Channing Tatum has opened up about his iconic Magic Mike physique.
During an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, the actor said that he almost passed on appearing in Magic Mike 3 because of the grueling demands that come with playing everyone's favorite male stripper.
The 41-year-old has starred in both films in the hit franchise. In December, he sent fans into a frenzy when he announced that he and his topless teammates would be returning to the stage for a third installment: Magic Mike's Last Dance.
While Tatum chatted with host Kelly Clarkson about the upcoming sequel, a shirtless snap of him in Magic Mike XXL appeared on the big screen behind them.
Joking about the photo, Tatum said: "That might be the reason why I didn’t want to do a third one, because I have to look like that."
He then went on to say that the male body standards set by films Magic Mike were not only unrealistic - they were also unhealthy.
"It's hard to look like that. Even if you do work out, to be that kind of in shape is not natural," he said. "That's not even healthy. You have to starve yourself. I don't think when you're that lean, it's actually healthy."
The Step Up star added that even for an actor like himself - where staying ripped is basically his career - it's practically impossible to maintain that level of physique.
"I don't know how people who work a 9 to 5 actually stay in shape because it's my full-time job, and I can barely do it," he said.
As for what the grueling Magic Mike fitness regime entails, Tatum said he had to work out twice a day and eat "completely right" - which meant even cutting out salt.
He explained that "the thing I miss most probably is like, salt. Just everything tastes like, I don't know, tastes like water. It's nothing."
Not only is it an uphill grind to get in that kind of shape, but Tatum revealed that it's also completely unsustainable - as mere days of eating and drinking regularly will see you back where you started.
It's so difficult that Tatum questioned what the point was, saying: "Why—when it takes like, I don't know, two months to get really lean—in three days, you can lose it? It's gone."
