Six pack abs…
Technically speaking, they’re the result of just one thing: low bodyfat.
But in our society, they mean so much more.
- They’re a coveted physical trait.
- Something you associate with athletes, models, and celebrities.
- They’re a status symbol.
- A sex symbol.
- An indication of health and youth.
Lots of people talk about abs. Lots of people want them. But almost nobody has them.
And why not?
Well, the thing is…getting six pack abs is hard work. Like, really hard work.
And if you’re reading this right now, you might be wondering:
Are they really worth all this trouble? Are six pack abs worth it?
It’s a good question. I can’t blame you for asking.
I’ve wondered the same thing myself. In fact, I’ve done more than just wonder. I’ve spent years training, dieting, studying, lifting weights, doing intervals, and taking supplements—all in search of those elusive little striations across my midsection.
Along the way I stumbled, I fell, and I doubted myself. I questioned whether all my goal was worth all the sweat, hard work, and dedication I was pouring into it.
And in this article you’re going to learn all the pros and cons I discovered on my path to getting ripped.
First, let’s start with the bad news.
The Dark Side of Getting Ripped…
I’m not going to sugarcoat this: getting ripped is hard work.
You’re going to have to say “no” to pizza, beer, pasta, cookies, cake, and ice cream.
You’re going to have to get used to the taste of chicken breast.
You’re going to have to lift weights regularly, and with high intensity.
You’re going to have to track your calories and your progress carefully.
Some weeks, you’ll make great progress…
Some weeks, you won’t make any…
And some weeks you’ll actually gain a pound or two.
To make matters worse, you’ll have to deal with friends and family members who criticize you (usually out of jealousy or insecurity).
So to sum it up:
- You have to be strict and you have to work hard.
- You have to be consistent.
- You must remain true to yourself and not let anyone else distract you from your path.
If you want to get six pack abs, you have to be like a ship in a storm. You must hold steady and never lose focus, no matter how hard the wind blows and how rough the waves get around you. You must stick to your course at all costs.
It’s a difficult path that’s littered with sunken ships.
So, again: is it worth going down this road? Are six pack abs worth it?
Now let’s look at the bright side. If you manage to navigate your way through this hurricane of temptations and distractions, there’s treasure at the other end.
Here are the commonly known & relatively secret benefits of getting ripped:
1) It Makes You Healthier
This is one of the most important benefits to getting ripped.
The CDC estimates that 40% of deaths from heart disease, cancer, stroke, and more are preventable.
And one of the best things you can do to lower your risk and potentially prolong your life is to eat better, exercise more, and lose weight.
(Hint: these are the same 3 things you have to do to get ripped.)
On top of that, there are special benefits to strength training.
By preserving your muscle mass and strengthening your bones, lifting weights can help you live a fuller, more functional life as you age.
That means you’ll lower your risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, sleep apnea, arthritis, diabetes, and other degenerative conditions…while getting more out of life.
If Tom Cochrane is right and life is a highway, your body is the car you’re driving. The better shape your car is in, the farther you’re gonna get in this life.
2) It Helps You Develop Better Habits & A Stronger Willpower
The leaner you get, the harder it is to lose those last few pounds of fat.
What sucks even more is that this “stubborn fat” is usually located in the worst possible spot:
Right on top of your lower abs.
If you’re ever going to melt away this stubborn fat to reveal those bottom ab muscles, you’re going to have to accomplish 2 major things first:
- You’ll have to establish smart, healthy habits you can stick to
- You’ll have to develop rock-solid willpower to resist temptations
This will require watching your diet and probably tracking your calories for a few months. It will also mean dropping some of your bad habits and giving up some of your favorite guilty pleasure foods.
But when it’s all said and done, you’ll be a stronger person—not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally.
You’ll have the skills you need to
When temptation rears its head, you’ll have the willpower to say “no” and the wisdom to know what you should do instead.
3) It Saves You Time & Mental Energy
According to Martin Berkman of LeanGains, the secret benefit of being lean is saving time & mental energy.
What he means by that is this:
Most people today spend a ton of time and energy worrying about their body.
They wonder if they look fat, if they’ve gained weight, if should go on a diet.
They’re never satisfied with their body, which leads to a sense of general disease and anxiety…which causes them to waste a massive amount of time and energy over the course of their life.
But by getting ripped, you’ll make yourself immune to such concerns.
(Don’t underestimate how important this can be.)
4) It Gives You “Success Momentum”
Here at Stronger+Leaner, we have a saying:
The best way to change your life is to first transform your body.
Why?
A big part of it has to do with what I call success momentum or success inertia.
Once you accomplish a goal, you start to attract more success.
You feel more confident, more capable, and more ambitious.
You’re more likely to achieve your next goal.
Have you ever heard a sports announcer during a game talk about one team “having all the momentum”? What they’re basically saying is that one team is doing well. They’re on a roll. Everything is going their way.
And when you transform your body, you can have that same kind of momentum in your life.
5) It Makes You More Physically Attractive
This is pretty obvious. When you get ripped, you look awesome!
And it’s not just your body. Sure, you’ll turn heads all day long at the beach—but that’s just the beginning.
You’ll look better in clothes. Clothes will fit you better.
Your face will also become more attractive: leaner, more angular, and more flattering.
6) It Makes You Feel More Confident
When you get ripped, you feel different about yourself.
Confidence.
You see yourself differently—both in the mirror, and more importantly, in your mind.
Remember those vague nagging doubts you used to have?
Suddenly they feel weaker. Fainter.
And in their place, you feel a confidence… A certainty…
That because you accomplished this, you can accomplish anything.
7) It Makes People Treat You Better
Women will be more attracted to you.
Men will have more respect for you.
And it’s not just because of the way you look.
Remember benefit #6?
Getting ripped improves your confidence. And that new confidence also makes people treat you better…
Which in turn, increases your confidence even more.
It’s a virtuous cycle that perpetuates itself to improve your life in many different ways.
8) It Makes You More Athletic
Getting ripped is really a combination of 2 different things…
- Building lean muscle (getting stronger)
- Losing excess bodyfat (getting leaner)
When you accomplish BOTH of these goals, something incredible happens: you become more athletic than you ever thought you could.
Think about it:
Getting stronger means you have the power to move your body in an explosive way.
Getting leaner means that your body is less heavy. You don’t have as much weight to move around.
Combine the two, and you’ll discover that you can run faster… Jump higher… Do more pull ups…
(If you ever want to do a muscle-up or a 1-arm pull up, for example, you’ll want to be around 8% bodyfat or less. Think about why gymnasts are always so lean.)
You’ll be a better football, hockey, baseball, basketball player… A better martial artist… A better runner… A better physical trainer…
Basically, if it involves moving your body—you’ll be much better at it when you’re ripped.
9) It Helps You Find Out What Kind of Person You Are
To get ripped, you’re going to have to push your body to its limits.
You’re going to have to break free from old habits…
And figure out how to develop new ones that stick.
You’re going to have to break away from the herd mentality that keeps the rest of the world overweight.
In short, you have to pay for your new body with sweat, determination, and grit.
And in the process?
You’re going to get in touch with your body and your mind on a deeper level than ever before.
John Muir has a quote:
I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.
I think it describes what I’m talking about beautifully.
Most people have no awareness of themselves, their body, their habits, or their mindset.
But to get ripped, you’re going to change that.
You’re going to develop a greater awareness of yourself.
And in the process, you’ll discover what kind of person you really are.
So: are six pack abs worth it?
You tell me.
Are You Ready To Get Ripped?
If you’re ready to take your physique to the next level, I’m here to help.
I’ve put together an exact blueprint to take you from wherever you are now…
To achieving the most ripped, lean body of your life.
It’s called The Stronger+Leaner Guide to Getting Ripped.
And this program isn’t just about making a physical transformation.
It’s more than that.
In this program, you’ll also learn how to change those deeper parts of yourself:
How to change your habits…
How to strengthen your willpower…
How to cultivate greater awareness…
In short, you’ll learn how to take advantage of all the awesome benefits you’ve learned about in this blog post.