The mirror didn't lie. 60kg of nothing stared back at me. I was that guy, you know which one. Walking into rooms and somehow still being invisible. Watching my friends fill out their shirts while I disappeared in mine. Being picked on in school because of my chicken legs (people literally used to call me "chicken little"). Every handshake felt weak. Every conversation felt like I was apologizing for taking up space. The worst part? It wasn't just my body that felt small. My whole life did. I'd wake up frustrated, go to bed disappointed, and spend the day in between feeling like I was wasting the one shot I had at being the man I knew I could become. The gym intimidated me. Nutrition confused me. And deep down, I was terrified I'd always be the "before" picture in someone else's success story. But there's something powerful about hitting rock bottom – it gives you solid ground to push off from. One July Tuesday morning (I remember it exactly), I was at a resort in the south of Italy with my girlfriend at the time. We were chilling at the pool and she had forgotten something inside our room and sent me to grab it. I got to the room, walked in the bathroom to grab whatever she had left there and I was confronted with my own self. There was a big ass mirror inside that bathroom. I stared at myself for a whole 5 minutes without saying anything. That's when something clicked. I remember thinking to myself "Riccardo is this really the kind of man you are? Is this what your full potential looks like?" I remember this as if it happened yesterday not for what I said internally, but for how bad I felt. I was VERY FUCKING PISSED!!! At that exact moment I made a decision. I stopped looking for shortcuts and started building systems. Real ones. I studied how my body actually responded to training. I figured out what foods worked for MY genetics, not some cookie-cutter plan. Most importantly, I learned to show up when I didn't feel like it. ESPECIALLY when I didn't feel like it.

Welcome to 86UP — the system and support group I wish I had when I was 60kg. You just joined one of the most dialed-in fitness transformation communities on the planet. This isn't just about getting bigger. It's about becoming a better man — more disciplined, more confident, more dangerous. Inside 86UP, you’ll find all types of people: - The beginner who just committed to Day 1 - The ex-skinny guy who’s now built like a machine - The busy professional finally reclaiming his health - And the silent killers lifting heavy, living clean, and leading by example This mix is what makes 86UP special. Whether you're on Day 1 or Day 1000, you bring value and you’ll get value. We’re not here to “motivate.” We’re here to build. INSIDE THE CLASSROOM Here’s what you’ve unlocked: ✅ The exact workouts & meal plan I used ✅ A mindset course to rewire your habits ✅ Weekly challenges to keep you pushing ✅ Live Goal-Setting Calls every Sunday Every week, we go live together. You’ll ask questions, set targets, and hold the line. THE 86UP MANIFESTO This is not just a fitness group. This is a standard. Print this out. Look at it daily. Live it. 🧠 You are a new breed of human. You think differently. You move intentionally. You do what most won’t. 🏁 You don’t just work out, you win. You’re not here for aesthetics. You're here for power, control, clarity, and self-respect. 🔥 You’re a builder. Of muscle. Of habits. Of self-trust. Of your damn life. 📈 You track what matters. Sleep. Food. Lifts. Habits. Your body is your business. 🧰 You use what works — WHOOP, heavy iron, macros, cold showers — no ego, just results.⛓️ You take full responsibility. No excuses. You bend your environment to your will. 🚨 You ask questions. You apply fast. You don’t binge content — you execute. OUR MISSION To breed the next generation of elite men who lead from the front, mentally and physically sharp. Whether you’re here to: → Pack on your first 20 lbs of muscle → Get under 10% body fat and stay there