So I was scrolling through Instagram the other day, and I stumbled upon some behind-the-scenes footage of Alicia Vikander training for Tomb Raider. I gotta say, I was pretty blown away. The girl got ripped! It got me thinking, “Could I even handle that kind of workout?” Well, I decided to find out. I mean, how hard could it be, right?
First thing I did was some digging online. Found out that she worked with this trainer Magnus Lygdback. Apparently, he’s the guy who gets all these actors in superhero shape. Anyway, I tried to piece together her routine based on interviews and articles. It seemed like a mix of weightlifting, MMA training, and some climbing for good measure.
Phase 1: Pumping Iron
I started with the weightlifting part. Let me tell you, it was brutal. We’re talking heavy squats, deadlifts, and lunges. Stuff I hadn’t done since my college days, and even then, I wasn’t exactly hitting these kinds of weights. My legs were screaming after the first day. I could barely walk down the stairs!
- Day 1: Leg day. Squats, lunges, and some hamstring curls. Felt like jelly afterward.
- Day 2: Upper body. Bench press, rows, and shoulder presses. My arms felt like they were going to fall off.
- Day 3: Rest. Thank goodness. I spent most of the day on the couch, recovering.
- Day 4: Back and core. Deadlifts were the killer. I also did some pull-ups and planks. My back was definitely feeling it the next day.
- Day 5: Repeat, with some variations in exercises, like incline dumbbell press, and various rows.
This went on for a few weeks, and I slowly started to see some changes. I was definitely getting stronger, and I could even see some muscle definition starting to peek through. It was tough, but I was feeling pretty good about myself.
Phase 2: Getting My Fight On
Next up was the MMA training. I found a local gym that offered some classes and signed up. Now, I’ve never been much of a fighter, so this was completely out of my comfort zone. We did a lot of punching and kicking drills, some grappling, and a whole lot of cardio. I was sweating buckets and getting thrown around like a rag doll. But you know what? It was actually kind of fun.
Phase 3: Channeling My Inner Mountain Goat
The last part of the puzzle was climbing. I found an indoor climbing gym and gave it a shot. It was way harder than it looks. My forearms were burning after just a few minutes. But I kept at it, and I gradually got better. It was a great workout for my upper body and core, and it was also a lot of fun.
So, after a few months of following this crazy routine, did I end up looking like Alicia Vikander in Tomb Raider? Well, not quite. But I did get in the best shape of my life. I was stronger, leaner, and more agile than I’d ever been. It was a tough journey, but it was definitely worth it. And you know what? I discovered that I actually enjoy pushing my body to its limits. It’s not just about looking good, it’s about feeling strong and capable. Who knew?
Would I recommend this workout to everyone? Probably not. It’s intense, and you definitely need to be committed. But if you’re looking for a challenge and you want to see what your body is capable of, then give it a shot. You might surprise yourself. At least, I was surprised myself.