Just how much does the Hulk need to eat daily? Is there more to Lara Croft’s routine than crawling around ancient tombs? What did Thor need to do after Endgame to get back his god bod?
Well, here at eBuyer, our team’s been pondering all these questions and more, so much so that we teamed up with expert PT and owner of the Frontrow gym in Yarm, Mike Harle to find out exactly what some of our favorite fictional characters would need to eat and do in order to stay in shape when they’re not saving the world.
So, if you’re wondering what it would take for Lara Croft to stay lean, or to bulk like The Hulk, look no further. But don’t try these at home!
The Incredible Hulk
I don’t think we need to tell you that the Hulk is enormous, colossal even. But despite being supercharged by Gamma rays, Bruce Banner would still need to eat a literal skip-load of food each day to maintain body mass.
So, how do you give the Hulk bulk? Looking at his size, it naturally inspired us to turn towards the workout and diet of a typical strongman. And by strongman, we don’t just mean someone who lifts weights at the gym. Think the musclebound madmen that pull lorries for fun.
Strongmen need to train their entire body to be capable of performing the feats of physical strength required in their competitions. Not only does this involve a variety of strenuous weight-lifting exercises, but also explosive bursts of cardio training. And then, of course, there’s the food. The average strongman needs a minimum of 10,000 calories a day to maintain muscle mass. The requirements for the Hulk dwarf this. Literal litres of protein shakes are the order of the day, as well as copious amounts of lean meats and a healthy dose or two of mixed nuts, berries, and fruits.
Mario (Super Mario)
Although the live-action Super Mario movie is set to arrive in December 2022, the potbellied plumber’s short stature doesn’t exactly scream the Hollywood image of fitness. He’s not ripped, he’s not chiselled, but he’s stocky and my God can that plumber jump. And as it turns out, you don’t have to look far to find capable athletes of a similar build.
The workout and diet of a rugby prop fit Mario’s mould nicely. Bulky but physically fit, and fully capable of sudden spurts of speed, the use of weights and cardio workouts will help Mario build the muscle his body needs to jump into every pipe.
Of course, Mario will need to cut back on the heavy breakfast foods in favour of something healthier. However, given his proclivity for mushrooms, this means he can eat a huge variety of meal options by substituting meat for a tasty mushroom-based meat alternative.
Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
Dodging the lethal traps of tombs and scaling ancient ziggurats is no simple feat. Lara Croft needs to be strong yet flexible, with plenty of athletic and gymnastic prowess to overcome her foes. That means developing a healthy level of muscle without bulking up.
Lara’s workout is all about Calisthenics, bodyweight training that works large groups of muscles simultaneously without the use of additional weights and exercise machines. This allows her to strengthen all the muscles in her body but leave herself slim enough to easily swing between ledges and squeeze through crevices.
As for diet, Lara is spoilt for choice. With her vast pockets of wealth, she can afford the best food from around the world, meaning she’ll have no trouble eating well while tailoring her diet to perfectly compliment her workout.
“New Year is here, and so are our annual resolutions to get fitter. So, it got us thinking over at Ebuyer – just what would it take for our favourite gaming characters to keep their shape and save the world” says Andy Roberts, E-Commerce Director of Ebuyer.
To view all five diet and workout plans including Luke Skywalker and Hulk please visit: https://www.ebuyer.com/gaming/real-world-gaming-character-diets-and-workouts/
