Todd Sampson shows off ripped bod in magazine shoot

FOR years, Todd Sampson has been hiding a big secret. Under his T-shirts with the zingy catchphrases on them is a ripped rig. And we have photos.

TODD Sampson is a total babe.

And not since Barnaby Joyce wanting to kill Johnny Depp’s dogs has something come as more of a surprise.

For years, the smart, surfy-looking dude with the groovy Canadian accent has been blowing us away with his mind on shows like The Gruen Transfer and as a panellist on The Project.

But under his T-shirts with zingy catchphrases on them, he’s been hiding a tight rig.

In a photoshoot for Fitness First magazine, Todd has stripped down and shown off his serious muscles.

“People see me on TV in my lighter mode and they never see me in this kind of hard-core training zone,” the Leo Burnett CEO tells the magazine — who snapped him during one of his workouts.

Todd’s routine consists of sleds, rings and sprints. Source: Fitness First magazine.

“Those that know me on TV never see me like that, and don’t think of me from a fitness perspective.

“Fitness has been a massive part of my life. I’ve always believed a strong body means a strong mind. Without that I would never have been able to achieve anything.”

During the shoot, Todd — who’s also climbed Mount Everest — walks the magazine through his routine of sleds, rings and sprinting.

“I have been training every other day for nearly 30 years,” he says.

Todd has been training everyday for nearly 30 years. Source: Fitness First magazine.

Todd says a “strong body is a strong mind”. Source: Fitness First magazine.

“It’s a part of who I am. I see fitness as an enabler — it allows me to do all the adventurous things I want to do in my life.

“My body is also the important vehicle that my brain travels around in. Healthy body, healthy mind is not cliche — it’s science.”

He admits insecurities about his looks are the reason he started working out and recalls an incident when he was younger where a girl he liked thought he was ugly.

But as he got older, his reasons for working out changed and he began challenging himself to meet physical goals.

How physical fitness affects the mind plays a big part in the second series of his TV show Redesign My Brain — which premieres on ABC on May 28.

“I believe the difference between the ordinary and extraordinary when it comes to the brain is access,” he says.

How fitness affects the mind is a focus in his latest series of Redesign My Brain. Source: Fitness First magazine.

“With the proper tools, focus and attention we can all improve the brain we have.

“We are still at the foothills of the brain’s potential. This is the core focus of the new Redesign My Brain series.”

And despite his commitments as the CEO of a top advertising agency, and keeping up his television appearances, he says a tight schedule is no excuse not to workout.

“You can have all of this craziness in your life and you can still be fit, there’s no excuse,” he says.

“Balance is a guilt-ridden concept. At any one time we are all out of balance and that’s OK. It’s life.

“Scheduling, on the other hand, is about clearly identifying your important roles in life and prioritising action.”

Fitness First magazine is free at all Fitness First gyms.

Todd Sampson on the cover of Fitness First magazine. Source: Fitness First magazine.