quotes I’ve ever heard.
So I had a friend who challenged me to a six pack competition last year. He didn’t track his calories he just ate one meal a day and took up running. He turned into a skeleton after about 4-5 weeks as he was doing 5k-8k walking / running a day. No weights. Then when he was skinny he just worked out in the gym. I weight trained from day one counted my calories doing a recomp and I have to admit his way was way faster.
But he most likely lost some lean mass and you didn't?
@@brankobakic9744 he lost everything. Looked like a marathon runner and I’ll. but his Vo2 max went up, he felt healthy and then putting the muscle on was a lot easier to see. Me on the other hand, everything was hidden behind the fat. I honestly thought my way was better.
@@TazBo-wd2ig your way is better for muscle retention as you can still build and maintain with resistance training. You friend will be burning calories like a mofo but with no resistance training muscle breakdown would be having a mad one
So true, love your content
@@TazBo-wd2ig liar
Good advice again James. I'm 46, I'm training for my health, mentally and physically and I just have a 4 pack, good lower back that's still make me jump from bed, and I love more and more training my legs as it had improved my knee "chrondopaty stage 3/4" because of better quads and hamstrings. My posture improved too, and I love going to the gym.
Hell yeah! I'm 26 and I hope when I'm your age I'll be the same way
Rarely comment, but damn. This is the type of shit that we need more of. A good medium between life/health optimization, reality, and moderation.
Absolutely loved this video and hits the nail on the head. As a young guy whose 5'6 and quite chubby, I realised I wanted to hit quite a few fitness goals while my body is still young enough to get that healthy and one of them is to have abs once. I fully rate living life and enjoying yourself and moderating ends to have more meaningful means but equally, I think it would be a shame for me personally (and perhaps others) to go through life never knowing quite how I looked at my best.
Cheers again for the video, it came at the right time for me.
This is so important! I was without a doubt my most unhappy, irritable and disconnected from self and my relationships when I was trying to obtain my leanest physique. I worried constantly about what I was eating, how much I had trained, and still not stoked on the results. I find so much more joy in the balance my life has now that I have stopped obsessing over my physique. No, my muscles don't show as much as they used to but even when they did, I was still insecure. Getting ripped didn't solve any of the underlying insecurities or issues I had with myself physically because I hadn't done the work to figure out why I was feeling that way in the first place. Balance, healing, and joy are what I focus on now. Plus a life with no chocolate was just never going to work for me!
You’ve just hit the nail on the head for me.
I’ve dreamed of a six pack since I was 12 years old I’m now 35!
I don’t need a six pack I need a life!
Gym 3-4 times a week and a drink at the weekend I’m happy
I found that once I got into my 30s I started asking myself. Why am I still chasing that teenager idea of getting a six pack? I would rather settle for being relatively lean and not having to starve the hell out of myself to get a six pack. It just becomes less important as we get older.
Just weak minded full stop. Reason you love this video is because it takes away any accountability.
@@greggjennings562 show us your 6 pack then
@@greggjennings562 Are you the 6 pack police ? are you a gatekeeper of how human beings should look, you really sound like a superficial bigot.
Only a Brit could be that brutally honest. Love it and you're 100% spot on! Most normal peeps aren't disciplined enough, that's why those that have that are admired. No PEDs at play mind you, of course not. 😊
I’ve said this for years to my family but hearing it from you will hopefully hit home for them, especially my daughter. You’re the man James
I had one year of abs when I was younger but eating was a nightmare to maintain and I did a manual labour job on top of weights. You make a really good point and my life’s more enjoyable with a better balance. Hear for the honest truth you deliver so well
New subscriber based purely on this video. Great to see a fitness RUclipsr who is down to earth and honest. Well done that man
A six pack is just about leanness, and I consider it mandatory for this summer.
I've lost 75kg in the past 3 years and this video presents one of the biggest lessons I've taken away.
I wanted to look like Mr Hemsworth... until I got a real sense of the work required. Ended up tracing a linear interpolation between a 154kg bipedal land mammal and Thor, there's a habitable region in that line you can only find by traversing it.
Genetically I turned out to have an 8 pack. Spiritually, I have a 4 pack.
Based! It's a realistic cost/benefit analysis. I work out 5x/week, though strictly 60 minutes/session. I keep carbs low and eat ample protein, but I give myself that Friday night cheat meal and a couple drinks. I have a family, a great job, and other hobbies that I enjoy. Maintaining a flat belly is as much as I am willing to do and can afford to do without these other areas of my life getting short-shrifted because of it. If I have a 6pack, then I won't have all these other things I love, maybe only just a couple of them. If you're 20 something and single, then yes, maybe a 6pack is manageable. But as you age and add more things to your portfolio of life, it becomes more unrealistic without these other things suffering because of it.
Love the honesty James, it's all about that balance, even as an addict, there's a great book called: Staying Sober, which talks about those who just switch out one addiction for another, often replacing alcohol for caffeine and nicotine, which isn't great if you have issues with anxiety(which most alcoholics do). There was even a little anecdote in the book that said a man nearly lost his family to his alcoholism... And did lose his family, to running! He swapped his addiction to alcohol to being addicted to running in order to deal with his relapse symptoms, however it just made him absent from his family as if he wasn't working, he was sleeping or out running. Now I know I'm speaking about addiction but that book speaks about balance, it relates because attaining and keeping that 6 pack means you ain't really gonna have a balance, you're putting all your eggs in one basket, and that goes with other fields in life. How many guys work 70-80 hour weeks, getting to those pinnacles in their career, earning a lot of fucking money but missing out on their kids growing up? Somethings got to give doesn't it? I suppose it's what we as individuals value as success.
Im 50 and a lot of young guys say to me
" wow your still big for an old guy, you must train loads or be on gear"
Neither i just dont aim to have a six pack ( i have tried loads of times in my younger days and just been really hungry and irritable so after generations of trying i gave up)
I have a flat stomach like a normal guy but not ripped abs.
I probably stay at about 20% body fat and higher after xmas or a holiday.
I remain strong and happy not dieting (only roughly tracking calorie intake and output)
What James says is true, in the UK we rarely take our shirt off so why bother. Most guys with a 6 pack can't fill a shirt, you'll lose your shoulders long before you lose enough belly fat to see abs if you're a big guy.
When the sun comes out just wear a wife beater and don't stress over getting in competition condition if you don't compete.
This is such a healthy message to be spreading. You don’t often find this kindve honesty from fitness influencers
Just weak minded full stop. Reason you love this video is because it takes away any accountability .. heavens forbid you push yourself and make yourself uncomfortable.
@@greggjennings562 funny thing is, I have a six pack. But what do I gain from having a six pack? A bit of extra attraction from my girlfriend, and nice ego-boost, but she doesn't date me for my six-pack and I'm confident without it.
This is very true. True for me for sure. I train very consistently. But can’t motivate myself to do the diet work I’d need to do to get from 15% to 10%. James you’re spot on - I just don’t want it enough.
The worst the problem gets the more the pain, to the point that you actually consider seriously taking action. A 6 pack is not forever! Most of the fitness influencers are actually somehow forced to stay ripped because of the media dependency for income. And for many others won't go to a fitness professional if he or she hasn't got a 6 pack. Just paradox talk! Great content J!
I certainly agree with the sentiment. However some people , me included like that challenge of getting in said shape. So it's more kind of enjoying the process and seeing the progress instead of the actual end result.
there's worse ways to enjoy yourself- you're not hurting anyone and it is better than being a blob.
Agreed. It is about the journey not the destination. If you don't like the process then visible abs aren't for you and that is fine. Some people love the lifestyle though.
Wisdom of this magnitude and simplicity makes me wonder why we pay for college…never too late to learn, never too late to live. Thank you James.
Love this. Just got back to the gym doing group PT sessions and my body has changed massively however I’m still eating the stuff I like. I could deffo look leaner… but I like takeaways, ice cream and pastries! This video is probably one of the most body positive / mentally affirming videos I’ve seen for ages. Cheers!
Don’t say this often but this might be one of the best videos I’ve ever watched. Everything was just what I was thinking but put out in such an eloquent and comedic way 😂
Finally! Somebody finally gave us a down to earth video with logical and relevant approach to fitness and life correlation between those, not some hyper-motivational or "ultimate workout" BS that seem to be favoured by so many nowadays.
You got yourself a subscriber, sir!
Man, what a video, short and sweet and couldn’t relate more. This has made a massive impact my guy, nice work 👍
Every man needs to see this....should be required viewing. Thanks mate .
This is BANG ON! its ok to admit to myself that i just dont want it that bad.... also just stay aware of stuff i DO WANT that bad and focus on THOSE things!
This is the realist video I’ve watched in a long time. “You just don’t want it bad enough” FACTS
Real talk, man. Finally someone talking the middle way, and enjoying your life rather than pushing the predominant message of pursuing this abstract idea excellence even at the cost of your own happiness or quality of life. Ultimate no one cares more than we do about any of it anyway. But the part about the watch... why do you care what some guy thinks about you when he's walking to work? The reality is, it's likely that you're riding your skateboard thinking about what hes thinking about your watch, when hes thinking about something else and could care less about you or your watch, and its just you in your own head. You could just be skateboarding and enjoying yourself
This video actually made me tear up a little. I’m relatively new to health and fitness (7-8 months), and I’m now at that point where insecurity is starting to creep in because I’m always comparing myself to others around me at the gym, even subconsciously. This felt like a talk with my dad and was what I needed to hear to prevent me getting jaded about the process. Thanks mate, you’re a real one.
Probably the best fitness content out there for the majority of young men
It really is about balancing whats really important. In my early 20s i took up weight training and i managed to get a six pack. Wasnt completely ripped but it was visible. But everything revolved around my training. 2hr sessions 5 nights a week. I couldnt completely commit to the diet as i did like pints and food!. Back doing weights again at 40 but not nearly to the same extent. I am happy with my current progress but I will never have that 6 pack again because there are just too many other things i want more. Video is spot on
Depends if you have “other things”. Many of us have no life. Better to spend it in the gym than being a dope head at home.
Related so strongly to all of this from start to finish. Such a relief to hear my thoughts spoken by another person. Thank you.
Totally agree , istopped smoking weed after 13 years, and the last 5 of which were me saying "im going to quit this tomorrow ", no matter how much i said that, in more meaningful and serious ways, it never happened.... until one day, it did. And the reason was because i really now wanted to quit. My brain has finally got onside with my mouth, and it happened.
I totally realised after, that it was never going to happen while i didn't actually want it to...
The mind. Powerful man.
I'm hurtling towards 50 & I'm working hard to stay fit enough to see my kids grow into adults I can be proud of .. At 36 I had the Adonis belt for 3 months & got as much poon as I could handle but ultimately I was broken both physically and mentally .. Love your life so live it to the max before you exit the meat suit
This is some of the best advice and content I never knew I needed.
100% agree. You really need to know why you want something deep down to commit to it fully. Feeling good about yourself has a lot of benefits in life which shouldn't be underestimated. In the end it is about living your best life, whatever that is.
This is so refreshing to hear. Properly honest stuff and puts a lot into perspective. I too sometimes think with all my effort I put in to having an aesthetic body, I only take my top off maybe 5 or 10 times a year. The reward isn’t that great. However knowing this I have trained my mind to enjoy training as part of my lifestyle and then I’m rewarding myself with a six pack but actually enjoying the work to get there. It’s all about how we condition our mindset to achieve things and the balance.
this is why i love youre content you speak right out so ppl can understand everything and not just eat less and you will be happy there is so much more going on then just eat less
Very sound advice. A six pack is possible, even at 65, but it requires dedication, planning and a lot of discipline
Your videos are my daily kick in the nutts, which keeps me grounded. Great video👍
Always direct and to the point, wicked video
Really good video. Never worked out until 2021. Just didnt want to be me anymore. So my mission at the moment is getting a six pack. Not to impress other people, but for myself. I've never been able to take my top off in public. Super self conscious and I think a six pack would give me that confidence. I understand what you're saying and totally agree. But my mindset is in workout mode...well...we'll see in a couple of years if it actually makes a difference. Great video again!
I rarely comment on things and I have no idea how I found this video but this is solid advice! So many things we say we want, we don't want to put in the work required. Time to be more honest with ourselves and hopefully happier in the process. If It's important enough, we'll find a way to get it done. Subscribed!
Thank you, Tom Hardy. Loved your performance in Warrior. Good luck with your RUclips endeavor.
I knew i wasn't the only one seeing it! :D
I work out a lot, I eat well, I'm motivated. But I know that all the junk is life is so important as well - the occasional maccies when I can't be arsed to cook breakfast, sitting and playing video games for 5 hours on a saturday, or getting pissed. I used to feel bad about it, but why? I'm just living, so why should I care. I won't have abs, but I'll be happy and I am still stronger than most people I see - so there ya go. Love your videos James, it's just real advice to be honest.
Excellent post!!
As a middle-aged man, most of that hit the spot. The juice is not worth the squeeze tbh, when you think about the investment and lifestyle changes that you will have to sustain. Or do it, take all the selfies/photos you need for validation and then slide back to your comfort/happiness zone.
So so accurate. When I was 20 I could get away with eating crap, training three times a week, playing football weekly and still have visible abs, because I was young, full of testosterone and my metabolism was through the roof…. But when I hit my mid thirties I had to work so much harder for minimal gains and I had to basically cut out all of the foods I loved just to look like I did in my mid twenties…. Simply isn’t / wasn’t worth it. Unless you have phenomenal genetics, the sacrifice is just too much for me. Fair play to those that do it though, takes hella discipline to stay committed for so long
4:49 "The guy in a bid to live forever, isn't living right now".
Absolute class, and unquantifiable wisdom.
Ive had a solid six pack when making weight for competition... Felt crap, was constantly looking at food as calories and genuinely not that happy. Four most of us i think the 4 pack is the way forward... Way more sustainable.
Great video.
3 and a half ok too? 😅
@@potatowaffle5653 🤣🤣🤣
I appreciate you making this, its so easy to get your mind warped by social media and the absurd standard on there
Hit the nail on the head. I only train 3 days a week and wrestling once a week. currently experimenting a second cutting phase but will stop after my 9th week cause ive realised enjoying myself and eating at maintenance was so much better
This is one of the best videos I've seen on RUclips when it comes to a six-pack! We just don't want it enough! Well said bro!
Nah, if you have a goal go for it, it’s not about actually achieving it, it’s about the process and what you learn on the way.
That is living.
Interesting content. During the pandemic I got down to around 10-12% body fat. I felt and looked amazing, in my opinion. I am currently sitting around 18% and I want to get back down to those levels and I want to explain why.
When I was 10-12% I honestly felt like I had more energy, I felt less sluggish, I wasn't even that hungry and, living in Italy I felt quite cool during really hot summers when everyone else was sweating like mad. I felt like I was being the best I could be and I was good at running and cycling. I was learning a new language, new instrument, you name it! This could all be circumstantial because of the pandemic too, I understand that.
You might be thinking why are you 18% now then? Well, I love food, ha! So yeah I guess you are right about not wanting it enough but I do remember feeling like a machine when I was around 10-12% but I guess what you are referring to here is maybe like single digit proper ripped six pack abs?
I may try and get closer to 13-15% this summer and see how I look and feel.
I have to agree, I sit year round at 7-8% bodyfat and coach my clients to achieve the same results IF they want them, having lower bodyfat is more demanding, of course, but the feeling of being lean and having confidence in yourself far outweighs the cons for me
Same mate I was around 18-20 percent chubby felt like shit got down to 12 percent had decent abs I leaned out in my face and feel much more confident, I totally disagree with a lot of what he says in this video
It's alot easier to maintain then it is get a six pack tho
I can relate to sweating a lot less while being leaner. Greatest benefit in my opinion.
@@Big_bang_zhangwell I think the guys is just asking people is all that training is worth it? If it is, then do it but it probably isn’t a bad idea for someone to take a step back and question why they are doing certain things. Are you that much happier training or would maybe it be a better idea to settle a little and indulge and some things. To each their own as they say.
Wow man so down to earth and honest. Deep down this is how I feel bro, I recently got into the best shape of my life, got the 6 pack, etc. BUT I FIND MYSELF GETTING MORE COMPLEMENTS FROM MEN.. I also know this is not sustainable, once I get into a relationship I know I will lose this.
When I started training again I was looking to have a 6 pack, however after around half a year my belly is no longer flabby, I have enough muscle on my shoulders and chest to fill out a t-shirt and my waist is 28-30" depending on clothing brand. For me this is good enough, I did change my diet significantly by cutting out junk food, eating more meat and eggs and ditching the booze. I could go all the way and have a six pack, but in reality I was staring to get grumpy and lose energy from being in too much of a calorific deficit and the whole point of me training was to lose the beer belly, be strong enough to move furniture/deal with the garden and be fit enough to walk into town without feeling like I am going to die! I have achieved these goals pretty much and now I keep on lifting/running/walking to simply maintain a healthy body and mind. I live in the UK, and here we get about 3 days a year when it is warm and dry enough to even consider walking around without a shirt so it's not like anyone will see a six pack if I have one!
Have watched you for a while. I am not one to comment on videos, but mate. The stuff you say is amazing no bullshit and massively educational.
Much respect keep doing what you are doing. Easily one of the people on RUclips I respect the most.
100% Agree on balance when it comes to chasing the dreambody and what you turn your lifestyle into to achieve it. In my late 20's I lost 35kgs over the space of 6 months and I was loving the slimmed version but once I got so comfortable with that body - I began going out more and my lifestyle changed and I ended up putting it all back on over the following 2 years. I believe you wil have changing targets and motivation and there isnt a best fit lifestyle but rather try to achieve what you want at the time and make it as sustainabale as possible but dont end up losing out on lifes experience along the way.
The exercise and consistency is never my issue. I gym 5/6 days a week without fail. Only miss training due to holidays away and or when I’m hungover (Once a month at a push)
Hard part is the diet I am always fucking hungry. I wake up in the morning and have a 6pack. Usually it’s gone by lunch time 😂
At last … no sup BS, just some basic truths. Love it man 👌🙏🏼
James, thank you for a superb upload. Every man should listen to you. Please keep up your uploads. You are very, very appreciated.
Literally I dont see James Smith as a fitness guy/RUclipsr... he's more like a life coach with a hella down to earth articulation style, spittin' a hell of a lot of sense.
That's exactly how I feel with regards to lifting heavy and not wanting to get injured anymore now that I'm 30. I could probably squeak out 3-5 more lbs of muscle and lose another 5-10lbs of fat, but the amount of time, energy and focus that would take isn't worth the payoff. I'd have to increase my training volume and frequency about 50% more than what I'm doing now, which means giving up an additional 3-4 hours a week, not including going back to 5-6 meals a day and being super strict with meal prepping which is a PITA.
Take it from someone who has just turned 40 and had horrible back injuries on and off for 20 years due to lifting heavy - it’s not worth it. I’ve quit squatting and deadlifting for life. I’ve changed to machines for legs and pulldowns/chins for back. I’ve gotten over a 2 year episode of agonising sciatica about 6 months ago and am completely pain and injury free now. I’m never going back, I don’t want to get injured again and end up infirm in 20 years time.
Truth right there!! I enjoy training. I enjoy eating well but I’m also enjoy cider, haribo yellow bellies and pizza - not given them up for a six pack!
Realest fitness channel on RUclips 👊
Agreed.
I have good Ab genetics, have a slim build and have had abs since my early teens. A few years back I got to single digit body fat. No, not self diagnosed “Terry Crews: I’m 4% body fat”, actual single digit.
My now 8-pack abs were not only visible but I had veins on my abs, obliques and my body fat was getting so low my vascularity on my arms, legs and even my traps improved. You know what? I’ll never fucking do it again. I’m even sure what I was trying to achieve in the first place apart from always pushing “to the next level” before eventually realising “yeah, that’ll do”.
As a side note: I had my “what the fuck am I doing?” moment when sitting on the sofa fighting to stay awake at about 5pm I was “enjoying” my usual snack of baby spinach straight out of the bag to suppress hunger (instead of a bag of crisps like a normal person). My neighbour asked if I wanted to go over for a BBQ and watch England Vs Belgium in the 2018 World Cup. I grabbed my delightfully shit pack of chicken sausages (again to be ‘lean’) and refused to drink a beer all night and instead had diet lemonade and water in the most perfect BBQ weather you could ask for. Not to mention I didn’t have work the next day so could’ve gotten shitfaced.
If you like being that ripped then great. But to be clear, I really loved fitness back then. I loved it enough to do it 5-6 days a week regardless of what shape I was in. Somehow I decided to push it to a level where half of the other stuff I liked doing was no longer an option not to mention how drained I felt every day. Am I glad I did it… not really. Am I bitter… nope. I looked great, it was just a shit way of life whichever way you slice it.
Would you be where you are now if you hadn't have done it? Could you have convinced your past self not to go so far? Personally, I think the answers to some questions, answers you can actually accept, come from really pushing it. Granted, you're gonna end up in some awful places, but I think that's what it takes for some things
Yes absolutely.
I guess the only way to know it wasn’t worth it was to give it a shot. Nowadays I go with coach Greg’s advice of just living it at a comfortable weight at as low of body fat percentage as that may be.
Dude got be happy & thankful with what u have & what u achieved very right in his head.Too ambitious will lead u to depression.I am firm believer of this
Anyone else have to turn your speakers up when watching James's videos
It’s hard to get to the 6 pack but I don’t think it’s very hard to maintain it, so long as your counting calories.
Am I just lucky or is this guy not differentiating between having a 6 pack and being absolutely shredded?
This has to be one of the best life and fitness videos ever created.....great message!!!!
I've been wrestling in mind with this for the last couple of months, and your take on it has helped me make up my mind. Very much appreciated.
this video was sneaky af, thought i was gonna get watered down advice about cardio and shit, man came out with premium life advice
You talk so much sense, this is great content and it puts all this into perspective.
"This guy is gonna bring tupperware and broccoli" classic !!
This guy gonna bring Tupperware and broccoli 😆😆
First year I have found real consistency in my training regime, and videos like this are invaluable for my motivation, I don't want to be perfect I just want to be better.
I was with a six pack obsessed body builder and he just made me feel self concious, as a female it wouldn’t even cross my mind to seek a six pack guy. I take care of myself, train etc. but still, not one bit appealing. It always strikes me a “too try hard”, keep it real and live your life ffs ❤
I like you! Thank you for existing and posting on RUclips. I promise to make more of an effort to not be a wanker and just bounce of your videos before hitting the like button.
I was 450lbs/204kg. I'm on a Keto Diet. Now I am like 430-something-lbs/192kg. I keep having to correct people that I am not doing this to be sexy. I am doing this to be healthy. I plan on having a belly at 250lbs/113kg.
You are such a needed voice in this space
Fantastic video! Total truth. First time I’ve ever heard it this way. Thank you, thank you!
You know what. I genuinely loved that video. Can't agree more. (I'm aware of my display pic, and proud I got there, though my life was horrible for nearly a year to get maintain it until i cracked).