Honestly, let’s just get it out of the way. When Simu Liu posted that shirtless selfie in October 2024 with the cryptic caption "Prepping...", the internet didn't just notice—it basically short-circuited. He was rocking a level of lean muscle that made his Shang-Chi days look like a warm-up. People immediately started screaming about Shang-Chi 2 or some secret Marvel cameo.
But here’s the thing. There’s a lot more going on with the Simu Liu shirtless phenomenon than just a thirsty Instagram feed or a "loaded six-pack" (as TMZ so vibrantly put it). For Simu, that physique is a weird mix of professional requirement, personal rebellion, and a massive middle finger to decades of Hollywood stereotypes.
He isn't just a guy who likes the gym. He’s a guy who knows exactly what it means for an Asian man to be the one everyone is thirsting over.
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The Marvel Transformation: Building the 5kg Armor
When Simu got cast as the MCU’s first Asian lead, he wasn't exactly out of shape, but he wasn't "superhero shredded" either. He had to pack on roughly 5kg of lean muscle while staying mobile enough to do backflips on a moving bus. He teamed up with trainer Bart Kwan to build what they called "explosive power."
Most people think getting that Simu Liu shirtless look is just about bench pressing until your eyes pop out. It’s not. His routine was actually built on contrast supersets.
Basically, he’d do a heavy-loaded movement followed immediately by an explosive bodyweight version of the same thing. Think:
- Trap-Bar Deadlifts followed by Broad Jumps.
- Sled Pushes followed by Sprints.
The goal was to "trick" the nervous system. By lifting heavy, his muscles were primed, so when he dropped the weights and jumped, he felt like he had springs in his feet. This is why he looks functional, not just bulky. He’s got that "athletic pop" that makes the muscles look harder and more defined under the studio lights.
Why He Keeps Taking It Off (It’s Not Just Ego)
If you follow him on social media, you’ve seen the "grey sweatpants" posts or the beach shots from early 2025. It’s easy to write it off as vanity. But Simu has been very vocal about the "backslide" of Asian representation in Hollywood.
He recently went on a tear on Instagram Threads, calling out the fact that studios still view Asian leads as "risky" despite the massive success of films like Everything Everywhere All at Once and his own Marvel debut.
For a long time, Asian men in Hollywood were relegated to three categories: the nerd, the sidekick, or the asexual monk. By being unapologetically "hot" and maintaining that Simu Liu shirtless aesthetic, he’s reclaiming a narrative. He’s saying, "Yeah, we can be the lead, we can be the hero, and yeah, we can be the heartthrob."
It’s tactical thirst. It’s a way of staying in the conversation when the roles aren't flowing as fast as they should be.
The "Stock Photo" Irony
There’s a hilarious bit of history here that most new fans forget. Before he was a Marvel god, Simu was a struggling actor in Toronto who did stock photography to pay the bills. You can still find photos of him in a generic office setting, smiling over a laptop or pointing at a chart.
He was an accountant for nine months at Deloitte before getting fired. He hated it. He’s literally tweeted at companies asking them to stop using his face for accounting software advertisements.
Going from "Generic Office Worker #4" to a guy whose shirtless photos trend globally is a wild trajectory. It’s why he doesn't seem to take the fame too seriously—he remembers being the guy in the $20 dress shirt who just wanted a break.
What He Actually Eats (Hint: It’s Not Just Chicken)
In a Men’s Health interview from early 2026, Simu admitted that he’s not a fan of the "sad" diets. You know the ones—boiled chicken and unseasoned broccoli.
He’s a big believer in not losing the "joy of eating." His go-to?
- Breakfast: Avocado toast on high-quality whole grain bread with a poached egg and a massive drizzle of chili crunch.
- The "Scuba" Hunger: While filming Last Breath, he was doing night shoots underwater for hours. He confessed that when he came out of the water, he’d demolish fried chicken and gravy because his body was just screaming for calories.
He’s human. He drinks. He eats carbs. But when it’s "prep time," he dials in the protein—mostly seafood and lean meats—to keep the inflammation down and the muscle definition high.
How to Get the Look (The Realistic Version)
If you’re looking at those Simu Liu shirtless photos and thinking, "I want that," you have to realize he has a professional team. But the principles are actually pretty simple for the average person.
- Focus on the "V-Taper": Simu’s look comes from heavy emphasis on the lat pulldowns and lateral raises. Widening the shoulders and back makes the waist look smaller, even if you don't have a perfect six-pack.
- Move with Purpose: Don't just lift slow. Incorporate something explosive once a week. Whether it’s box jumps or just some sprints, it changes the way your muscles "sit" on your frame.
- The Consistency Myth: Simu says the secret is just "showing up." Even on days when he’s tired from a 14-hour shoot, he does something.
- Lighting is Your Friend: Honestly? Even Simu admits a good shirtless photo is 50% hard work and 50% "finding the light."
Actionable Steps for Your Own Transformation
If you're serious about shifting your physique toward that athletic, "superhero" style, start with these three things this week:
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- Audit your protein: Aim for roughly 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. If you aren't hitting that, your muscles won't recover from the "Marvel" style training.
- Add "Contrast" to your routine: Next time you do a set of squats, immediately follow it with 5 tuck jumps. Feel that "spring"? That's the nervous system firing that leads to that dense, athletic muscle look.
- Track your "Show-Up" rate: Simu’s biggest piece of advice is just getting your butt to the gym. Don't worry about the "perfect" workout. Just don't miss the appointment.
At the end of the day, Simu Liu is a reminder that you can be an accountant one day and a global icon the next, as long as you're willing to do the backflips (and the deadlifts) to get there.