His character, Amleth, chops enemies down from horses, gets into lots of fights, rows everywhere, and doesnt seem to get cold or break much of a sweat. I didnt grow up with a trainer, and I got into pretty good shape anyways. My goal is always to get my actor in better shape. Come chat; get involved; share about fitness guides; talk about training. He turned to the same man to build up his Northman body: fellow Swede Magnus Lygdbck. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. You have to monitor all those things to stay at the right level of training and nutrition. We didnt count a single calorie. It is flex city and Lygdback is excited for us to see the whole thing. Or do the same things effectively work across the board? Lygbck said he would work specifically on the way the character would move in Skarsgrd's strength training sessions, with additional focus on the side (Lygdbck says he also worked with the other actors playing bersekers, elite Viking warriors, in their training). Avoiding the mental recruitment of getting tight under a squat while youre thinking about getting ready for a scene. This is what we put together. Weve just got to adapt. Philip Ellis is a freelance writer and journalist from the United Kingdom covering pop culture, relationships and LGBTQ+ issues. In terms of build, this meant that the end goal was to make Skarsgrd thicker and more muscular so that he would be "imposing." "This was a guy who ran 10k (races) four times in a week, he explained. The 5' 5" and 117-pound actress showed off some of the moves she learned from Lygdback on Entertainment Tonight, including her ability to rock pullups on the rings (while sporting a very . Lygdback's trademark "Magnus Method" includes coaching for his clients' nutrition, mindset, and lifestyle. He's a wolf-bear," Lygbck said. Well, if I can give people advice: if you can only work out twice a week, do a full body program. And to eat less. And, as well, sometimes you cant have them eat whatever they want to eat. Alternating Biceps Curl: 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps (each side), 6. Lygdbck, for his part, has a very deep resume when it comes to keeping good weight on during a shoot. February Men's Journal cover star packed on a ton of muscle for his role in 'Glass.' Thankfully, Skarsgrd is no stranger to molding his body for a film, having shredded. Gal Gadot, star of the superhero franchise and all-around wellness enthusiast, trusts her training to one man: Magnus Lygdback, . Getty/Jean-Baptiste Lacroix/Magnus Lygdback, NOW WATCH: We searched for the best pizza in Naples here's who came out on top, Visit Insider's homepage for more stories, It's time to reframe exercise and stop thinking of it as punishment, doesn't think counting calories is necessary for most people, 7 dietitian-approved high-protein breakfasts that have helped me lose fat and gain muscle. Im always curious how so many actors are big. Repeat this continuous motion. Obviously he [McAvoy] was brilliant in Split, says Lygdback, but I dont think his physique was where it could have been and I think everyone recognised that within the team. As in 2023, Magnus Lygdback's age is 43 years. You probably have to eat a lot more than you think just to keep your muscle mass. Submit changes (incorrect DOB, missing stats, incorrect stats, social media links etc) using a web form and we will review your update request within 24 hours and update accordingly. Good old Magnus Lygdback had me eating a lot, McAvoy shared on his Instagram. Ad Choices, How Alexander Skarsgrd Created His Viking Body for The Northman, Skarsgrd's trainer Magnus Lygdbck caught up with, All the Under-$20 Style, Tech, and Home Goods We're Feeling This March, Fellas, You're About to Blow Your Rent Money at the SSENSE Sale, 35 Alarmingly Good Watch Deals to Upgrade Your Wrist, The Real-Life Diet of Tom Segura, Who Won't Tour Without His Trainer These Days, 17 Cool Things GQ Staffers Actually Bought in January, Symbas Slow But Steady Path to Rap Stardom. Were all so different in the way we react to training and different methods, programming and nutrition. Focus on legs and abs workouts, along with yoga and recovery exercises. Dipping Side Plank: 3 sets of 15 reps (each side). [on training Alexander Skarsgard for Tarzan] Seven or ten days before Alex began filming we had a camera test, where he took his shirt off for the first time. Post a review to help others on their fitness journey. Sign up for notifications from Insider! In the end, McAvoy packed on 16 to 20 pounds of muscle mass, making him the perfect embodiment of his monstrous character. A former hockey prospect turned lifestyle coach, hes the guy responsible for getting Ben Affleck especially yoked for Justice League, and vaulting Alicia Vikander to authentically athletic shape for the Tomb Raider movie. On this shoot, though, we had the weekends off. magnusmethod.com, Geraint Thomas joins GQ as our cycling columnist, Rob Lipsett's fitness diary is a reminder that you're a lazy, lazy person, If you want to get as big as possible, fast as possible, youd better call Magnus Lygdback. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Magnus Lygbck doesn't mess around. He likes a beer and a burger. Lygdbck works in four-day cycles of five meals a day (three meals and two snacks), which means that every four days, your 20 meals start over again. Actor Alexander Skarsgard and trainer/nutritionist Magnus Lygdback on the set ofRobert Eggers Viking epic, Alexander Skarsgrd's Viking Workout Plan, 12 Best Fitness Watches for All Types of Workouts, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. We always talk about the makeover, but the first priority with whoever Im working with is that they dont get injured while filming. People are too hard on themselves. And then I got a lot of offers., This is the road that led to Glass. I exercise from home so equipment is pretty limited. The sessions evolved over time: Once McAvoy got comfortable with an exercise, they would jack up the weight, bring down the reps, and work in pyramid sets. But youre right, I do like when you can control blood sugar and insulin. But Lygdbck thinks an easier approach is to keep portion size in check using your hands as a guide. Three: is there something I want to master, or get better at? Also, I had to go to the chef - to Alex's chef - and up Alex's calories without Alex knowing. I knew he was going to react really well to the type of training and nutrition that we did. In Northman, he and his berserkers are either wolves or bears. I would say theres always a give. Don't be selfish yet expect gold from your fellow users. Every 17 out of 20 meals should be "on point" the other three can be whatever you want. The strength training sessions were focused on packing on musclebut Lygbck and Skarsgrd were slightly limited in what they could do, as the bulk of the shoot took place at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when gyms weren't always accessible. All rights reserved. His work has appeared in GQ, Teen Vogue, Man Repeller and MTV. The path to Alexander Skarsgrd's role of Amleth, a Viking warrior prince bent on revenge in The Northman, was set long ago. Magnus Lygdback is known for The Northman (2022), Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) and Tomb Raider (2018). (No linking to social media.) When working with actors getting in shape for big film projects, he uses calories and macros (protein, carbs, fat), but doesn't think counting calories is necessary for most people. You know, I wish we could take a couple weeks off instead, so thats where balance gets thrown out the window. Its an app called playbook app, its got a few celebrity trainers on there. Magnus knows firsthand that sleep stresses people out (yes, even celebrities) when they aren't getting enough of it. Magnus Lygdback is a world-renowned Swedish health and wellness expert, entrepreneur, and lifestyle coach. Good question. The Swedish coach trained Alicia Vikander for "Tomb Raider," Gal Gadot for "Wonder Woman," and Ben Affleck for "Justice League." We had a lot of work to do, says Lygdback. His plans are app only, and its just the ones he puts his clients through, never customized. He wanted to work out more. Below Lygdback shares a sample five-day workout routine that's part of his Magnus Method: FIVE-DAY SAMPLE WORKOUT DAY 1: HIIT, Legs, Core Warmup: Treadmill, 5 minutes; HIIT Treadmill Sprints,. Trainer and nutritionist Magnus Lygdback has helped stars like Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot and Mackenzie Davis get into incredible shape for movie roles, and regularly shares insights into the training and diet plans he used to help them hone their superhero bodies. And, you know, we'd been working out for four months, doing great. Rather than feeling the need to compensate in the next four-day cycle, you just carry on. Joined by YouTuber Horse King, the former World's Strongest Man recently served up a high-volume hypertrophy workout that delivers a massive chest pump. B. James McAvoy first played the role in 2017's Split, and he returned to it again for this year's Glass. For over 20 years, he has become best known for working with some of the world's most recognizable actors, musicians, athletes, artists, and high-performance business entrepreneurs. Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. With no time to spare, the actor basically googled how to put on muscle quick and hit the gym like a maniac. Ben Affleck saw the Tarzan trailer and called me, so I got Justice League. Two different styles and looks, two different ways of moving. "So I just think that we need to work much more on balance and happiness, and that's why I developed my system. Once you get more comfortable with these movements, bring down the reps and bring up the weight. Thats why they called me. The Beast needed to look unnaturally pumped? The workouts usually clocked in at around an hour, with the rest of the focus going into how McAvoy was getting his fuel. "Being Swedish, I know the history of Vikings," the trainer told Men's Health on a Zoom call. "Good old Magnus Lygdback had me eating a lot," McAvoy shared on his Instagram.. Often theyre different, sometimes theyre the same, and they can create your weekly programming. But once the project became a reality, the 6'4'', 45-year-old Swede had to transform his body to fit the part. For over 20 years, he has become known for working with some of the world's most recognizable actors, musicians, athletes, artists, and high-performance business entrepreneurs. And 10 days later were totally miserable and we fail. Just approach it with balance., Glass is out on 18 January 2019. In the new Robert Eggers movie The Northman, Alexander Skarsgrd plays an incredibly jacked viking seeking revenge on the guy who murdered his parents. Wed cook some nice dinners and would have a glass of wine. Is there a starting point? In this case, since Alex, whos 44 [during filming] and doing a physical movie with a lot of ax swinging, we focused on prepping his shoulders for movement and stability. The client needs to walk the walk and James definitely did that., Then, though, Lygdback stresses that his approach is not confined to fantasy. And he almost worked out behind my back. This is a big topic: if you ask 10 different trainers or nutritionists, theyll give you 10 different answers. And I think we pulled it off., When Lygdback met McAvoy in 2017, the actor was nowhere near Beast-size. No sugar in any form. Yes. Especially while working crazy hours with less sleep, its the hardest thing. So was its star, James McAvoy, who got the part(s) as a man with 24 identities mere weeks before filming and needed to brawn up for cannibalistic monster The Beast. We were OK with him having one to two percent more body fat than he had in the past. Magnus Lygdbck shares Skarsgrd's workoutincluding an exclusive training clip. Yes. 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