Christian Bale is responsible for some of the most drastic physical transformations shown on the big screen. From very skinny in “The Machinist” to huge playing The Batman in “The Dark Knight”, Bale’s physicality range knows no bounds. A dedicated actor in his art, Bale commits all the way for his roles and continuously delivers in both his on screen performance as well as his on screen appearance.

These are some of Christian Bale’s physical transformations on the big screen.

The Machinist

Four months prior to the production of “The Machinist”, Bale started to lose weight for this role. Starting at 180 pounds, Bale dropped an unbelievable 60 pounds to look extremely skinny. His diet during this time included one coffee, an apple and water. He also chain smoked cigarettes and drank whiskey to further lose weight. His dedication is revealed on the screen, with Bale looking scraggly and dangerously skinny.

Batman Begins/The Dark Knight

Bale put on 100 pounds for his role as The Batman, doing so in an unbelievable 6 months from his end of role in “The Machinist”. He used a typical workout body part split to focus on different muscle groups on different days. The effect is noticeable, The Batman looking large and intimidating on screen.

American Hustle

This role required Bale to pack on the weight again, but this time not through working out. He ate cheeseburgers, donuts and whatever else he could get his hands on for two months in order to get to 200 pounds, and visibly fatter. The effect is obvious on screen, with Bale sporting a belly and obviously looking much rounder when compared to “The Dark Knight”.

Christian Bale is a master of physical transformations, and he commits to his roles. From ridiculously skinny, to ripped and muscled, to fat and overweight, Bale can and will do it for a worthwhile movie role.

It’s no secret that Zac Efron was a teenage heart throb, but in Baywatch he unveiled a whole other level of fitness. Trained by Patrick Murphy, the famous celebrity fitness trained who has coached the likes of numerous Hollywood A-listers. These include Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel and Alexandra Daddario.

Efron’s transformation in Baywatch was phenomenal, and to get that to happen, Murphy had to create workouts that would change overtime, to continue to progressively overload Efron. This was done in order for Efron to never plateau in his muscle gain.

His routine consisted of full body workouts, power and strength training, balance and stability training, lifeguard training, obstacle course training and so much more. Rep schemes, lifting styles and set schemes were all thrown at Efron but changed up continuously on the daily. With an impressive workout ethic, Efron managed to get through this all and become shredded for his role.

Furthermore, Efron followed an eating plan (diet is everything) to go with his fitness routine. He needed a diet that would fuel his body consistently with such hard workouts being completed. In order for this to occur, a highly nutritious diet is required. A few examples from his diet include brown rice meals, quinoa, fresh fruits and vegetables, complex carbs and lean sources of protein. Majority of the time Efron would follow this diet, however he would allow himself 3 cheat meals a month. It is important to have some cheat meals as continuously following a rigorous diet and workout routine can lower your morale without sometimes giving in to allow yourself to enjoy food you crave.  This could be used as a reward system, and is crucial to many people’s fitness success.

Efron got ripped for his role in Baywatch through a very rigorous exercise routine which was constantly being switched up, as well as a dedicated, highly nutritious diet.

The Rock has been a staple in many action movies on the big screen for some time now, as well as being a wrestling superstar. And usually within these roles, he plays the big bad looking guy, and we mean really big. The Hollywood heavyweight seems to have an impossible physique that exudes masculinity. But with the busy schedule of a movie star, how does he manage to build then maintain a physique like that?

Here is how Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson builds and maintains muscle.

Always look to progress

Johnson believes in progressive overload, which is to do with continually pushing your body to new heights once workouts get easy. You should be careful as you can injure yourself if you up it too quickly, however this is the way to ensure you progress.

It is important to listen to your body

The way your body responds to things is the only thing you should listen to. If you are trying a new workout, you must see how your body reacts to it. If it reacts well and you get good gains, then continue to follow it. If not, maybe it’s not the workout routine for you. More so, if your body is telling you that there is pain, then usually it is not a good thing. Pushing through joint or muscle pain (not the good kind!) can leave you with injuries that can persist for a long time.

Go hard in the gym

When in the gym, really give everything you’ve got. All your frustrations can be let out in the gym, and giving it your all also ensures that you’ll get a good workout and the most out of it.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has an impressive physique, which he says can be achieved naturally with a dedicated diet and a dedicated workout routine.