‘The Iron Claw’ is a film about the rise and fall of the legendary Von Erich family, who made a huge impact on the sport of professional wrestling in the 1960s. The film is set to star Zac Efron, who will play Kevin Von Erich in the movie. Efron has now disclosed how he achieved his insane physique for the film.
The first trailer for the film was released recently and it showed Zac Efron looking absolutely jacked as he was running the ropes, among other things. While speaking with Men’s Health, Zac Efron talked about the rigorous workout and diet he had to maintain in order to achieve his physique for ‘The Iron Claw.’
Efron, known for his role in “Baywatch,” admitted to favoring a slightly higher body fat percentage post-movie. He trained rigorously for the film, embracing the process of maintaining balance. This dedication also helped during “The Iron Claw.” Employing muscle-specific training and supersets, he pushed his body, leading to injuries including a torn ACL and a broken wrist during “Baywatch.”
During his preparation for “Baywatch,” Efron aimed for a lean physique, while for “The Iron Claw,” he sought the muscular build of a professional wrestler from the ’70s and ’80s. Achieving this required significant dietary adjustments. Previously a vegan, Efron reintroduced meat into his diet, citing improved energy levels and better workout performance.
He also adopted intermittent fasting, combining it with a focus on nutritious meals to sustain his demanding routine. Though he still values the ethical stance of veganism, these alterations were vital for his physical transformation. Efron then went into detail about his diet, among other things.
‘‘There’s this trigger that happens after two or three weeks of dieting and eating healthy food, where your body switches its primary energy source from burning mainly carbohydrates to burning fat.
And when it switches over, all your cravings change. You go, ‘Holy cow, I want kale and vinaigrette shredded with beets and a little bit of sweet potato!’
I guess the philosophy around my current diet is intermittent fasting mixed with getting enough nutrition to sort of sustain me throughout the day. I usually have my highest carbohydrate meal sort of in the evening. That’s usually another really good source of meat and [a] healthy carbohydrate, like sweet potatoes or quinoa.”
MJF’s role was also confirmed in the upcoming film. The film is also set to release on December 22nd this year, so it remains to be seen whether the film will turn out to be a memorable one.
What do you think of Efron’s preparation for ‘The Iron Claw?’ Will you be watching the movie when it releases later this year? Share your thoughts in the comments below!