Having helped get the likes of Peter Andre, Rylan Clark and Carol Vorderman – to name just a few – into shape, we speak to the man who battled bullying and bulimia to build a successful fitness empire and become a Sunday Times bestselling author.
Pics: Getty Images
As the founder of The Six Pack Revolution celebrity trainer Scott Harrison, 51, has created an online fitness and nutrition programme offering coaching, home workouts and community support.
The fact it was created by a man who was once very overweight, had been bullied for years, battled an eating disorder and went through divorce and money problems is testament to Scott’s strength, resilience and sheer determination.
Now happily married and a father of three, Scott shares the moment he decided to overhaul his life, how it led to the creation of The Six Pack Revolution and his subsequent success as a Sunday Times bestselling author with Eat Your Way to a Six Pack and High Protein Meals in Minutes. He also shares some of his most popular exercises to try.
‘My story isn’t really about getting a six pack’
“My story isn’t really about getting a six pack. It’s about rebuilding a life,” he tells me.
“Behind my work, what people don’t see is the thirty-year battle with bulimia, the relentless bullying, the failed businesses, the bankruptcy, the broken marriage, the crippling debt and the years spent wondering if life would ever get better.”
Having been badly bullied at school, celebrity trainer Scott turned to food for comfort and went on to develop an eating disorder, battling bulimia on and off for 30 years.
“Looking back, I wasn’t just overweight, I was unhappy, drinking too much and didn’t feel in control of my life.”
The playground moment that changed everything for celebrity trainer Scott Harrison
It was in December 2015 that everything changed and Scott realised he had to do something to make himself feel better.
“I was at the playground watching parents, many were overweight, tired and unhealthy looking. I realised I was becoming that person too. I made a New Year’s Resolution to get a six pack.
“I blogged about it on Facebook, and some people joined me. Others laughed or doubted me, but I stayed focused. I wanted to leave a positive impact by sharing my experience, combining nutrition, exercise, and personal development.
“That’s the short version of how The Six Pack Revolution was born.”
How a New Year’s resolution became a global fitness programme
The programme has since become Scott’s passion and purpose and incorporates many of the principles he followed to transform what he describes as his “fat dad” body into a fit one.
“It’s so much more than fitness, it’s about creating a lifestyle that empowers people physically, mentally and emotionally. It’s about proving that anyone can transform their life, regardless of where they start, how old they are or how fit they are.
“I always remind participants that anything is possible and life doesn’t always go in a straight line but these are all lessons to be learned to make a stronger more powerful and resilient YOU!
“We have tens of thousands of participants from 92 countries across the world and attract people from all walks of life. Everyone can access the ‘DNA’ of the programme and follow the process. We focus not on competition, but on support, positivity, motivation, and personal development.”
‘People regain energy, confidence, happiness and resilience’
Scott says the benefits participants report aren’t solely about physical transformations.
“It’s not just transformations, people regain energy, confidence, happiness and resilience. Our coaching includes daily encouragement and psychology based guidance, we are live all day every day and run many live Zoom sessions. Being part of that transformation is incredibly rewarding for me and my team.”
Celebrity Trainer Scott says the programme has also been used by people living with health conditions including ME, MS, fibromyalgia, diabetes, psoriasis and Crohn’s, as well as people experiencing menopause symptoms.
Why Scott believes getting fit starts in the mind
“For me, one of the biggest misconceptions in the fitness industry is that people fail because they don’t know what to eat or how to exercise. In my experience, that’s rarely the real problem,” explains Scott.
“The Six Pack Revolution includes mind-set training because lasting transformation starts in the mind, not on the plate. People already know that eating more of the correct foods and moving more is generally healthier. Yet millions still struggle. Why? Because our relationship with food, drink and exercise is often driven by emotions, habits, beliefs and identity rather than knowledge.”
The habits that could be sabotaging your progress
Scott believes understanding why we make certain choices can be as important as knowing which foods to eat or exercises to perform.
“The mind-set information and live zooms are designed to help participants understand why they make the choices they do. We touch on many topics such as emotional eating, stress, self-sabotage, limiting beliefs, all or nothing thinking, negative self-talk and the stories people have been telling themselves for years. Once someone understands these patterns, they can begin to change them.”
‘Exercise shouldn’t be punishment’
Scott also encourages participants to change the way they think about exercise and food.
“Rather than seeing exercise as punishment for what they’ve eaten, we encourage people to view movement as a celebration of what their body can do. Instead of food being a reward or comfort, we help people see it as fuel, nourishment and an investment in their health.”
The mindset shift Scott says can make healthy habits stick
For Scott, one of the biggest changes is moving away from simply following a temporary diet or fitness regime and towards changing how you see yourself.
“Perhaps the biggest shift is identity. We don’t just want someone to follow a programme for 75 days we want them to become the type of person who naturally values their health.
“When your identity changes, your behaviours become much easier to maintain because you’re no longer relying purely on willpower. Focusing on health, happiness, longevity, strength, power and resilience becomes something you are not something you do.
“We also try to get people to stop focusing on what they DONT want and flip that script to giving all of those energy to what they DO want.”
Why old habits can return after a diet
Scott believes this failure to address underlying behaviours can explain why some people find themselves returning to old habits after completing a traditional diet.
“That’s why so many people regain weight and old habits after traditional diets. They change their food temporarily, but they never change the thinking that led to the weight gain in the first place. Eventually, old habits return because the underlying mind-set hasn’t changed.
“The goal of the Six Pack Revolution is to create a permanent change in someone’s relationship with food, drink and exercise. When that happens, healthy choices stop feeling like a sacrifice and simply become part of who they are.
“That’s where long term success comes from …. not motivation, but real transformation.”
Want to try Scott’s workouts?
Scott shares four example workouts from his fitness programme.
Burnout exercises
Each exercise: 45 seconds on, followed by 15 seconds rest
Wall Sits With Sprays
Side to Side Jumps
Plank to Push-Up
Rotating Jump Squats
Heel Taps
Spider-Man Push-Ups
Squat Kick
Inch Worms
Forward Punches
Quick Feet
Complete three circuits in total.
Spartacus exercises
25 Bent Over Rows (25L)
25 Push-Up Burpees
50 Arnold Press
30 Alternating Mechanical Push-Ups
100 Alternating Weighted Side Bends (50 each side)
50 Deadlifts
25 Bent Over Rows (25R)
The Bomb exercises
Exercise for 45 seconds, rest for 15 seconds, then move on
Reverse Lunges
Dive Bomber Push-Ups
Shuffle Hooks
Shoulder Taps
Squat Double Uppercuts
Bouncing Jabs (3L & 3R)
Push-Up Burpees
Plank
Kickboxer exercises
50 Squat Kicks
200 Battlerope Uppercuts
Run 1km
50 Shuffle Hooks
50 Alternating Front Kicks
Run 1km
60 Second Plank
60 Second Child Pose