I am so happy you are reading these words in this book at this very moment. In fact, I am downright excited about it! Why? Well, the mere fact that you're hearing what I'm saying right now is proof positive this book, which I have been encouraging my brother Shawn Phillips to write for almost four years, is finally done! And, now, you have, at your fingertips, what I believe is the most comprehensive, common-sense, straightforward guide available today that specifically addresses the question so frequently asked in today's world of fitness. That question being, "How do I build defined abs?"

I can't think of anyone more qualified to answer that question than Shawn. He knows this topic inside and out. He knows what works and what doesn't. And he practices what he preaches. He's in shape all year long, and even at age 38, he's still making improvements in his physique.

Please allow me to share some "up close and personal" information about my brother, so you know more about him before you read the rest of this book. To start with, Shawn and I were born in Golden, Colorado, a small town nestled in the foothills about 15 miles west of Denver. Shawn was born a year and six weeks before me. Our mom has a heart of gold and is so loving. Our dad is one of the smartest people you'll ever meet. Together with our older sister, Shelly, we lived a typical small-town lifestyle as kids. We played sports, got good grades in school, and stayed out of trouble, for the most part.

As we became young adults, Shawn and I both began to feel a passion for fitness and muscle building. We worked out together, constantly pushing each other and supporting each other. When I'd work out so hard I'd get sick, he'd drive me home and make me drink orange juice until I could stand up straight again and wasn't pale green. And I'd do the same for him. (Thank goodness we never both got sick on the same day!)

When I was about 20 years old and decided to begin sharing what I had learned about muscle building by starting a newsletter, Shawn was right there with me. In fact, he helped me write articles and develop exercise programs that were featured in my first newsletters, which I started in 1985 with the $180 Shawn and I made mowing lawns around our neighborhood in the summer. The idea was to provide enough helpful information to people who were interested in building muscle and losing fat that subscription revenue would help us pay our tuition for college. The idea worked.

In 1992, we transformed the newsletter into a magazine called Muscle Media, and Shawn's articles appeared in virtually every issue. Shawn was always in such great shape, so I featured his photos on numerous covers and throughout each magazine. Perhaps the most famous photo of Shawn is the one that appears on the cover of my documentary video Body of Work. That photo lifted interest in how he built his incredible abs to a new level and prompted literally thousands of questions about his ab-training "secrets" to come pouring into Muscle Media headquarters.

Although Shawn is probably best known publicly for his incredible abs, he is actually better known by his family, close friends, and co-workers as a hard-working, soft-spoken man with a kind heart and a passion for fitness and for designing and developing computer software programs. Over the past decade, he's successfully combined his interests in fitness and technology, first by creating a customized, computer-generated exercise program called Power Systems Technologies that he utilized to design training programs for numerous world-class athletes.

More recently, Shawn has created Nutros.com, a high-tech internet site that allows people to research, design, and develop their own customized vitamin and nutritional supplement programs around their specific needs and fitness goals. Shawn was also a key member of the original team that helped me build EAS into the world's leading performance-nutrition company. In late 1999, when I turned EAS over to a new management team, we began the next chapter in our lives. He set out to develop Nutros.com, and I'm building a publishing company called High Point Media with the purpose of Empowering People Through Empowering Books.

Shawn still lives in the foothills of Colorado, and his hobbies include snowboarding, mountain biking, reading, and traveling around the world. We often hang out and occasionally still work out together. Shawn is, always has been, and always will be a great friend. And, I am certain you'll find Shawn's advice in this book reflects the values I've seen him demonstrate throughout his life: honesty, integrity, and sincerity.

Once again, I couldn't be happier that this book is finally done! I do hope you enjoy it—it was created especially for you. I know firsthand, it is a labor of love.