How chef Anthony Bourdain got abs at 61

Turns out, he's absolutely ripped

Chef Anthony Bourdain poses at the 2015 Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California (REUTERS)

Globe-trotting TV chef Anthony Bourdain – best known for his withering put-downs of food – has revealed the secret behind his chiselled abs.

A man that needs little in the way of an introduction, Bourdain is one of the most influential men in the culinary world having made a successful career from both chatting and chowing down on all manner of delicious foods – so much so that you’d be forgiven for assuming he has a less-than-perfect physique.

But, that’s where you’d be wrong because if a recent snap of him on holiday in Rome is anything to go by, the 61-year-old is absolutely ripped.

Staying in shape is tough task for most of us let a lone a man who constantly eats, so just how does he do it?

The secret it seems is becoming a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Men’s Health reports.

After being introduced to the sport by his then-wife, Ottavia, who is a Jiu-Jitsu professional back in 2014, Bourdain says his daily training combined with giving up carbs and sugar led to him dropping an impressive 30 pounds in just nine months.

“I train every day, wherever I am in the world,” Bourdain told Nuvo last year.

Typically, the chef’s Jiu-Jitsu regime consists of roughly one hour and a half each day and he has even gone on to compete in, and win, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions.

What’s more, Bourdain also admits that the intense routine has helped him stick to a healthier diet as he knows the effect eating badly will have on his workout the next day.

“I’m not drinking anywhere near what I used to and I’m much moderate in my eating habits — because you really pay a price for misbehavior immediately on the mat,“ he said in 2015.

”You feel it and you pay a price in physical pain and humiliation.”

A killer workout, Jiu-Jitsu involves a lot of ground fighting with another person which requires constant movement.

As a rule, each session consists of a 10 or 15 minute warm up while the next 30 to 40 minutes is spent learning new techniques.

The final part of the class is the most intense though with 15 to 20 minutes spend constantly moving and fighting.