The Magic Mike XXL Workout: How Channing Tatum and the Crew Got Ripped

In “Magic Mike XXL,” Channing Tatum and the crew reunite for one final blowout performance. (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection)

Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, and the rest of Tampa’s Finest are back in all of their shirtless, gyrating glory in Magic Mike XXL. The sequel to 2012’s surprise hit Magic Mike arrives in theaters July 1, promising just as much waxed, tanned ab action as the original.

How did the stars prepare for their body-baring roles? Here’s a look at how they got ready to show off (nearly) every inch — and what you can learn from them.

Channing Tatum (Magic Mike)
His secret: A super-disciplined diet.

Channing Tatum brings the heat in “Magic Mike XXL.” (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection)

Having abs like Channing Tatum takes both a dedicated workout routine and a strict diet. You can’t do it with just one or the other, the 34-year-old actor said in a recent Q&A on Reddit: “A lot of people just work out and don’t actually diet and they wonder why they aren’t getting the results they want, and some people do the exact opposite and wonder the same thing. I really think you have to do both.”

Case in point: During an interview with Esquire magazine that took place the week before Magic Mike XXL began shooting, Tatum dined on a single chicken breast as his interviewer enjoyed nine whole crabs. “I would like a beer. I would like to have some crab. I love eating. But this is what I’m doing right now,” Tatum admitted. "This is really fine,” he said, referring to his meager meal. “I’m like T-minus I-don’t-know-what to being naked all the time.”

The takeaway: It’s great if you’re working out all the time, but you probably won’t see results in the mirror unless you change your diet, too.

Related: 7 Fun Facts About Channing Tatum, Including His Rules for Staying in Shape

Joe Manganiello (Big D— Richie)
His secret: It’s all about your mindset.

“True Blood” and “Magic Mike” star Joe Manganiello thrills crowds again in “Magic Mike XXL.” (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection)

Channing Tatum has said, “I’m pretty sure that Joe Manganiello’s picture is next to the definition of fitness in the Webster’s dictionary.” But the tall, dark, and handsome True Blood star almost threw away his career when, after his big break as Flash Thompson in Spider-Man, he started drinking a bottle of whiskey a day and was thrown out of his apartment for not paying rent, Men’s Health reported.

Many years and life lessons later, Manganiello counts mental toughness as one of the most important secrets to his success. “Evolution starts once you can grasp and accept the infinite possibilities and agree to never cut corners or make excuses,” Manganiello writes in his book, Evolution: The Cutting Edge Guide to Breaking Down Mental Walls and Building the Body You’ve Always Wanted.

The takeaway: “Look at your failures, embrace them, and immerse yourself in them,” Manganiello writes in Evolution. Use those experiences as motivational fuel to achieve your goals.

Related: Get a Magazine-Worthy Six Pack

Kevin Nash  (Tarzan)
His secret: Have a routine that works for you.

Pro wrestler Kevin Nash stars as Tarzan in Magic Mike XXL. (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection)

Kevin Nash is one of the most well-known names in wrestling, first signing with the WWE in 1993. Before joining the WWE, the towering 6-feet-9-inch star played basketball for the University of Tennessee and professional European teams. He also spent two years in the U.S. Army.

Given Nash’s unique career path, it might not be a surprise that he follows his own beat when it comes to training. Nash wakes up at noon every day, he told a fitness blog in 2013. For cardio, he hops on a stationary bike at home after a couple of giant mugs of coffee. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., he works out with his training partner, pro wrestler Glenn Gilbertti (stage name Disco Inferno). Every night, Nash watches SportsCenter and goes to bed around 4 a.m.

The takeaway: Who cares if your routine isn’t what everyone else is doing? If it works for you, you’ll be more likely to stick with it.

Matt Bomer (Ken)
His secret: Lean on your friends.

Actor Matt Bomer, known for his roles in “White Collar,” “American Horror Story”, and “The Normal Heart,” shows a more playful side in “Magic Mike XXL.” (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection)

To prep for Magic Mike XXL, Matt Bomer followed the same dairy-free, gluten-free, protein-focused diet as the rest of the cast. But Bomer had an additional challenge: He recently dropped more than 35 pounds to play a writer living with AIDS for the HBO original movie The Normal Heart, according to an interview with Details magazine. To lose the weight, Bomer talked with his Magic Mike costar Matthew McConaughey, who underwent a similar transformation for Dallas Buyers Club.

So when it was time to get his body into stripper shape, Bomer sought support from his friends in the Magic Mike XXL cast. “When we hadn’t had any carbohydrates in a couple of months, and we were starting to fall out in a take we could at least find solace in each other,” Bomer told Nightline.

The takeaway: If you have a friend who achieved the goal you’re working on —whether that’s dropping pounds, adding muscle, or cleaning up your diet — reach out to them when you get stuck.

Adam Rodriguez (Tito)
His secret: Have a plan and stick to it.

Adam Rodriguez prepared for the original “Magic Mike” film in only six weeks. (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection)

When CSI: Miami star Adam Rodriguez scored his role as Tito in Magic Mike, he had six weeks to get his body in shape for filming. “I just knew [the rest of the cast] was going to show up ready to kill, and I didn’t want to be the weak link,” Rodriguez told Men’s Fitness. So he hired a personal trainer, Tito Raymond, and nutritionist, Adam Friedman.

Rodriguez worked out six days a week according to Raymond’s plan, ate regularly to keep his blood sugar stable, and achieved 5 percent body fat just in time to strip to his skivvies alongside Channing Tatum.

The takeaway: Don’t do whatever workout sounds good that day. If you want to make a profound change, choose a training plan created by someone you trust — and follow it.

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