14 DAY TRIAL // Christian Bale is known not only for his acting skills, showcased in movies pertaining to a wide range of genres, but also for his ability and willingness to physically transform his body to better be the character he’s portraying. From “Psycho” to “The Machinist” and “Batman,” Bale has shown that there is little he wouldn’t do to become the part. Below is the Batman diet and workout routine the actor did for the part, as comprised by How Celebrities Lose Weight.
The focus with getting Bale in shape for playing the ultimate cape crusader / superhero in “Batman” was on boosting his speed and agility, while also building muscle without losing these two. Given the short time until production, these goals had to be reached in the briefest while possible, which meant they were even more intense than they would have been under different circumstances, as the aforementioned fitness e-zine points out. Under the supervision of a personal trainer and a nutritionist, and equipped with plenty of patience and even more motivation, Bale eventually attained his goal – the superhero look.
Speaking of nutritionists, HCLW points out that the diet also played an essential part in Bale’s endeavor of packing muscle and improving agility. Not a stranger to making all kinds of sacrifices for his roles, Christian Bale duly abided by the recommendations of a professional, eating a meal every 2-3 hours. Not just any type of meal will do though, as it has to be a perfect balance of proteins, carbohydrates and fats, with a ratio of 1:2:3. The quantity necessary to fuel the body with energy can be calculated by taking into account that we need about 1-2 grams of protein/pound of bodyweight.
With the focus on Bale losing weight and, at the same time, building muscle without having it affect his agility, the star took to running each day. He also embarked on a workout routine that he stuck to until shooting was over. “The training program used for this role would consist of explosive power movements, compound exercises, agility and speed training. Exercises such as power cleans, high pulls, jump squats, explosive bench press... […] Because the training program is so complex, compound exercises are utilized to maximize the effectiveness of each workout in minimal time. A compound movement is any exercise which requires more than a single joint movement; the most common ‘compound’ movements are the squat, bench, dead lift, and military press. Exercises to enhance agility and reaction times are also used.” HCLW explains.
For the daily routine, with detailed exercises that Bale did for the role of Batman, see here.