Jason Tobin is currently in the best shape of his life for Season 2 of Cinemax’s Warrior.
Before he came to ATP he wasn’t sure that he would be able to achieve these kinds of results, especially in such a short time frame.
Doctors had told him that he was pre-diabetic.
He was already exercising multiple times per week on his own using traditional bodybuilding type training.
He wasn’t sure what else he could do…
By working with his ATP Personal Training Coach, Jason was able to create an eye-catching physique in just 8 weeks. Not only does he look amazing, but he developed his athleticism, mobility and conditioning.
I had turned up for Season One at quite short notice and wasn’t in the type of shape that I wanted to be. I ended up training with the stunt crew a lot during the shooting of Season One and I wanted to come back for Season Two in the best condition of my life. I wanted the guys on the stunt team to notice the hard work I had put in. I guess it’s like an athlete preparing in the off-season.
When I started planning my physical preparation for “Warrior” there were a number of factors that were important to me in my search for a personal training gym.
Firstly, as an on-screen performer, I wanted to look great and feel strong. Secondly, I wanted to be fitter because I had made the mistake in the past of focusing purely on aesthetics only to find the long hours on set acting and shooting fight sequences would gas me out.
Lastly, for my job as an actor doing fight choreography, it’s extremely important to be mobile and I was looking for a gym that understood the importance of mobility training. The more mobile I am the more the choreographers can push me with the fight scenes and the more cool stuff we get to shoot, I didn’t want my mobility to limit the imagination of the fight team. I didn’t want to be muscle-bound, and I had a particular look that I wanted to achieve.
When I found out I was insulin-resistant and verging on being a fully-fledged type-2 diabetic, I’ll be honest, it was a real bummer. I was really shocked that I was susceptible to blood sugar issues as I have never been obese or overweight. I had to re-educate myself and completely change my diet and my thinking.
I had long-held beliefs about food and working out that were just plain wrong. I used to think I needed to pound excessive protein and eat super-frequently so that my body wouldn’t break down muscle.
I was training martial arts, boxing, Thai-boxing, running and eating whatever I felt like. I’ve never really been overweight but I had lost a lot of definition in the mid-section. I had a textbook case of dad bod. I was putting in a lot of effort but wasn’t getting the type of results I wanted. My approach was to simply do more and I wasn’t addressing some of the finer points around diet, stress management and conditioning. I was lifting some weights but the approach lacked precision.
I became more consistent and I felt the gains come quickly. For me, it’s important to not just be told what to do but to learn and be able to speak to knowledgeable trainers who have their fingers on the pulse on the latest developments in high-performance training. And while I trained my body at ATP my mind was constantly learning new things and my understanding became deeper.
The truth is that I probably trained less once I started at ATP but the training was more focused to my needs and more effective. Both Pete and Jay spoke about using the minimum effective dose to trigger the response we were after and this meant I was able to recover more completely from the training sessions.
The main difference in my training for this TV series compared to previous preparation for my other film projects was balancing my need to look good but also to move well and to have enough energy for long days doing fight scenes. Also, as in any sport or physical activity, you’re running the risk of getting injured so doing applied mobility training to help rehab and strengthen joints and end ranges was a total game changer. I really feel that mobility work has helped me regain years on my body.
I play Young Jun who is a vicious fighter who is extremely explosive and agile and with that in mind ATP tailored my training to focus on those things. From FRC to gymnastics weight training to aerobic conditioning. ATP also assisted me on set all the way in Cape Town, South Africa.
I’m in the best shape of my life and yet I can see how much further I want to go with my training and fitness goals and with ATP we’re already mapping out my training for next season. It’s an exciting journey to be on with them. In fact, I became so passionate about the training process that I became certified in the FRC system which was taking place in Cape Town just prior to filming.
My training is my meditation. I workout out for the peace of mind and calmness it gives me. I couldn’t live in a high-stress society like here and work in the film industry without having something to blow that steam off. And moving to a low-carb high fat diet has also helped me keep a more even keel and deal with stress better. The most interesting aspect of moving to a LCHF diet that I didn’t anticipate is how much it’s boosted my immune system. I haven’t gotten sick since.
I feel fantastic. I’m fitter, stronger. I move better than I have in years and my blood sugar is under control. I really couldn’t ask for more.
I think she’d say that I’ve prioritized my health and training whereas in the past that aspect of my life would easily slip down the pecking order and as I result I’m healthier in all areas. For example I sleep earlier, wake up earlier and get more sleep now because I noticed how profound the effects were on my training if I didn’t sleep enough. I think she also likes my six-pack.
The first thing I’d recommend anyone who’s about to start their fitness journey is to be consistent, but more importantly, don’t wait, just do it!
ATP has helped me achieve my training goals by being attentive to my specific needs and goals. I’ve been to gyms and trainers who want to put you on their system and for you to prescribe to their methodology like 12-week transformations that might make you look good but not perform better or move better.
In my job I work with the very best in the film industry and now working with ATP I feel the same, I’m working with the best trainers. I feel very lucky to have such an awesome team behind me. When I have questions about any aspect of training and health I’m surrounded by people who are elite in their field.
I’ve enjoyed my experience with ATP tremendously. They’re professional, knowledgeable, and a great team to work with. From the workouts to the nutrition, mobility to strength training they covered all the ground that I needed. And they’re just a good bunch of people and fun to train with which in the end is what it’s all about, to be on a journey with people you like.
*Results will vary from individual to individual
**Results are based on each client’s circumstances.
