Wanna know how this 6′2″ typically lean “Wolverine” gained all that muscle mass in preparation for the X-Men series? Well, his diet was simple: He ate 6 meals a day which were filled with lean proteins and veggies. He took in about 1,000 additional calories above his normal intake during his intense training period. As for his exercise plan, Jackman enlisted the help of trainer, Steve Ramsbottom who put him through phase training. The first phase was to build up mass by lifting weights at different speed intervals. For example, the first lift would be held for a 3-second count, the next a 1-second count and then another with a 4-second count up and down. The second phase of training really focused on strength training where Jackman lifted ultra heavy weights without a speed interval but rather short heavy intervals. When they got close to shooting the film, Jackman lifted weights once a day but also did yoga, pilates, running and stretching. The phases lasted from 6 – 12 weeks and training was 1 – 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. As if that was not enough, Jackman did boot camp training as well!

Here is an outline of his workout:

Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine Workout

Day 1

* Dumbbell Chest Press (Swiss ball and dumbbells required): While holding a pair of dumbbells, get into a table-top position with chest up and back to the floor, and with head resting on a Swiss ball and knees bent (imagine doing bench presses without the bench but using your core muscles and feet to stabilize your weight distribution).Keep hips up and shoulder blades pulled down and back together. Perform 12 reps (pick a weight so the 12th rep is hard); 3 seconds up and 3 seconds down.

* Push-ups: Do immediately after chest press.Keep head in line with the spine and support lower back by pulling belly button into the spine. Can be done from knees or toes. Perform 25 reps (take a break if you have to, but finish 25). Rest 1 minute and repeat Dumbbell Press and Push-ups for 3 sets.

* Lat Pull Downs (modular lat pulldown machine required): With palms facing away from the body, grip hands on the bend of the bar. Pull bar down below chin, keeping shoulder blades pulled down and together. Perform 12 reps; 3 seconds down and 3 seconds up.

* External Shoulder Rotations (tubing required): Do immediately after Lat Pull Downs . Use tubing with palms facing up and elbows in tight to body. Stretch out band, holding elbows at 90 degrees, thumbs outward. Perform 20 reps; 2 seconds out and 2 seconds back. Rest 1 minute and repeat Lat Pulls and External Shoulder Rotations for 3 sets.

* Cable Side Raise (adjustable cable pulley machine required): Grip a cable in front of the body with one arm, with a slight bend in the elbow. Hold posture, keep shoulder blades down and back. Perform 12 reps; 3 seconds down and 3 seconds up. Do other arm immediately.

* Straight Bar Curl (free-standing bar required): Grab bar shoulder-width apart and curl, holding a soft knee bend and without arching back. Perform 12 reps; 3 seconds up and 3 seconds down.

* Close Grip Bar Push-up (free-standing bar and squat rack required): Do immediately after Straight Bar Curl. In a squat rack, set up bar at waist height. Perform a push-up with elbows in tight. Do 12 reps; 5 seconds down and 5 seconds up. Rest 1 minute. Repeat Straight Bar Curls and Close Grip Bar Push-ups for 3 sets.

Day 2

* leg Squat: Slowly lower the body on one leg, bringing the hips back so the front knee does not go beyond the toes and squat until upper thigh is parallel to the ground.Perform 12 reps on each leg; 3 seconds up and 3 seconds down. Rest 1 minute and repeat for 3 sets.

* Balance Board Lunge (extreme or round board is required): Place one foot centred on balance board, back foot on toes behind in a lunge. Slowly bend both back and front knees into a lunge until front thigh is parallel to the ground. Perform 12 reps on each leg; 4 seconds down and 4 seconds up.

* Split Leg Box Jump (do immediately after balance lunge): Plant one foot on top of a box/bench that holds the front knee at 90 degrees. With weight mainly on the top leg, jump and switch legs. Do 30 jumps. Rest 1 minute. Repeat Balance Board Lunge and Split Leg Box Jumps – 3 sets.

* Jack Knife: Start in a push-up position with toes on top of a Swiss ball. Raise hips up slightly and draw the belly-button into the spine. Pull knees up towards chest. Perform 20 reps; 2 seconds in and 2 seconds out.

* Swiss Ball Crunch (do immediately after jack knife): Lie on top of ball with low back supported; pull in belly button to spine. Perform crunch, exhaling as you come up without allowing stomach to “pop up.” Perform 20 reps; 2 seconds up and 2 seconds down. Rest 1 min and repeat Jack Knife and Crunch 3 sets.

Day 3

Do 3 sets of the following exercises with no rest in between.

* Walking Lunges: Hold dumbbells at sides. Step through front heel and bring back knee towards floor. Do 30 steps.

* Push-ups: Do 100.

* Swiss Ball Crunch: Do 50.

* Sprint: Outside or on treadmill, sprint 1 minute at 80 per cent intensity.

* Inch Worms : In a push-up position, take tiny steps so the feet come towards the hands. Keep walking until you feel a gentle stretch through the hamstrings. Do this 30 times.

* Lat Pull Downs : Do 50.

* Stairs: Take every second step. Perform 20 reps (up and down is 1).

Tags: boot camp, diet, exercise plan, Hugh Jackman, interval training, lifting, phases, pilates, running, Steve Ramsbottom, streching, trainer, weight training, woolverine, workout, X-Men, Yoga