Just watched I am Legend. It is a movie about the last man alive in a city overrun with mutants. Let’s not talk about the movie for now. Will Smith’s workout is the one I want to write about this time. Ever since the movie of Independence Day, I realized that Will Smith has changed much on his body shape. From the show of Ali to iRobot and the recent I Am Legend, I have to admire his effort in getting in shape.
Below are some of the information I summarized from different sources in the Net about his workout approaches.
Will Smith in Ali (2001)
In order to gain body shape like Mohammed Ali, Will Smith trained 6 hours a day and 5 days a week. Will did weight lifting and boxing. He even ran in combat boots through snow outdoor. The end result, he managed to increase his weight from 185 pounds to a muscular 220 pounds.
Will Smith in iRobot (2004)
After the Ali movie, Will Smith lost much muscle. To regain his fitness level for his role in iRobot, he trained again. That time, his personal trainer was Darrel Foster.
He worked out 5 days a week with 1 to 2 body parts in each session. He also ran 5 miles a day and he boxed twice a week. As for his diet, he took high protein and carbohydrate diet to repair his muscles. Junk food was totally out.
After 3 months, Smith’s bench press increased to 385 pounds, 35 pounds more than he did during his time in Ali movie. With his metabolic rate cranked up from the extra muscles, he slowly reduced his food intake to burn fat, but not eliminating carbs. His body still needed carbs to fuel his workout routine. At the end of six months, Smith’s body fat went down from 12 to 7.5 percentage.
Will Smith in I am Legend (2007)
Will Smith dropped twenty pounds for the film. He was about 205 to 210 pounds for some years. So, after losing weight this time, he is about 185 to 190 pounds.
Surprisingly, during an interview, he said that, “I have a much easier time losing weight than putting weight on. Ali was fifty times harder trying to put weight on than to drop.”
Mun’s Comment:
Though Will Smith has lost weight in the movie I am Legend, he looks better than ever, with shirt or shirtless. To be honest, I prefer toned type of body shape, rather than big bulky type. Will has an ideal proportions. He is 39 years old (born in 1968), but he looks much fitter than many who are 10 years or even 20 years younger than him.
While celebrities like Ryan Reynolds, Jessical Biel or Will Smith can afford to have personal trainers to watch their diet and train them up, laymen like us should still be motivated to stay fit and healthy. Too often I have heard people saying that, “Come on, they are celebrities, don’t ever dream to train like them and never hope to stay in shape like them!” I do not deny that it is indeed hard or almost impossible for us to be in perfect shape. However, one should still look up at them. Even if we do not get 6 packs or 6% body fat, at the end of the day, as long as we work out consistently for a period of time, we still be few steps closer to our fitness goals.
Three steps closer to our goals is always better than we do nothing.
We learn. We grow. And we have fun. Don’t you agree?
So, next time, if your pal laughs at your new year resolution to go to gym, come back here to MunFitnessBlog.com and click on the Motivation category. Read the posts here and look at the pictures of those celebrities. I am sure you will be fired up to hit the iron harder next time!
Last but not least, Happy New Year 2008 to all my beloved readers. Mun wish you all having a smashing great year ahead!
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Buy I am Legend from Amazon.
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vorny // Dec 31, 2007 at 9:42 PM
You just gave us motivation to train our fitness. Jeah!Jeah!
Doug Hawkins // Jan 1, 2008 at 4:24 AM
Wow, Will smith looks awesome. Definitely inspiring.
Mun, your website is a great, full of excellent motivating content.
fred // Jan 3, 2008 at 9:45 PM
I wonder how it is possible to work out 6 hours / 5x a week… Really hard to believe, since even 2-3 hours intensive training is a REAL load on the body.
If this is true, then I suppose it ain’t so healthy for a longer period…
It is definitely difficult to exercise // Jan 5, 2008 at 5:01 AM
that much during the week. But I guess that’s the perk of being a celebrity and getting paid to look good. For the rest of us, I guess we’ll stick to what we can realistically achieve. Thanks for the post, it is inspirational.
aw // Jan 5, 2008 at 5:47 PM
For real, 6 hours a day is rough.
Even the practical things like, how many times does he shower and how many changes of clothes in that 6 hours? Even if he takes 1 shower, he’s gotta stay sweaty for 3 whole hours a stretch. Your balls and back might grow fungi, ahahahahahaha!!
And I’m sure all his meals and protein shakes are catered for him. Ditto with errands like laundry, post office, banking, car servicing, loading up his iPod etc etc. It’s nice having trainers, personal assistants, managers and drivers.
Daniel // Jan 5, 2008 at 7:44 PM
Think about this…
Many people will put his efforts down to the fact that he is a celebrity and probably has a personal trainer with all the trimmings but he still has to put the effort in to look that good.
As a celebrity he could just eat at loads of restaurants, hang out at bars and chase women. But, his whole lifestyle doesn’t allow for that.
He chooses to be married, have children and be the family man. Since a young actor he has been keen on sport only fairly recently has he branched off into strength training. His choice is probably a life choice. He’s not getting younger (like all of us) and wants to set himself up with a good physique and health status so that he can remain youthful for himself, his family and his job.
Good effort by the man
Doug Hawkins // Jan 6, 2008 at 3:56 PM
I’d say that being a celebrity it would be hard to find time to exercise. Will Smiths exercise achievement is pure dedication not money. Personal trainers certainly do help, although its the same as having a good training partner who pushes you beyond your comfort zone.
Anyone can do it, it comes down to will power and commitment and it doesn’t matter how much money you have or how famous you are.
aw // Jan 7, 2008 at 9:42 AM
Doug: That’s another facet. I’m sure everyone does have a lot respect for Will Smith. His achievements outshine many other “celebrities” as well. However, even if it’s not essentially for money, I’m sure being offered US$6 (?) million for a single movie and having a lot of assistants does make it a lot easier to find motivation…… That said, you’re right, we can take him as an inspiration when we’re at the gym.
me // Jan 18, 2008 at 12:24 PM
It didnt say he WEIGHT trained for 6 hours a day 6 days a week, it said that he trainer 6 hours a day, so that could of meant 2 hours of weight lifting, 2 hours of boxing, 2 hours of running……
Thomas // Apr 9, 2008 at 5:08 AM
Hey Mun,
How do I get a look like Will Smith in I am Legend? I am 6′3 226lb but look nothing like Will did when he was in Ali. I am very broad but thin. I would love to get some help on leaning down and tone but I want more muscle definition without gaining more weight. Will has great proportions and excellent muscle tone. I currrently do cardio 4 days for 45-60 mins and weight training 3 day mon weds and fridays. Please help.
Thanks keep up the excellent blogging!!
ANGELLA // Apr 12, 2008 at 9:42 PM
hi Will, my friend dies 4 u and she cant sleep wit out seeing ur snap .i dont know wat portion ur snap puts in her eyes but sincerely its too much .anyway shes a good fan of urs and her biggest prayer is that u come to uganda one time .luvu angella
Ricki // Apr 24, 2008 at 5:13 PM
After reading the article on Will’s routines i do find it has helped to inspire me, but after reading a few comments i cant help but think there is a certain amount of hate going on. YES being paid $6 million a film is certainly gonna help, YES having a trainer,dietition,chef,helpers etc is going to make the task a hell of a lot easier, Damn for that money theres not much i wouldnt eat or do to get the physique i need. But i noticed someone commented on the fact for ALI he couldnt of trainer 6 hours a day 5 times a week, I hate to burst your bubble but that is the routine of a professional boxer, Will had to take on the job of a boxer to achieve the physique he needed, a boxer will spend that sort of time atleast sh1t i know boxers who train 8 hours a day like a full time job as to them thats what it is. Stop drinking the haterade and give this man the props he deserves. he is Legend lol :P
Three Hunzx // Jun 10, 2008 at 12:19 AM
Will killed it in ALI, one of my favorite movies ever.
Training for 6 hours a day seems a little extreme though, but it clearly worked for him.
The man looks like a killer, 7.5% body fat, that is impressive.
Overall it’s inspiring in the effort to lose body fat.
ben street // Jun 18, 2008 at 9:38 PM
hi just wondered if any body could help me to get a body like will smith just to give me some poiters in right die would be a great help
Dominic // Jan 16, 2009 at 6:54 AM
I was wondering …
Is excercing ur BUTT muscels important ..
I mean cant u just have a body like will smith and and a butt like just da way it is ??? hmmm ? loool
randy // Apr 8, 2009 at 1:33 PM
yes 6 hours a day seems insane but doable. 2 hours cardio. 2 hours boxing and weight training at night. he probably downs 3 thousand calories a day.maybe he also takes a lot of supplements. but you have to gradually build that endurance. try training twice a day. get 8 hours of sleep and listen to your body. not all of us are lean, plus you have to consider that these stars are given 6 months or 1 year to train for a certain project. so will smiths 6 hours could have happened at the last few months before shooting the film. yes that is how fighters train. they have to or they run the risk of getting clobberd. as for the rest of us mere mortals who dont have all the money and time in the world, we have to list down our motivation for doing this, wether you want abs, gud health, be strong, impress the girls, prove your doubters wrong or simply just for vanitys sake you have to work out hard atleast 45 minutes 6 days a week. eat right! i have a friend who ate 24 egg whited a day and he stopped dingking beer. he said it was hard but thats how he got his abs. work hard. eat right. be patient.
bob // Apr 13, 2009 at 6:52 PM
I wuldn’t be surprise if these celebs take drug enhancements during there workout regime.
Josh // Jun 14, 2009 at 4:05 AM
Was Will Smith really at 7.5% bodyfat for I, Robot? I would have said 12%. 12% is an athletic build, fyi, 15% is supposed to be middle of the line (neither fat/chubby nor skinny/lean) and he doesn’t look that cut. If he’s 7.5% in I, Robot, he’s got to be 5% in I am Legend, which is bs, 5% is the lowest you can possibly be while still being in good health. He’s a tank in I, Robot (especially his chest, which is WAY out of proportion) but I don’t buy the 7.5% bodyfat for a second.
Rob // Sep 23, 2009 at 6:45 PM
I don`t believe he did train 6 hours a day 5 days a week in order to get in shape for Ali.Like he said its harder for him to put on size meaning he would need to conserve (not burn) calories in order to reach his weight of 220 pounds.Anyone with any training knowledge knows that in order to put alot of muscle on naturally you have to increase caloric intake, CUT back on cardio and train with weights MAX 3 times a week using basic compound movements.Anyone who tells you any different hasn`t got a clue what they are talking about.Its inevitable the press and media will exaggerate his training routines.Of course training for I am Legend would include more cardio and perhaps fewer calories.