We’ve researched a lot of workout routines, but I really enjoyed reading and watching interviews to find out how James McAvoy managed to get so ripped to play The Beast.
Not only was his acting amazing to play all the different characters in one person, but you really got the sensation that he had a superhuman physique.
I wasn’t surprised to find out that he worked with Magnus Lygdback, who is a well known personal trainer in Hollywood.
And if you’re planning to get into that kind of shape, then let me show you what’s involved.
Quick Summary
- James McAvoy workout routines range from chest flys, cable curl, hamstring curls, squats, HIIT workout, shrugs, deadlift, and reverse dumbbell flys.
- McAvoy's exercise routines are meant for the back, shoulders, legs, chest, and arms.
- James diet which comprises of high protein and low carbs when combined with workout has helped him both attain and maintain his perfect physique.
Who is James McAvoy?
James McAvoy is a Scottish actor who started his career on British TV shows, and I first became aware of him in a movie called The Last King Of Scotland.
He then started to appear in some Marvel movies as Charles Xavier from X-Men, but it wasn’t until a movie called Split that you suddenly saw a change in his appearance.
This is the movie that introduces The Beast, and a sequel called Glass brought him into even better physical shape.
Now, he did start from a slim build, as his early movies don’t show him packing too much flabby stuff. But to get to where he is today, still took some hard work and dedication.
“That singular uncompromising nature I think is always quite attractive, not just for an actor to play, we're attracted to uncompromising people whether they're nice or not, because they're 3D, they're solid, you can define them, it's not wishy-washy.”
- James McAvoy.
His Stats
- Height: 5’7”
- Weight: 165 lbs
- Born: April 21, 1979
James McAvoy's Workout Routine
The workout plan that Magnus Lygdback put together focused a lot on heavy lifting and pushing him to failure. So, don’t shy away from the big weights if you want to gain that kind of muscle mass.
Monday: Chest & Arms
This is possibly the toughest day, and make sure you allow enough time as there are also the most exercises to get through.
- Warm-up: 15 minutes stretching and light cardio
- Decline push-ups (4 sets of 20 reps)
- Chest flys (3 sets of 10 reps)
- Cable curl (3 sets of 10 reps)
- Triceps Pushdown (3 sets of 10 reps)
- Chin-ups (3 sets of 15 reps)
- Alternating biceps curl (3 sets of 10 reps each side)
Tuesday: Legs
Make sure you keep an eye on quality over quantity; it happens too often that people load up too much weight on a leg workout and then can’t get the full range of motion.
- Warm-up: 15 minutes stretching and light cardio
- Leg extension (4 sets of 10 reps)
- Hamstring curls (3 sets of 10 reps)
- Calf raises (3 sets of 10 reps)
- Glute-ham raises (3 sets of 12 reps)
- Squats (3 sets of 12 reps)
Wednesday: Cardio
The added cardio day will help you to stay on top of your body fat to better define your muscles.
- Warm-up: 15 minutes stretching and light cardio
- Sprinting/Walking: 1-minute sprint followed by a 1-minute walk for 20 minutes
- 30 minute HIIT workout
Thursday: Shoulders
These will work well to make you a lot broader across your shoulders and are a key part of the Magnus method.
- Warm-up: 15 minutes stretching and light cardio
- Lat pulldown (4 sets of 10 reps)
- Shrugs (3 sets of 10 reps)
- Wide-grip pull-ups (3 sets of 20 reps)
- Front raises (3 sets of 10 reps)
- Shoulder flys (3 sets of 10 reps)
Friday: Back
I recommend you have someone watch you with these exercises, as you have to keep that lower back straight to avoid injury.
- Warm-up: 15 minutes stretching and light cardio
- Deadlift (3 sets of 10 reps)
- Seated cable rows (3 sets of 10 reps)
- Single-arm dumbbell rows (3 sets of 12 reps)
- Resistance band pull apart (3 sets of 12 reps)
- Reverse dumbbell flys (3 sets of 10 reps)
Saturday & Sunday: Rest
Use these days to get some fresh air during a leisurely walk. And add some 20-minute stretching routines as well to help improve blood circulation and recovery time.
Other celebrity physiques:
His Diet Approach & Supplements
James McAvoy has mentioned his calorie and macro counting a few times in interviews.
There were some rumors on the Internet that he aimed for 6,000 calories a day, but I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration.
Our dietitian had a look at his routine and physical stats and estimated that it’s more likely to have been about 4,000 calories, but that’s still a lot.
He has also spoken about reducing his carb intake and jacking up protein, which makes perfect sense.
And to do this, he likely relied on these supplements.
1. Whey Protein
Most guys and girls I work with take whey because of the ideal amino acid profile [1].
An alternative is hemp or a combination of pea and brown rice protein if you have an intolerance to milk products.
2. BCAAs
Getting a boost of BCAAs can help both during and after training. Scientists have linked it to both better muscle recovery and delayed fatigue [2].
References:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6245118/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4241904/
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