Cam Gigandet’s “Never Back Down” Workout Aproach

So I rented a pretty bad movie the other night, called Never Back Down. It had terrible acting and cheesy lines, yet I was completely entertained. I am a sucker for movies where a guy gets beat down and then trains hard to learn some fancy fighting technique. I prefer it when they go to the mountains or jungle and use extreme training techniques with a “master”. In the movie Kick Boxer, Van Damme had raw meat tied to his legs and had to run away from German Shepherds…now that is the type of corny action I get into!

Cam Gigandet – Also Has a Big Role in the movie Twilight

Okay back to Cam Gigandet in Never Back Down. The guy is seriously conditioned! This is the type of look that many guys would aim for and believe me…women dig this guy and his physique. The ironic thing is that the mainstream bodybuilding sites tear guys up in the forums for asking how to achieve this type of look (which is one of the reasons I was driven to create this site in the first place). I guess I think the ideal look for men is to be slim and in good shape, while still looking great in clothes…and women to be in great shape while still looking like women (kind of like the men and women in James Bond movies).

Why Most People Fail to Achieve This “Refined Look”

Cam has a degree of definition that few people achieve. It is obvious that he spent a long period of time on fat loss and less time on building muscle. After doing a bit of research, I did find this to be the case. They wanted him to be lean and slim and Sean Faris (the good guy in Never Back down) to be a bit more muscular. They wanted Sean to look quite a bit bigger than Cam. While Cam was working on slimming down, Sean Faris lifted heavy and put on 15 pounds of muscle.

Cam Gigandet vs Sean Faris

It is hard to look extremely sharp, when you first get lean. You need to stay lean for a while to look razor sharp.

While Cam was working on getting lean during the entire preparation for Never Back Down…Sean spent a large portion of that time gaining muscle. They both wind up in great shape, but Cam’s physique is more refined. He abs are crisp and sharp, his face has a lean look like a model in GQ, etc.

Sean winds up a bit less refined, due to less time devoted to getting sharp. While he has more muscle than Cam, he looks much less conditioned. It would probably take him another 2 months to get that sharp look that Cam has achieved.

Too Much Focus is On Building Muscle…

It should be obvious that Cam Gigandet doesn’t have a body like the typical guy in the gym. His body is much more athletic looking and refined. If anything he looks more like a soccer player or a surfer. A routine based around HIIT with low volume resistance training is the key to this look. A clean low calorie diet is also mandatory to tighten up the physique.

It Takes Very Little to Maintain Muscle Mass

Just a few brief resistance training routines each week is all it takes to maintain muscle mass. Don’t believe the hype that you have to lift 4-5 times per week and eat  protein every few hours to maintain muscle mass.  This is a myth that has been perpetuated by supplement companies for years. Brad Pilon addresses both of these points (backed by scientific research) in his book, Eat Stop Eat.

A Lot of Your So Called “Flaws” Disappear When You Get Lean

A mistake a lot of young guys make is that they keep trying to gain muscle to “even out” their physique. Their lower pecs are bigger than their upper pecs, they don’t have visible side delts, cant see their abs, don’t have a “v” shape, etc. What I recommend is to work on getting to 6-8% body fat and hold it at that level for a few months. I’m betting that 80% of what people think is muscle imbalance is just body fat.

[Here is the trailer to Never Back Down…kind of like The OC meets Karate Kid]

People Vastly Underestimate the Time it Takes to Get Lean

Most people start WAY too late in their quest to get in great shape for the summer.  A lot of young guys spend 9-10 months out of the year trying to gain muscle and 6-8 weeks trying to lose body fat and get lean. I would suggest working on getting lean 6 months before summer. Of course the ideal situation is to stay lean year round, which is what I chose to do…but the reality is that most people “let themselves go”.

Staying Lean Over a Period of Months for the “Refined Look”

If you want to look your best for summer or a vacation, hit your target weight 2-3 months before that time…your body will sharpen up dramatically if you can keep lean for a period of time. Get stronger during the last 2-3 months while maintaining the same weight and body fat percentage…and you will reach a very high level of definition. This is why gymnasts look so ripped…they improve muscular function without an increase in size (something that very few people focus on…but a way to look outstanding).

You Don’t Need Tons of Muscle to Achieve This Look

This look isn’t about bench pressing 315 pounds, lifting to failure, doing heavy deadlifts, etc. You will get this way by dieting correctly and doing intervals to torch body fat off of your body. You will need to do some resistance training to maintain muscle, but you don’t necessarily need to gain a bunch of muscle for this look. No need for crazy amounts of protein or calories either. Think about increasing muscle performance while dropping weight…and you will be on the right track.

A Cam Gigandet “Case Study” – The Vacation Body Blueprint

I just created a $49.99 (Free Beta Release) 56 page course case study where I helped two guys achieve the lean look that Cam Gigandet had in “Never Back Down”.

[I took two guys who were in decent shape, but slightly flabby, and taught them how to get ultra-sharp and lean. Head on over to the free download site by Clicking Here.]