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Top Gun: Maverick truly had it all, from emotional scenes between Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer, to amazing stunts performed by the actual cast, to even tremendous chemistry between the new and old guard, like Cruise and Miles Teller.

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In truth, the road to getting such a great film was not easy, especially for the cast. They went through lots of preparation and that includes Miles Teller.

We'll take a look at how the actor prepared for his iconic beach football scene, and exactly what went into those six-pack abs.

Tom Cruise Wanted The Top Gun: Maverick Cast To Be In Top Shape

This should not come as a surprise but according to Jason Walsh, Miles Teller's trainer, Tom Cruise wanted the cast of Top Gun: Maverick to be in great shape on-set. This not only meant physically, but also in terms of their conditioning and movement.

“Tom is a huge advocate of making sure that these guys are really put through the rigors and the tests,” the fitness instructor explained. “They were actually in these jets … so [it was about] physical preparation, just getting strong, moving well, make sure physically he was very fit.”

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Of course, a lot of the film is extremely authentic, in typical Tom Cruise fashion, this truly makes the experience that much better for the viewer.

For Walsh and his training of Teller, the cardio levels needed to be more than up to par. The trainer stated that he had absolutely no issues with Teller, who took everything very seriously.

“He took everything very seriously. He was very professional,” Walsh said alongside Us. “You could just tell that this had this thing that was really going to require and push him to his limits physically. And the payoff was, you know, an incredible movie.”

Miles Teller Manipulated His Water Levels Just Before The Beach Scene

There is a certain 'bro-science' that goes into shirtless film scenes and this requires the actor to manipulate their water intake. This is commonly used in the world of bodybuilding, especially for competitors that need their physique to shine at the perfect moment.

For Teller, that perfect moment was his shirtless beach scene playing football and judging by his look, we can safely say he did things right.

However, a lot of work went into it. Not only was the training and dieting intense, but Teller was also forced to reduce his water just days prior to the scene. Then, just prior to it, Miles did the opposite, using sodium and sugar to his advantage, as his body used it like a sponge, tightening his muscles up even further.

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“When I was super lean, you’re trying to cut water out of your system [during filming]. It’s a trick of the trade that people use, that you try to dehydrate yourself as much as possible,” Teller stated with Extra TV.

“And then, oddly enough, when you’re on set that day. When your body’s been deprived of sugar and sodium and all these things, you drink like a can of Coke. Your body gets all that sugar, and everything tightens up. You get this certain, kind of, vascular look that looks good on screen.”

Miles Teller Followed An Intense Diet And Training Program

Sure, the water manipulation tactic worked, but there is no chance the actor gets there without intense preparation prior, especially with both training and dieting.

In terms of his diet, Men's Journal revealed that Teller didn't stay away from fats or carbs, instead he kept them all in moderation, along higher amounts of protein.

Calories were generally low given that he was trying to burn fat. Carb sources were also low in calorie, his go-to being a half sweet potato.

Chicken was plenty as his protein source, given the elevated amounts of protein found in a chicken breast, mixed with low fat. As for dinner, he opted for a bit more fat from either fish or steak.

The workout structure was tough, filled with super-sets and circuits. Teller was also manipulating body parts for his workouts, opting for chest and back splits, or full body workouts.

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