I'm just sayin'...
- Name: Abdel "Abs" Abdelkader
- Birth date: 3 August 1985
- Height: 6'2" (188 cm.)
- Weight: 183 lbs. (83 kg.)
- Website: http://www.adbelstyle.com (Currently under construction.)
Abdel is from Melilla, a small city in the south of Spain, and is of Moroccan descent. He speaks English, Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese, Berber and a little bit of Mandarin, having lived in China (Shanghai and Guangzhou) for three years. He arrived in the Philippines last February 25, supposedly for a two month-stint but, now, as he says, "I don't want to leave!"
Abdel is a model. You might recognize him from the Memo and Hang Ten billboards along EDSA, and the SM men's wear ads. He's done runway shows for Bench Body, Memo and SM, and is now a much sought-after host, co-hosting events such as the Philippine Tattler's Nigel Barker exhibition with Tim Yap and Tessa Prieto Valdes. Look for him in the Tattler's 10th anniversary issue, coming out this month.
FYI, ladies, he's straight, although he prefers to keep the current status of his personal life hush-hush.
Now, let's see those infamous abs...
(Photo by Raymund Isaac.)
Q: Holy smokes! Are you for real??? I'm so glad to know that you only got the nickname "Abs" when you got to the Philippines because it feels really weird calling you that, in front of THAT. Tell me the truth now. How much of that photo is photoshopped?
A: (laughs) Yes, my parents never called me Abs. It all started here in Filipinas. They made my name shorter so they called me Abs and part it was a joke about my abs. So now I get used to it and it's hard to change it.
I can say there is nothing photoshopped in my body. (flashes a wicked smile)
Q: Have you always been fit? Or is there some secret archive of Fat Abdel photos that you are hoping will spontaneously combust?
A: Actually, I had abs since I was eight years old. But I was too skinny. Then I started to work out six years ago. Because of the army. I was in the army for two years and they made me work out so much! It was then when I started to be disciplined. I like to challenge myself, I like to overcome. I love to work out.
Q: Is everyone like you in your family?
A: I'm the tallest in my family but all of them are good in sports. Two older brothers do boxing, same as me. The youngest brother does parkour. All are good and fit.
Q: Okay, I think we need another picture.
(Photo by Doc Marlon for Hang Ten.)
Q: What's your workout routine like?
A: I work out in the morning, around 8 AM. Just cardio and stretching. Around one hour and thirty minutes. Then I work out again around 6 PM but, this time, I do boxing, weights and abs. I just rest two days a week, normally, on weekends.
Q: Do you have a personal trainer?
A: I'm my own trainer and I train my friends.
Q: Is there any particular diet that you follow?
A: I really love sports and I enjoy working out. I don't have a diet but I have a hard and intense work out. And I drink a lot of water and green tea. The secret is to burn more calories than you eat.
I try to have a good work out, good rest, good nutrition and good hydration. It's a package. You can't have good results without one of them. I drink around four liters of water a day, apart from the green teas which are around four cups a day, and one of camomile before I go to bed. I like to eat everything and I enjoy doing it so I don't have a strict diet. I just try not to eat fat, especially in the evening.
Q: So what's a typical day for you like?
A: Always, when I wake up, the first thing I do is prepare my green tea with peppermint and ginseng. All natural, no bags. I drink it before I eat anything. Then I eat some fruit like a banana or apple and then I go to do cardio.
After the cardio work out, I have my normal breakfast: cereal with milk and protein, bread with peanut butter, green apple and banana.
After an hour and a half, I have nuts and a green apple, and green tea with peppermint and ginseng.
For lunch, I have pasta, rice or vegetables with chicken, beef or tuna. Then fruits and my special tea.
Two or three hours after, I have merienda. Tuna sandwich, boiled egg, fruits, my special tea...
30 minutes later, I take my protein because I go to Golds to work out. I drink two to three liters of water during the work out. Then I have a banana on the way back to the apartment.
For dinner, I have vegetables, fish or chicken, fruits, and camomile with lavender tea to relax.
Before I sleep, I take casein protein and that's it. Very easy!
Q: Do you require a lot of sleep?
A: I try always to sleep eight hours and have 30 minutes of siesta after lunch.
Q: Do you normally prepare your own meals?
A: I always cook at home when I have time. I like to eat my own food. I cook quite well.
Q: Do you take any supplements?
A: I just take protein.
Q: I think we need another photo break.
(Photo by Raymund Isaac.)
Q: I've noticed that you don't drink or smoke. What do you like to indulge in?
I love ice-cream. I eat a lot of Cheddar Ruffles. Mmmm... I love chocolate as well. Peanut butter, salmon sashimi... I believe we have to make ourselves happy and if, sometimes, we eat what makes us happy, then the body works even better. It works for me. I just work out very hard to burn it.
Q: Now that you're in demand at social events, how do you manage? And if you absolutely had to have one drink at gun point, what would it be?
A: At the events, I try to enjoy and have a good time with my friends and I don't think about diet. So I just eat whatever, except pork. I always have water but, if I have to drink, I would choose tequila. But only if there is so much pressure.
When I wanna eat something unhealthy or fatty, I just do it but I go to the gym and I work out very, very hard to burn it. Have to enjoy sometimes.
Of course, I'm a human being and sometimes I feel like giving up. But only for a day and I allow it because I take it as a chance to rest and recover.
Q: Thank for the chat, Abdel! And for all the fabulous photos! What last words would you like to leave with this blog's readers?
A: Take care of you body as you take care of your life. You have to ask always more and more from your body. Remember that discipline is very important. And good work out, good nutrition, good rest and good hydration. That is the package to get perfect results.
Q: Of course, we're going to have to end this with one last photo...
(Photo by Anton San Diego.)
Q: But just in case you wanted to see what he looks like with clothes on...
This is photo was taken for a suit catalogue in China.
Great article, Gai! Didn't even notice the pictures. :)
Posted by: Margaret | 13 September 2011 at 12:52 AM
Enjoyed reading this Gai! Do all models eat as healthy as he does?
Posted by: Risa | 20 September 2011 at 08:59 PM
What discipline! I should take his advise and just drink water. Can't believe he only drinks when he is pressured. You should do more interviews!! Who's next??
Posted by: Rosan | 27 September 2011 at 10:56 AM