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Edi Gathegi, 46, says he got in shape for his “Superman” role with martial arts and intuitive eating.
In an interview with GQ published Thursday, the actor spoke about his fitness routine and the go-to clean meals that helped him prepare for his role as Mister Terrific in the James Gunn film, which was released in cinemas on July 11.
“Part of my process of getting ready for ‘Superman’ was training with this brilliant South Indonesian martial artist. He taught me Silat and Kali, which is a Filipino and Thai martial art. It was all about stances and flow and footwork, and we did a little bit of capoeira,” Gathegi told GQ.
Since his character is an Olympic athlete, Gathegi said he focused on improving his agility and mobility to ensure he could perform the action sequences properly.
“You can’t just be bulky, you also have to be able to move,” Gathegi said.
Diet-wise, the actor said he mostly eats intuitively, and only started counting calories recently at the request of his trainer.
His go-to meals, which he cooks on his own, are simple.
“Chicken breast, turkey breast. I’ll do salmon, which I enjoy a little bit too much. I’ll do ribeye. That’s my cheat. Then I’ll do complex carbohydrates, so it’s brown rice with any one of those proteins. Broccolini is my favorite, but I’ll do Brussels sprouts. I’ll do green beans, possibly,” he said.
Gathegi says he’s a creature of habit who enjoys sticking to routines, and that applies to the meals he eats each day. Breakfast typically consists of half a cup of oatmeal, a bowl of non-fat Greek yogurt and some fruit, he said.
“My lunch is a variation of the protein, the brown rice, and the veg. Then dinner’s a repeat, and I’ll probably do two shakes scattered in there throughout the day,” he added.
Even though he has a sweet tooth, Gathegi says he knows how to be disciplined. He tracks his macros, drinks plenty of water throughout the day, and takes fish oil.
“I love me some sweets: the cakes, the cookies, the creams. I love junk food, burgers, and fries. I’m a foodie. But I also have a voice in my head that says, when I have to achieve a certain look, these are the foods that I need to be focused on,” he said.
Lastly, even though wellness trends like cold plunges and red light therapy have taken the fitness world by storm, Gathegi says he isn’t into any of that.
“I’m not knocking any of that, but I’m not doing any. You do that when you’re trying to find your thing. I guess I’ve landed at a place where I’m just so grateful for the life that I have, and I’m in awe,” he added.
Gathegi isn’t alone. Martial arts is becoming more popular among Hollywood stars and even tech execs because of its physical and mental benefits.
Keanu Reeves trained for his role in “John Wick 2” by practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo.
Charlize Theron spent four months learning various martial arts techniques — including Aikido, Judo, and Karate — to prepare for her role in “The Old Guard,” the film’s fight coordinator, Danny Hernandez, previously told Business Insider.
Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg also practices Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has even competed — and won medals — in tournaments.
A representative for Gathegi did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by BI outside regular hours.
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