He’s the architect behind one of the most impressive film fitness transformations of recent years
Magnus Lygdback is a personal trainer and nutritionist, who was entrusted with whipping James McAvoy into shape for Glass.
In this film, the Scottish actor plays Kevin Wendell Crumb, a psychotic cannibal with superhuman strength.
For this role and without much of a training background, it meant McAvoy had to pack on muscle size – and fast.
He sought the help of Lygdback, a man who has worked in the fitness industry for almost 20 years, and who also counts Ben Affleck, Gal Godot, Katy Perry and Harry Styles among his clients.
Lygdback has shared some of the key exercises that would have undoubtedly formed the basis of McAvoy’s full-body muscle-building routine.
Lat Pulldown – Muscles Worked: Lats (Back), Forearms
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwCR9qrjdu2/
TRX Fly – Muscles Worked: Chest
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv1fGEiDcnO/
Straight Arm Pulldown – Muscles Worked: Lats (Back)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BveQIZwDuFY/
Rear Delt Rotations – Muscles Worked: Shoulders, Abs and Rhomboids
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuoYg0XD16V/
Dumbbell Front Squat – Muscles Worked: Quads, Glutes and Hamstrings
https://www.instagram.com/p/ButQFFtjTmy/
McAvoy previously opened up about the nutrition plan underpinning his muscle gain transformation.
Posting on his Instagram, he said:
“The truth is that this time around I gained more muscle weight and got leaner by not counting a single calorie. Good old @magnuslygdback had me eating a lot but nowhere near the 6000 calorie mark. In fact we didn’t count a single calorie. We counted macros…I think probably a healthier way of tracking intake.”
Macro is short for macronutrient, the group term for the major food groups – protein, carbs and fat.
Protein will help to build and repair muscle tissue, whereas carbs and fat are more applicable for energy and training fuel.
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