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This male model proves you can eat carbs and still maintain a sixpack

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Do you need to give up carbs if you want a sixpack?
Do you need to give up carbs if you want a sixpack?

When you look at top model Brad Kroenig’s body, “lean” and “ripped” are probably the first words that come to mind.

For most guys looking to get that kind of physique, there are usually two questions that follow: What does he eat? And how often does he work out?

Read more: The ultimate six-pack diet

Kroenig – who has worked with Chanel, Versace, Tommy Hilfiger and more during his two-decade streak in modelling – hit his peak weight at 82kg.

After he noticed a dip in his energy levels, he decided to take his diet into a different direction, the New York Post reports.

“In June 2016, he embarked upon a diet that was radical, at least for members of the fashion tribe. No, his weight-loss plan didn’t involve periodic fasting or extreme juicing. Rather, Kroenig started eating carbs – cups and cups of them each day,” the New York Post notes.

Read more: 10 easy ways to lose weight without starving

“I’m almost 40 and in the best physical and mental shape of my life,” he says.

The thing is, eating carbs shouldn’t be radical for anyone. Kroenig downs about six cups of rice a day, but when you look at the grand scheme of his 10 042 kilojoule diet, it’s not exactly as unhealthy as it sounds.

That’s because “carbohydrates are the only nutrients that exist solely to fuel the body,” Donald Layman, PhD, a professor of human nutrition at the University of Illinois told Men’s Health in 2016. Your body relies on that glucose to power you through a long day or tough workout.

Read more: Eat your way to a sixpack

In fact, 45 to 65% of your daily kilojoules should come from carbs, according to the US Dietary Guidelines. So, say Kroenig was relying solely on six cups of white rice for his daily carb intake. At roughly 556kJ per cup, that would make up about 42% of his daily kilojoules, not counting fruit or other forms of carbs he chooses to eat that day. That puts him right in the recommended range.

But keep in mind that the quality of your carbs matter. Complex carbs found in starchy vegetables and whole grains will always outweigh the refined carbs you’ll find in junk food and processed snacks.

Read more: 8 carb-heavy foods that will help you lose your gut

Obviously, rice isn’t the only thing Kroenig eats. Grilled meats and steamed vegetables paired with rice are a go-to for lunch and dinner, while his breakfast consists of hard boiled eggs and black coffee, sometimes with a piece of fruit on the side.

If he gets sick of basmati rice, he’ll opt for sweet potatoes instead. Based off that, Kroenig sticks to an extremely disciplined plan and balances his carb intake with hefty doses of protein, too.

Plus, “cheat days” aren’t really a thing for him: “Maybe some pizza or cake for my kid’s birthday, but really that’s all,” he tells the New York Post.

Read more: Try this breakfast pizza recipe

It’s also important to note that a big part of the reason Kroenig rocks visible abs has more to do with how much he’s eating rather than what he’s eating. He’s taking in 10 042kJ a day, which is slightly under the USDA’s recommended amount of 10 878kJ for a moderately active man his age, and quite a bit below 12 552kJ, the recommended amount for an active guy.

Combine that with his workout plan – he completes a 40-minute strength workout three times a week, supplemented with walking or hiking with his kids throughout the rest of the week, according to the New York Post – and that may explain how he stays so lean.

Read more: The workout that will fast track your fat loss

While Kroenig admits that his diet can be hard to stick with, the results have been worth it for him – but that doesn’t necessarily mean what works for him will work for you. In the end, the best diet will always be the one you can actually follow, whether that is the ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting, or loading up on healthy carbs.

Finding a plan that your body personally responds to that you can consistently follow is key – male model or not.

This article was originally published on www.menshealth.com

Image credit: iStock 

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