Ryan Reynolds was not always the action star we all know and love today, nor did he look the part. Back in his days as frat star Van Wilder, Reynolds’ body was in quite a different shape as he seemed to take on the role outside of the movies as well.
“I was pretty unhealthy. I didn’t care what I ate or what I drank.”
But that all changed with his first role as an action star in Blade: Trinity. In fact, in just three months of 6-day-a-week workouts, Reynolds had put on 25 lbs of muscle, bulking up just in time for the film. Since then, Reynolds has essentially always been in action hero shape.
However, superhero shape requires just a bit more, as Reynolds recalls his first encounter playing Deadpool, saying:
“He was a last-minute addition to X-Men Origins: Wolverine, so I had to gain muscle quickly. I was eating, like, live children as they passed in order to bulk up.”
Reynolds’ trainer, Bobby Strom, has been working with Ryan for quite a few of his movies. His main goal seems to be to never let Ryan do the same workout twice. He changes up the muscle routines, changes up the lift rotation, and even throws in some random lifts that Ryan has never done. Here’s just one example of what a typical Deadpool workout looks like, from the man who trained him:
RYAN REYNOLDS’ SUPERHERO WORKOUT
Abs workout (do 5 circuits)
EXERCISE A.
WEIGHTED SITUP
15-20 reps, performed on decline bench
0 sec. rest
EXERCISE B.
HANGING LEG RAISE
15-20 reps
0 sec. rest
EXERCISE C.
HORIZONTAL CABLE WOODCHOP
15-20 reps
0 sec. rest
EXERCISE D.
SWISS BALL CRUNCH
15-20 reps
0 sec. rest
EXERCISE E.
RUSSIAN TWIST
15-20 reps on decline bench
0 sec. rest
EXERCISE F.
AB-WHEEL ROLLOUT
15-20 reps
Rest as needed
Lower-body finisher
EXERCISE A.
WALKING LUNGE
3 sets 26 reps
0 sec. rest
EXERCISE B.
REVERSE LUNGE
3 sets 26 reps
60 sec. rest
Upper-body finisher
EXERCISE A.
BENCH PRESS
3 sets 15-20 reps
As needed rest
EXERCISE B.
INCLINE BENCH PRESS
3 sets 15-20 reps
Rest as needed
Check out just one of his workouts for his role in the new ‘Deadpool’