“I Allowed It to Take Over My Life”: Zac Efron Opens Up About His Hulking Body Transformation for Iron Claw

Zac Efron’s journey to build a physique to emulate former wrestler Kevin Von Erich has set both the showbiz and bodybuilding world abuzz. Known for his lean and shredded physique in Baywatch, Efron underwent a jaw-dropping transformation, gaining an astonishing 170 pounds for his role. Recently, he shared insights on his drastic change and emphasized the mindset he approached to get the desired shape.

Efron appeared in an interview along with his co-actors Jeremy Allen White and Stanley Simons. The host Terri Seymour asked about their experiences while preparing for this film. Efron shared his extreme training routines and the attitude he showcased for accomplishing goals for the film.

Zac Efron’s revelation on his mindset while preparing for the Iron Claw

The 36-year-old acknowledged a significant difference between himself and Von Erich, realizing that capturing the essence of his body was a crucial aspect of the role. This realization made him put all his efforts into improving and investing wholeheartedly in the physical aspect of his performance.

He emphasizes the importance of accurately representing the role. So, “I allowed it to take over my life that became my primary goal. It was just kind of centered around achieving that aesthetic and so it was fun to put everything else to the side for a little while,” said the actor. The interesting part was that he only had six to seven months to get bulky.

Further, Efron added that he engaged in some heavy bodybuilding, which was very different from his usual workouts. Even though it was tough, he liked it and found it interesting. However, he emphasized that he wouldn’t do the same kind of training now, but it was worth it to make his character look strong in the film. Do you know what regimen he followed to gain such impressive muscles?

Efron followed Mike Mentzer’s routine to gain muscles

Efron pushed his fitness limits to an extent for Iron Claw, transforming into wrestling champion Kevin Von Erich. His training session was quite different from what he did for Baywatch. Instead of going for traditional methods, Efron chose bodybuilder legend Mike Mentzer’s approach, delving into high-intensity training (HIT). He did weightlifting, functional training, and wrestling sessions as well.

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To meet his aims, he faced challenges during the process, including balancing muscle gain while still maintaining low body fat. Also, to recover from the injuries, he preferred ice baths. Despite setbacks, including injuries, he prioritized a balanced diet with proteins and healthy fats, which was crucial for healing during his preparation for the role.

What do you think about Efron’s transformation into the iconic wrestler? Let us know in the comments below.

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