‘Hella ripped’ would be the first thought that comes to your mind when you witness Paul Mescal in his true warrior avatar for Gladiator II. With dashing good looks, a sculpted physique and a godly aura – Mescal’s brooding presence in Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel had us all swooning. However, looking like the fierce Lucius Verus isn’t a cakewalk. Mescal’s monumental gains come with relentless hard work, dedication and a strict diet. For all fitness enthusiasts wanting to get a ripped physique like Gladiator II hottie Paul Mescal, let’s take you through his intense workout routine and prep for the role.
For Mescal, fitness isn’t just about fitting into a costume for a role. The actor has a holistic approach to fitness, aiming to cultivate strength and resilience which cultivates his body and mindset. And while his ripped physique in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II will be nothing short of a cinematic spectacle, the Irish actor has always been fit as a fiddle. If you need some fitspiration, follow Paul Mescal’s lead.
Sculpt your body like Paul Mescal with his ‘Gladiator II’ workout routine
In a quest to do justice to the Gladiator legacy, Mescal underwent an immense amount of physical training. In a conversation with Entertainment Tonight, he shared his workout routine. “Lots of lifting heavy things… lots of squatting, pushing, pulling,” he said, adding that he was keen on his physique to not look false or overly aesthetic in any way. Did you know he trained about 45 minutes, for six days a week to look the part? Here’s all we know about his workout.
Weightlifting exercises to increase muscle strength and endurance
In multiple interviews, Mescal revealed that he lifted heavy weights. The workout followed by the actor clearly focused on functional strength rather than aesthetic bodybuilding. For the unversed, weight training or strength training involves any movement in which you use your body weight or equipment to build endurance, strength and muscle mass.
Using your muscles to work against weight or force not only improves your muscle tone but may even increase your muscle mass, too, if done regularly. Movements like squatting, pulling, and pushing – all of which Paul Mescal did as part of his Gladiator II workout routine, help build your functional strength.
Exercises that can help sculpt your body like Mescal include Dumbbell Chest Press, Military Shoulder Press, Lateral Raises, Tricep Push Up and Bicep Dumbbell Curl.
The actor underwent Gaelic football training
Rather than conforming to Hollywood’s standard masculine characters, Mescal trained for performance, not aesthetics. He turned to a sport he played as a child growing up in Ireland – Gaelic football. A distinctly Irish field invasion game, Gaelic football is high-octane, full of speed, and focuses on precision, accuracy and intensity. The game is now played all over the world, growing in popularity each year.
Paul Mescal had ‘lots of chicken and protein shakes’ to look the part
If workouts aren’t complemented by healthy diets, they won’t yield good results. To bulk up for a gladiator-worthy physique, Mescal indulged in a protein-rich diet. Speaking to Empire (via Men’s Health), the actor revealed he ate lots of chicken to fuel his body. Protein shakes were also a part of his fitness regime.
A protein-rich diet is great especially when you want to build lean muscle and reduce muscle loss. According to Healthline, a protein-rich diet has major benefits for weight loss as well as metabolic health. Apart from that, it’s also great for your bone and heart health, blood sugar balance, immune system, and cell repair.
(Hero and featured image credit: gladiatormovie/ Instagram)
Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Paul Mescal underwent an immense amount of physical training for his role in ‘Gladiator II’. It included lifting heavy weights and eating a protein-rich diet with lots of chicken.
To achieve Paul Mescal’s ‘Gladiator II’ look, one can try exercises like chest press, shoulder press and push-ups. However, consult a physical trainer or a nutritionist to figure out the best fitness regime for yourself.