You know him from playing Thor in the movies. And you know he has a great-looking body that most people wouldn’t mind having themselves. But what you don’t know is how bad (or good) is his training. And that is what this article is about: an exercise scientist critiquing Chris Hemsworth’s workouts.
And who would that exercise scientist be? It could only be the one and only. Dr Mike Israetel, PhD in Sport Physiology and co-founder of Renaissance Periodization, is a well-respected professor in the bodybuilding community. He doesn’t only talk about workouts and fitness tips, he often dives deep into health and nutrition.
This is actually the 6th time we are covering Israetel and his evaluation of celebrities workouts. The first 5 were:
- Henry Cavil’s workout
- Mark Wahlberg’s workout
- Tom Brady’s NFL workout
- Kevin Hart’s workout
- Chris Bumstead’s workout
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This time, Israetel is critiquing Chris Hemsworth’s training. Chris Hemsworth is an Australian actor born on August 11, 1983, best known for his portrayal of Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With his striking looks and charismatic presence, Hemsworth has become a prominent figure in Hollywood. Renowned for his physical fitness and dedication to roles, Chris Hemsworth is not only a cinematic icon but also a fitness enthusiast and a popular personality in the entertainment industry.
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Exercise Scientist Critiques Chris Hemsworth’s Workouts
Before we get into the critique from Mike Israetel regarding Chris Hemsworth’s workouts, he advises people not to do these workouts to try and get into the shape that Hemsworth is on the Thor movies, or example.
According to Israetel, it is harder to get shredded than to maintain a shredded physique. “He [Chris Hemsworth] didn’t do this workout to get in that shape. According to the video [Israetel is critiquing] he stays in superhero shape with this workout.”
And it starts off with a weird movement that, probably, is named bear crawl dumbbell pushes. “While that’s cool, it’s not the most growth promoting thing you can do.” Muscle growth is stimulated when there is concentric and eccentric movement (when the muscle shortens and lengthens while fighting some resistance) and the bear crawl dumbbell push is only concentric focused.
To start off, the warm-up is made of 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off, of bear crawl. And that is a good exercise to warm-up, according to Mike Israetel.
The first exercise is a weighted burpee. In this one, you hold two dumbbells on the side of your body, squat down, go into planking position, perform one push-up, and get up from the squat position.
“It’s a great exercise without the weight, but you add the weighted, you’re training like damn near 80% of the body at the same time. This is respect, this is a great choice.”
The second exercise is a curl and press for the biceps and shoulders. Although is a good exercise, Israetel says there is a chance you can shoulder press significantly more than you can curl, so there would be a mismatch to challenging your body. “Your shoulders might be totally fine, still keep going, but your biceps are dead so you can’t get the weight up anymore.”
Next we see goblet squats performed with one dumbbell. Israetel says that most people are flexible enough to have two dumbbells, one on each shoulder. This way, it becomes more of a front squat type of exercise, which puts more tension on your legs instead of your arms.
The next set of exercises is a combination of lateral raise, front raise and upright row. “Very solid. Good combo. Really fries all of the delts. Could do a little bit more rear delt, something like start with a bent lateral [raise] then come up and do side lateral and then maybe a front raise or an upright row.”
For the abs, Chris Hemsworth’s trainer does plank punch out. Israetel says the punching out is a waste of time, although it does engage the obliques a little bit and adds isometric into the training. Israetel says it would be better to do crunches or toes-touching to target your abs. “But I don’t hate this.”
Moving on to different videos from Chris Hemsworth’s Instagram, the first one shows the actor straddled in a rope and moving sideways while launching a med ball back to the trainer. Useless, Israetel says.
A resistance band bear crawl also shows up. While the resistance band adds something to the exercise, it is a lot of setup for a very small benefit.
Also, Hemsworth pulls a punching back with a rope and then pushes it back. “That’s clever, I don’t hate that.” But then, Hemsworth does alternating push-ups on top of the punching bag changing from one arm to the other on top of the bag. “That’s random, a little partial push-up.”
And then Hemsworth appears doing battle ropes. “Hollywood. Your workouts are so random. What is it even that we’re training for anymore?” Israetel wonders. The actor also does partial push-up on a bear crawl stance, which is ridiculous in Israetel’s opinion.
In the end, Israetel said the trainer and the stunt man doing the first workout was great. An A or A-, although it was missing back and hamstrings entirely from the workout. However, the videos showing Hemsworth’s doing a lot of break dancing and fighting things, it was only cool for burning calories, but nothing magical to make you look like the actor himself.
Do you want more of this exercise scientist and his critique of Chris Hemsworth’s workout? Then simply watch the video below. In it, Mike Israetel goes deeper explaining the movements, why they’re good or bad, and full of his dark humour and acidic comments.
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Why You Shouldn’t Train Like Celebrities
In the ever-evolving world of fitness, the routines and regimens of celebrities often capture public attention and curiosity. While it’s tempting to emulate the workout habits of the stars, there are significant reasons why adopting a celebrity-style training approach may not be the most effective or sustainable choice for the average individual.
1. Personalisation Matters
Celebrities often have access to personal trainers, nutritionists, and wellness experts who tailor their routines to individual needs, goals, and health conditions. Attempting to replicate these routines without considering your own unique circumstances can lead to ineffective or even harmful results. What works for a celebrity may not align with your body, fitness level, or lifestyle.
2. Time and Resources
Celebrities frequently invest considerable time and resources into their fitness routines, often spending hours in the gym daily. For individuals with demanding jobs, family responsibilities, or other commitments, replicating such extensive workouts may be impractical. Sustainable fitness is about finding a balance that fits your life, not pushing yourself to match an unrealistic celebrity standard.
3. Potential for Overtraining
Celebrity fitness routines are sometimes intense and frequent, tailored to achieve rapid results for specific roles or events. However, for the average person, attempting such high-intensity workouts without adequate recovery can lead to overtraining, fatigue, and increased risk of injury. Balancing intensity with rest and recovery is crucial for long-term health and fitness.
4. Diverse Goals and Body Types
Celebrities often train for specific roles or appearances, which may not align with everyone’s goals or body types. What suits one person may not be suitable for another. It’s essential to set realistic and individualized goals based on your preferences, health status, and what brings you joy and fulfilment in your fitness journey.
5. Sustainability Over Flashiness
Celebrities may occasionally engage in trendy or extreme fitness practices to garner attention or meet short-term goals. However, sustainable fitness is about long-term health and well-being. Fad diets or extreme workout routines may provide quick results but are often challenging to maintain, leading to a cycle of inconsistency and frustration.
6. Expert Guidance vs. Celebrity Influence
While celebrities can be inspiring, relying solely on their publicised routines may lack the guidance of certified fitness professionals. Expert advice tailored to your specific needs can be more beneficial than attempting to mirror the latest celebrity workout trend without a thorough understanding of its impact on your body.
7. Mindful Health Choices Over Aesthetic Goals
Celebrity training often focuses on achieving a particular aesthetic or look. While physical appearance is a valid aspect of fitness, it’s equally important to prioritise overall health and well-being. Pursuing fitness solely for aesthetic goals can lead to dissatisfaction and neglect of other essential aspects of health.
In conclusion, while it’s natural to be intrigued by the fitness routines of celebrities, it’s crucial to approach training with a realistic mindset. Tailoring your workouts to your individual needs, considering time constraints, and prioritising sustainable health choices over fleeting trends will contribute to a more fulfilling and enduring fitness journey.
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image sources
- Crawling: Konstantin Mishchenko on Pexels
- Battle Rope: Meghan Holmes / Unsplash
