Gay with abs
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A recent thread on Reddit prompted men to get honest about how they (at least claim to have) attained six-pack abs, and what is and isn’t productive, with a number of commenters concluding that, at the end of the day, it’s ”mostly diet and genes.”
High-protein, low-carb diets, combined with plenty of cardio, proved a popular formula on the thread, as did abstaining from booze.
The altar? That one thirst trap you post when you’re finally feeling yourself, followed by obsessively checking who viewed it.
Social media doesn’t create body insecurity—it just serves it to us like a bottomless mimosa brunch. I’ve had 10 minute workouts that felt like absolute hell while hour long workouts would feel like a chore.”
Others agreed that shorter, intensive ab bursts can be both more useful and enjoyable than longer, drawn out workouts.
Your worth is not measured in likes. Remember—there’s no filter for self-esteem.
It’s okay to work toward your fitness goals. Our phones.
Men With Six-Pack Abs Are Revealing What it Took to Get So Fit
Everybody’s fitness journey is different, but it’s always good to share tips and insights with other people—especially when it helps bust workout myths. Instead of merely isolating that and creating an opportunity to grow imbalanced, you finish with a potent glute squeeze." Check out the full workout here.
Philip Ellis
Philip Ellis is News Editor at Men's Health, covering fitness, pop culture, sex and relationships, and LGBTQ+ issues.
One post claimed that “The fat covering your abs really melts after cutting out alcohol,” to which somebody replied: “The closest I came to a six pack was when I quit drinking. "It's a powerful enough move to spark growth and development in the rectus abdominus (your actual six-pack muscles). They’re as real as a drag queen’s eyelashes—gorgeous, yes, but not 100% natural.
His work has appeared in GQ, Teen Vogue, Man Repeller and MTV, and he is the author of Love & Other Scams.
The Body Image Loop
Many gay men struggle with body image for a reason: we live in a subculture that often worships aesthetics like a religion. One “perfect” torso leads to another, and suddenly your brain is running a silent comparison chart, forgetting that everyone’s highlight reel hides the blooper reel.
The Humor in the Hurt
Here’s the thing: a lot of these “perfect” bodies?
“Obviously diet is a huge component to getting abs, but you won’t have abs if you’re not training them properly,” reads one comment. I once convinced myself I needed bigger shoulders because of a TikTok thirst trap… only to discover the guy was leaning forward, holding a dog. It’s also OK if your goal is to enjoy your body as it is, whether that’s lifting heavy in the gym or lifting a double cheeseburger to your face.
Confidence is sexier than any six-pack.
However, abs are built in the kitchen and the gym. The holy water? After about a month, I’d be able to tell the difference in the mirror after having two beers the night before.”
A lot of guys said that they had noticed a change after they started tracking their meals in a personal fitness app.
Lighting tricks, angles, filters, and a touch of FaceTune can transform “guy who just finished his workout” into “guy who looks like he was born in a Calvin Klein ad.”
And yet, we fall for it. And unlike abs, you can keep it year-round without cutting carbs.
So, next time you catch yourself comparing your body to a stranger’s online, remember this: real beauty isn’t in a picture—it’s in the messy, unfiltered, laugh-til-you-snort moments you share with people who love you exactly as you are.
Now, close the app, grab that spoon, and enjoy your peanut butter like the beefcake you are.
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The dog was doing most of the work.Breaking the Scroll Spell
You don’t have to quit social media to stop feeling like a “before” picture—just curate your feed like you curate your playlist.
Follow more body diversity: Muscular, slim, bigger, disabled, older—your algorithm should be as well-rounded as your glutes on leg day.
Unfollow the ones who make you feel like crap: Yes, even that one guy who occasionally posts shirtless while holding a latte.
Post the “imperfect”: Sweaty gym selfies, blooper moments, and pictures where your abs are taking the day off.
The Empowerment Piece
Your value is not determined by your body fat percentage.
“I’ve always preferred 20-30 minute workouts to hour long f*** around sessions,” said one guy, with another adding: “10-15 minutes for abs is plenty… Over training on abs isn’t going to be productive, you’re just going to waste time.”
For beginners who aren’t quite sure where to start with their six-pack routine, Men’s Health fitness director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., recommends a simplified version of the Turkish getup maneuver.
"If there's one core move I'd love to get everyone doing, from beginners to advanced folks, it's this one," he says.
And no matter how flawless someone looks online, they’ve got insecurities, too.