Brad Castleberry Workout and Diet in 2025

James Cunningham, BSc, CPT
Published by James Cunningham, BSc, CPT | Staff Writer & Senior Coach
Last updated: August 29, 2025
FACT CHECKED by Benedict Ang, CPT, PN1-NC
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In the fitness and bodybuilding world, where muscle growth and physical performance are paramount, Brad Castleberry stands as an inspiration. With a strong dedication to his craft, Castleberry has honed his physique and developed a training regimen that has captured the attention of fitness enthusiasts worldwide.

At a young age, when he discovered his passion for weightlifting, his mother supported his journey by getting him a gym membership. After his junior college football career ended, Castleberry shifted his focus towards bodybuilding, embracing the opportunity to further enhance his physique.

In this article, I will examine the workout and diet principles that have set Brad Castleberry at the head of the fitness industry. My aim, as a fitness instructor, is to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of his approach, from intense strength training exercises to carefully crafted meal plans.

Quick Summary

  • Brad Castleberry's workout routine prioritizes compound movements, heavy weights, and high training intensity to build strength and muscle mass.
  • His diet plan revolves around maintaining a macronutrient-balanced eating plan, with six meals a day and an allowance for a weekly cheat meal.
  • While the specific supplements Brad Castleberry takes are not mentioned, he understands the importance of clean supplements to support his fitness goals.

His Stats

A man flexing his back muscles
  • Age: 34 years 
  • Height: 5’10’’
  • Weight: 250 lbs
  • Waist: 30’’
  • Chest: 52’’

Brad Castleberry Workout Routine

Brad Castleberry's workout routine is designed to prioritize strength and muscle mass through compound movements.

Monday

  • Barbell back squat: Perform 3 sets of 7-9 reps. The back squat is a fundamental exercise for lower body strength and development.
  • Wide-grip bench press: Perform 3 sets of 7-9 reps. This exercise targets the chest, shoulders, and triceps.
  • Wide-grip pull-down: Perform 3 sets of 8-10 reps. Focusing on the back muscles, this exercise helps develop a broad and defined back.

Tuesday

Active rest: While taking a rest, he likes to ride the exercise bike, play sports, and hike.

Wednesday

  • Barbell back squat: Perform 3 sets of 5 reps. Starting with squats again emphasizes their importance in Castleberry's routine.
  • Deadlifts: Perform 3 sets of 5 reps. Deadlifts target multiple muscle groups, including the legs, back, and core.
  • Wide-grip bench press: Perform 3 sets of 5 reps. This exercise strengthens the upper body, similar to Monday's routine.
  • Overhead barbell press: Perform 3 sets of 5 reps. This movement targets the shoulders and upper body strength.

Thursday

Active rest: On these days, Brad Castleberry likes to play sports, ride the exercise bike, hike, and jog.

Friday

  • Barbell squats: Perform 3 sets of 5 reps. Squats are once again incorporated to continue building lower body strength.
  • Wide-grip bench press: Perform 3 sets of 5 reps. The focus on bench press helps maintain upper body development.
  • Dumbbell rows: Perform 3 sets of 6 reps. This exercise targets the back and promotes muscle balance.
  • Leg curls: Perform 3 sets of 12 reps. Leg curls isolate the hamstrings for strength and development.

Saturday

Active rest: On these days, Brad Castleberry prefers to play sports, ride the exercise bike, hike, and jog.

Sunday

  • Close-grip bench press: Perform 3 sets of 8 reps. This variation of the bench press targets the triceps.
  • Deadlifts: Perform 3 sets of 3-5 reps. Deadlifts are included again for their overall strength benefits.
  • TRX rows: Perform 3 sets of 8-12 reps. TRX rows engage the back muscles for further development.

"Don't be afraid to challenge yourself and push beyond your limits. That's where growth happens."

- Brad Castleberry, Pro Bodybuilder, Powerlifter, & Ex-Football Player

Workout Principles

A man working out using dumbbells

Brad Castleberry follows several workout principles that have contributed to his success in building strength and muscle mass.

Here are some key principles that define his approach:

Compound Movements

Castleberry prioritizes compound movements that engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously. Exercises like squats, deadlifts, bench presses, and rows form the foundation of his workouts. Compound movements allow for greater overall muscle recruitment and promote functional strength.

Heavy Weight and Low Reps

Castleberry is focused on heavy weight training with low rep ranges. This approach helps stimulate muscle growth and promotes strength gains. By challenging himself with heavy loads, Castleberry pushes his limits and continuously seeks progression in his lifts.

Intense Training Intensity

Castleberry's workouts are characterized by high training intensity. He strives to give his maximum effort in each set, ensuring he reaches the point of muscular fatigue. This intensity helps to promote hypertrophy.

Longer Rest Periods

Castleberry incorporates longer rest periods between sets, typically 3 to 5 minutes. This allows for adequate recovery between intense sets, ensuring that he can maintain a high level of performance throughout his workout.

Wide-Grip Techniques

Castleberry often incorporates a wide-grip technique in exercises like bench presses and pull-downs. This wider grip engages the muscles in differently, particularly emphasizing the development of broad lats and a well-defined back.

Accessory Equipment

Castleberry utilizes various accessory equipment, such as weightlifting belts, lifting straps, and wrist wraps. These tools provide support and aid in lifting heavier weights while minimizing the risk of injury. Castleberry uses them strategically to maximize his lifts and optimize his training sessions.

Brad Castleberry Diet Plan

A man preparing his meals

Castleberry's impressive physique is a testament to his unwavering commitment to diet. He adheres to a carefully balanced macronutrient-based eating plan, emphasizing the importance of fueling his body with the right nutrients.

Additionally, Castleberry understands the value of occasional indulgence, allowing himself a well-deserved cheat meal each week. Castleberry follows a six-meal-a-day structure to keep his metabolism firing on all cylinders.

Here is an overview of his diet program:

Meal 1

  • Whole meal toast – 2 rounds
  • Poached eggs – 5
  • Medium bananas – 2
  • Peanut butter
  • Whey protein isolate – 2 scoops 

Meal 2

  • Potatoes – 10 ounces
  • Tuna – 6 ounces 

Meal 3

  • Steak – 6 ounces
  • Brown rice – 1 cup
  • Almonds – handful 

Meal 4

  • Oatmeal – 1 cup
  • Grilled chicken – 6 ounces
  • Brussel sprouts

Meal 5

  • Tuna – 1 can
  • Boiled potato
  • Green salad

Meal 6

  • Whey protein isolate - protein shake

Diet Principles

Foods and supplements for healthy diet

Castleberry's diet principles revolve around maintaining a macronutrient-balanced eating plan, incorporating six meals a day for optimal metabolism, and allowing one weekly cheat meal for indulgence.

Castleberry's diet principles serve as a foundation for his remarkable physique, highlighting the significance of strategic macronutrient intake, meal frequency, and occasional indulgences in maintaining a sustainable and effective approach to nutrition.

These principles can be adapted to fit individual needs and goals, emphasizing the importance of balance, consistency, and a mindful approach to fueling the body for optimal performance and physique transformation.

By providing his body with the right ratios of macronutrients, Castleberry ensures that he has the necessary fuel for his workouts, promotes muscle growth, and maintains overall physical well-being.

What Supplements Does He Take?

Brad Castleberry understands the importance of maintaining a nutritious diet, and to support his journey toward a remarkable physique, he incorporates clean supplements into his routine.

With a keen awareness of the gaps present in the fitness industry, Castleberry took the initiative to establish Castleberry Nutrition. Through this venture, he aims to bridge the divide by offering a range of supplements specifically designed to meet the needs of fitness enthusiasts like himself.

Here is the list of some of the supplements that he uses:

  • Mass gainer
  • Fat burner
  • BCAAs [1]
  • Whey protein [2]
  • Pre-workout [3]

Related Articles: 

FAQs

Does Brad Castleberry Take Steroids?

There is no definitive evidence or public confirmation regarding whether Brad Castleberry takes steroids.

Does Brad Castleberry Lift Fake Weights?

There have been accusations and controversies about Brad Castleberry lifting fake weights. One of them has been surrounding the authenticity of his weightlifting performances, but the veracity of these allegations has not been conclusively proven.

Can You Exercise Like Brad Castleberry?

If you want to imitate Brad Castleberry's workout and diet, reaching the exact same level of fitness may be difficult. However, incorporating important elements of his approach can bring great advantages to anyone aiming for an impressive physique and improved physical performance.

To support his intense training and aid in muscle recovery, Castleberry includes supplements in his routine. One notable supplement that aligns with his goals is whey protein. By incorporating whey protein as a post-workout supplement, Castleberry ensures his body receives essential nutrients to fuel workouts, optimize muscle growth, and aid in repair and recovery.

From my own experience, incorporating principles from Brad Castleberry's training and diet, along with whey protein supplementation, has had a positive impact on my strength, physique, and overall well-being.

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About The Author

James Cunningham, BSc, CPT
Staff Writer & Senior Coach
James Cunningham, BSc, CPT holds a BSc degree in Sport & Exercise Science from University of Hertfordshire. He's a Health & Performance Coach from London that brings a unique blend of academic knowledge of health supplements and practical exercise experience to the table for his readers.
Learn more about our editorial policy
Benedict Ang, CPT, PN1-NC
Staff Writer & Senior Coach
Benedict Ang, CPT, PN1-NC is an ex-National Soccer player turned MMA and Kickboxing champion, with ACE CPT and PN1-NC certifications. His advice is rooted in education and experience, ensuring that readers receive scientific and battle-tested insights. His mission is to empower his clients and readers to realize their potential and become the best versions of themselves.
Learn more about our editorial policy

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