The physique of Dwayne Johnson has defined his multifaceted career from the beginning. How does one man get jacked to the point that his co-stars are worried about getting their toes crushed during a scene? It starts with a lot of work and an absurd commitment to maintaining his cartoonishly large frame. Part of that includes eating a lot of food, but the man known as “the Rock” starts his fitness routine on an empty stomach.
The Rock begins his fitness routine before eating breakfast
Dwayne Johnson in ‘The Titan Games’ | Steve Dietl/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Johnson revealed some details about how he starts the day in an interview with Men’s Journal. He wakes up “before the sun rises,” does some work on his computer, and goes through a workout, all without eating.
“I hit my cardio on an empty stomach — which has been keeping my metabolism nice and tight. That’s how it all starts,” Johnson said. “I eat somewhere between six and seven meals a day, and I try my best to make them as balanced as possible with proteins, carbohydrates, good fats — and the occasional sugar at the right times of the day.”
Fasted cardio is a popular form of exercise. As explained in this Healthline article, the idea behind the concept is when someone does cardio while the body is low on glucose, the body’s primary source of energy, your body will use stored fat for energy as an alternative, helping you to stay physically fit .
Studies revealed mixed results on how effective this practice is. A 2018 review from the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports found that fasted cardio led to a higher metabolic performance post-workout. Still, the same effect was seen in aerobic activity when a person ate beforehand. Research is also inconclusive on how fasted cardio impacts weight loss.
Regardless of what the experts say, Johnson believes in this sort of routine. And given his physicality, it’s hard to argue that anything he does isn’t working at some level.
He goes to astounding lengths to keep his body in top condition
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What projects does Johnson currently have lined up?
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