Eden Classens' one-month challenge. Picture: Instagram
Eden Classens, known for his role as Justin Potgieter in the kykNET soapie Suidooster, recently embarked on a month-long fitness journey to get back into shape and prove that if you really want to, you can.
Through the challenge, he aimed to prove that if you stick to your diet, work hard and get enough rest, you’ll see results quickly.
The actor took to Instagram to explain that he hadn’t been to a gym in three months, but that everything was going to change. Judging by the posts that followed, things certainly have.
The actor’s before-and-after pics prove that his fitness journey – which was shared with social media followers in detail – worked wonders for his now cover-page worthy bod and according to him, also his self-confidence.
For him it was not about losing weight, but rather maintaining it, burning fat and building muscles. Another motivating factor was the fact that exercising is a natural antidepressant and a stress reliever.
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Even though he naturally craved some McDonald’s, pizza and chocolates, Classens did not let that stand in his way.
According to the actor, it may be hard work to cut out alcohol, carbs and sugar, but if you make those changes and keep it consistent – something that was key in this challenge – you’ll see results.
A big part of the secret to Classens’ successful body transformation lies in what he calls the “four-three split”. This includes four days of exercise and three days of rest:
Day 1: Legs and shoulders
Day 2: Back and biceps
Day 3: Rest
Day 4: Chest and triceps
Day 5: Skills day – body workout with some calisthenics, calve exercises, forearms and more
Day 6: Rest
Day 7: Rest
On his resting days, he made time for stretching and he sticked to a clean diet.
As he didn’t want to lose any weight and cardio isn’t his preferred form of exercise, he only sticked to the exercising routine above. He also included ab exercises in every muscle workout day, as well as chest presses and squats.
During the challenge, Classens had five meals a day, usually consisting of:
The key was to keep his body energised and stave off hungry, so he kept his portion sizes small and ate more regularly.
According to the actor, rest is significant in allowing your body to recover and muscles to set, giving you the required strength and energy to exercise the following day.
He uses CBD oil for a calming effect and to help him sleep well, and he always tries to get at least seven hours of sleep.
By recording your workouts, you are able to go back on your previous week’s performance and build on it.
The challenge might have lasted only a month, but according to Classens, it is a lifestyle change and a foundation for the months to come.
It was all about improving on weight capacity, endurance, and stamina – something he definitely succeeded in.
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