“I was a late bloomer. I was not heavily muscled in high school. I didn’t even have hair on my legs, people would make fun of me for that—I didn’t wear shorts,” he said. Despite relying on supplements, Alan’s primary source of nutrition was from consuming natural, whole food sources. And you guys know how much we love supersets here at SHJ. Just be patient and do the things today the you ten years from now needed you to do. Don’t expect the you two months from now to be the you you want to be in ten years. To the people that keep asking – no I don’t do steroids and never have.
Hold the weight at shoulder height for a brief pause, then inhale as you slowly lower back to the start position. That changed with Reacher, as Ritchson was told that he’d need to gain around 12kg to get the role. He started training in earnest and even hired a nutrition coach to help him improve his diet. If you’re experiencing symptoms of low testosterone—like fatigue, low libido, or a decrease in strength and muscle—it’s definitely worth getting your levels checked. He was exhausted, low on energy, and just didn’t feel good. The results showed his testosterone levels were low, leading to a prescription for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
By combining all these training approaches, Alan Ritchson was able to put on around lbs on his frame in just 8 months. When Alan Ritchson was finalized to play the role of the iconic Jack Reacher on screen, he was required to look big and muscular. Standing tall at 6 feet 4 inches, Alan weighed around 205 lbs before he began training for Reacher. He had to transform his physique completely to look the part.
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BUT, I’ll still be breaking madmuscles app review down this training as a 30 Minute AMRAP bodyweight circuit shared by Men’s Health to be in more of a Ritchson styled workout that you can continuously come back to. Start off in a plank position, then slowly lower your chest toward the floor all the while ensuring your abs are tight and your spine is in neutral position. Then continue by slowly pushing yourself back up to the start position, that would be one rep.
Alan Ritchson’s “Reacher” Workout & Diet Routine

Ritchson engaged in different training methods like bodyweight and weight training among others to gain nearly 35 lbs of lean muscle mass over the period of eight months. But doing something solely for the perceived benefits is not always the best practice. Because if you are doing it as a chore, chances are that you are not even trying to progress. Mogilner’s advice isn’t quite as intense as www.topendsports.com/fitness/products/apps/mad-muscles.htm Ritchson’s plan. “Perform three to four sets of 8 to 12 reps of the exercises below twice a week, gradually increasing the weights to challenge the muscles over time,” he says. Given his impressive size, it might surprise you that Ritchson doesn’t focus on lifting extremely heavy weights.
I tried Reacher star Alan Ritchson’s three-move workout for bigger arms and shoulders
You can’t look tough without big shoulders, that’s just a fact. Alan starts his shoulder workout with a seated Smith Machine press and a two-hand standing cable press. Although pushups, pullups, and the like are excellent exercises (and underrated), you need to pump some serious iron to pack on 30+ pounds of muscle.
Dips

Alan achieved an impressive look that was big, strong, and muscular. Although there is limited information about his routine and diet online, we have attempted to find as much as possible and provide a comprehensive overview of it. One thing I will mention before even getting into it is that Ritchson specifically stated, multiple times, that he tacks on mass extremely easy just by training and increasing his calories.
Alan Ritchson’s Diet
When he is bulking up and has to gain weight, the 40-year-old does not mind adding cheat meals to up the caloric intake. The first two exercises per muscle group in the Alan Ritchson Workout are geared towards heavy weight, lower reps and long rest periods. This will ensure long-term muscle growth from progressive overload. The target number of reps fall comfortably within the five to 30 range – regularly touted as the zone responsible for muscle growth. He also hits each set hard, maintaining strict form and performing reps until he is forced to slow down by fatigue.
It’s the key to unlocking big, impressive Jack Reacher-sized arms. You can’t play https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/general/2371649/mad-muscles-review-subscription-insights-and-benefits.html a tough guy in a TV show without giant pipes. He hits each muscle group once a week, typically Monday through Friday. Alan has always been pretty muscular, but as mentioned, he had to take his physique to a new level to play Jack Reacher.
While Alan Ritchson is dedicated to his diet plan, he also allows himself to eat a cheat meal on occasion. He prefers to follow the 80/20 rule, with 20 percent of his diet being splurge items and cheat meals. On Sunday, Alan takes a rest day to give his body a break from all the strength training and weightlifting.
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When she’s not pounding the pavements, you’ll find Jane striding round the Surrey Hills, taking far too many photos of her puppy. Below, you’ll find a weekly workout split similar to Ritchson’s. Alan’s daily supplement routine includes protein powder, electrolytes, trace minerals, and vitamin B12. Alan’s leg day is lower back-friendly with no squats or deadlift variations. “If I work out in the morning every day which is my goal, it’s pretty easy to just train myself to work out in a fasted state.
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He embodied the English equivalent of the typical 90kg+ American football player stereotype, and his physique was strikingly similar to the jacked Alan Ritchson. Alan Ritchson maintains an incredible, top-tier physique, but I personally believe that proportion matters more than sheer size for an aesthetic look. This is his usual walk-around weight and what I estimate he weighed when portraying Thad Castle in Blue Mountain State, resulting in a BMI of 26—a perfect balance. Given his latest offering only involved one piece of equipment and a few minutes of hard graft, I figured it would be rude not to give it a try. Jane McGuire is Tom’s Guide’s Fitness editor, which means she looks after everything fitness related – from running gear to yoga mats.
DAY 6 – SHOULDERS & LEGS
- Your biggest meal should be consumed 1-3 hours after the workout to maximise muscle growth.
- Even though Alan’s genetics are blessed enough to let him size up quite easily, he ensured to track his everyday caloric intake to gain lean muscle mass.
- First up is a standing cable row using a low pulley attachment, mimicking a T-bar row for that deep, mid-back contraction.
- I try to stay lean, so I’m usually walking around at 205 pounds.
- By combining all these training approaches, Alan Ritchson was able to put on around lbs on his frame in just 8 months.
- Lift the bar vertically until it’s in line with your collar bone, with your elbow pointing towards the ceiling.
These indulgences are actually an important part of the process. Consistently eating over 4,000 calories a day is challenging if you only eat clean food. Surprisingly, before Reacher, Alan relied primarily on a calisthenics-based workout routine.
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He may perform some light stretching and walk outside, but otherwise, he lets his muscles recover. He may use a treadmill if he’s in a pinch but prefers to spend time outside. These are high-quality whey protein powders that give his body a big boost in amino acids when he needs them most. First of all, Alan Ritchson has a few protein shakes each day. He seems to do about 90 minutes of cardio with a mix of elliptical, treadmill, swimming, and rowing. Alan Ritchson’s life has always involved sports and fitness.
Alan Ritchson maintains a lean and muscular physique all year round. It is next to impossible to build a physique like that with training alone and following a strict diet is overwhelmingly more important than any other aspect. Ritchson follows a 4500–calorie per day diet plan to sustain muscle mass and includes a minimum of 300 grams protein in his diet. Alan Ritchson may have looked phenomenal as Jack Reacher. But his transformation wasn’t the case where he got off the couch and built a formidable physique. Before starting with all the weight training and other training methods, the American actor relied heavily on five basic bodyweight exercises to maintain a toned and muscular body.
