The recent release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League: Justice Is Gray has reignited interest in Ben Affleck’s Batman workout and diet plan. When initially preparing for the role, the actor built upon both his physical and mental strength. Hardcore fans are still hashing it out as to whether or not he nailed the performance, but there’s no disputing the fact that Ben Affleck’s body was larger than life by the time Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice arrived in theatres. He was similarly jacked for the Justice League follow-up, which is currently streaming on HBO Max in all of its uncut glory (or shame, depending on who you ask). Here are the secrets behind Ben Affleck’s Batman workout.
Who is Ben Affleck?
Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt (yes, that’s his full name) was born in California and raised in Cambridge, MA. He and his younger brother Casey developed a passion for the arts at a relatively young age and frequently auditioned for local commercials and films. While attending Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School, Affleck appeared in theatre productions, commercials, and made-for-TV movies alike. Around this time, he also became close friends with long-time acquaintance Matt Damon, who was two years his senior.
Upon moving to Los Angeles in the early ’90s, Affleck landed a number of bit parts in various TV shows. He appeared alongside bestie Matt Damon in the 1992 film School Ties in a brief supporting role. The following year, he played an overzealous bully in Dazed and Confused, representing a minor breakout performance. As his star continued to rise, he and Damon fleshed out the working script for a little film called Good Will Hunting. The rest, as they say, is history.
Affleck would appear in tentpole films and some high-profile romances before suffering a career setback in the mid-naughts. He quickly re-emerged as a modern multi-hyphenate in the mould of Clint Eastwood, directing and starring in movies like Gone Baby Gone and The Town. Ben Affleck’s body of work is now far more diverse than one might imagine, swinging from indie drama to big-budget blockbuster. He’s currently attached to a number of projects and in various capacities. That includes the upcoming historical epic The Last Duel, which he co-wrote and co-produced with Damon (the two also star).
Age: 48 years
Height: 6 ft 4 inches
Weight: approximately 200 lbs
Movie career: 1992 to the present
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Ben Affleck’s ‘Batman’ Diet Plan
Ben Affleck was coming off movies such as Gone Girl when he landed the role of Batman in the mid-2010s. To give the Dark Knight his due, the actor reportedly gained as much as 24 pounds in four months. He turned excess bulk into lean muscle and it showed by the time he appeared on the screen. Some redesigned body armour also helped him strike an imposing disposition. Seriously, Batman is basically a walking tank in both films.
To cultivate a Batman body, Ben Affleck’s diet took direct cues from LA-based nutritionist Rehan Jalali and his famous “six-pack” regimen. The actor cut out all dairy, limited sodium intake to 1,500-2000 mg, and ate about six times per day. He sourced carbs from foods such as oatmeal, leafy greens, and whole grains, while also consuming plenty of lean proteins (salmon, egg whites, turkey, etc). His supplement intake ranged from protein powders to Trembolex Ultra, a muscle enhancer that’s also known as “the ultimate steroid alternative.”
For an even closer look at Ben Affleck’s diet, here’s a sample meal plan (as per Jacked Gorilla):
Meal #1
- CLA supplement + protein shake
Meal #2:
- egg whites
- oatmeal (1 cup)
- banana
- flaxseed oil (1 tbsp)
Meal #3
- Protein bar
Meal #4
- chicken breast (baked or grilled)
- medium sweet potato (cooked)
- flaxseed oil (1 tbsp)
Meal #5
- 1 whole apple
- serving of unsalted almonds
Meal #6
- salmon (grilled or baked) or chicken breast (grilled or baked)
- steamed Brussels sprouts
- broccoli or spinach
Ben Affleck’s ‘Batman’ Workout Routine
When DC fans first heard that Ben Affleck would be tackling the role of Batman, they were fairly sceptical and with good reason. Being 43 at the time, Affleck was arguably a little old for the part. Furthermore, he wasn’t exactly known as an intimidating presence. Was he setting himself up for a disaster, people wondered, the likes of which we hadn’t seen since George Clooney in 1997’s Batman & Robin? Not if he could help it.
“I knew that a big part of the audience’s expectation around the role would be how I looked physically,” Affleck wrote to Men’s Journal via email. “And that was something I had some control over. If I was going to fail in this role, I wasn’t going to let it be in a way that could have been prevented if I had worked harder.”
In the same email interview, Affleck added, “Getting ready for this role meant working hard, day in and day out with Walter. But it was the kind of work where I felt gains in not only my size, but also my mental and physical health.”
To shut up all the naysayers (and prepare for an approximately 75-pound Batsuit), Affleck re-teamed with long-time personal trainer Walter Norton Jr. The pair had been working together since 2010’s The Town and they shared a somewhat established rapport. That mutual history went a long way when it came time to adopt a new fitness regimen, according to Norton.
The trainer told Men’s Journal, “Seven years ago the body bounced back a little quicker…Like any relationship, it’s all about communication and honesty. I can tell him a little something that he doesn’t want to hear and that’s fine. We’re not tiptoeing around issues. So we just addressed it right at the top. We did what we needed to do to take care of him and protect his joints.”
Extra TLC notwithstanding, Ben Affleck’s Batman workout was arguably more intense than anything that came before it, and more varied, too. Norton kept the actor on his toes (literally and figuratively) by way of “chaos training,” during which he created new workout plans and new goals every week, with each regimen targeting specific muscle groups. Soon, both Affleck and Norton were pushing themselves past their original limits.
Bulking and shredding was yet another secret to the Ben Affleck Batman body. Whereas the actor weighed about 198 pounds in 2010, he shot up to 231 pounds before landing on a firm 225. Norton explained, “This time around we did more bodybuilding. We wanted him to be strong but we wanted to add mass. The volume was higher. We lived on a lot of the basics, 80-pound dumbbell curls, heavy-loaded carries, and farmers walks with 60-pound weights.”
While both “Batman v Superman” and “Justice League” may or may not have worked as films, no one is arguing against Ben Affleck’s beefed-up physique. Even when he’s not wearing the Batsuit, the actor looks downright shredded. But behind that gain was serious pain in the form of a truly intense workout plan, the kind of which could be dangerous without professional oversight.
With that little disclaimer out of the way, here’s a two-day preview of the Ben Affleck Batman workout (as per Men’s Journal):
Day 1:
Block 1 (32 minutes): Warm-up & Movement
- Elliptical: 15 minutes
- Rumble Roller (hip/TFL/VMO/2-way glute/calf): 9 minutes
- Plank with Arm Extension: 10 seconds (followed by 8 reps of 2-second extensions for each side)
- Spiderman: From the plank position, place you right foot next to your right hand—perform 3 reps for each side (hold for 2 breaths)
- Inchworm: While touching your toes with your legs straight, walk your hands out to a plank, then walk your feet back under you—perform 5 reps (hold for 1 breath)
- Calf Stretch: 15 seconds (each leg)
Block 2 (40 minutes): Torso & Strength
- Dumbbell Farmer’s Walk: 4 walks with appropriate weight for 1 minute
- Alternating Hanging Knee-Up: 11 reps (for each leg)
- ½ Kneeling Row: Kneel on your right knee in front of a cable machine, row with your right arm—perform 4 sets of 12 reps on each side
- Back Bridge: 2 reps of 15 second hold (5-second pause between)
- Alternating Dumbbell Reverse Lunge: 8 reps (for each leg)
- Pull-Up: 6 sets of 4 reps (hold for 4 seconds up and 4 seconds down)
- Shoulder Bridge: 10-second hold (then 8 reps of 2-second extension for each side)
Block 3 (22 minutes / Doing As Many Sets As Possible): Strength & Fitness
- Airdyne Bike Sprint: 20 seconds
- V-Grip Pulldown: 15 reps
- Seated Row Handle Grip: 12 reps
- Alternating Dumbbell Open Curl: 5 sets of 5 reps (each arm, then 5 reps together)
- Goblet Squat: 8 reps
- Lateral Squat: 6 reps (each side)
Day 2
Block 1 (30 minutes): Warm-up & Movement
- Airdyne Bike Sprint: 10 reps of 5 minutes at 75% (finish with 15-second sprint, then 45-second rest)
- Soft Roller (upper back/lat/quad/glute/ham junction): 8 minutes
- Brettzel Stretch: 2 reps for each side (hold for 5 breaths)
- Kneeling Lat: 1 rep each side (hold for 5 breaths)
- ½ Kneeling Quad Stretch: 2 reps for each side (hold for 5 breaths)
- Brettzel: 2 reps for each side (hold for 5 breaths)
Block 2 (32 minutes): Torso & Strength
- Off-Bench Oblique Side Crunch: 8 reps dynamic (followed with hold for 8 seconds)
- Valslide Body Slide: 4 sets of 12 reps
- Dumbbell Lateral Raise: 4 sets of 12 reps
- Back Bridge with March: Hold bridge for 8 seconds (then 4 knee raises on each leg)
- Dumbbell Shrug: 5 sets of 6 reps
- Rear Delt Machine: 4 sets of 15 reps
- 1 Leg Hip Lift: 3 sets of 8 reps for each side (hold for 2 seconds)
- Tricep Pushdown: 4 sets of 10 heavy reps, then 10 lighter reps
Block 3 (36 minutes): Strength
- Dumbbell Deadlift: 4 sets of 6 reps
- Dumbbell Bench Press: 4 sets of 10 reps (count 3 seconds from up to down position)
- Pec Fly: 4 sets of 12 reps
- Ball Leg Curl: 4 sets of 6 reps (hold for 2 seconds)
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General FAQs
Personal trainer Walter Norton Jr. employed 'chaos training' when helping Affleck prepare for the role of Batman. This involved creating new regimens and goals with each passing week, all while building speed and targeting specific muscle groups.
Affleck's weight tends to swing depending on his current role. He weighed about 198 pounds for 'The Town' and as much as 225 pounds for 'Batman v Superman.' He's been working out during the pandemic and we currently estimate his weight to be around 200-210 pounds.
While Robert Pattinson is technically the new heir to Batman's throne, Affleck is also slated to reprise the role in 2022. According to reports, both Affleck and Michael Keaton will play Batman in the upcoming film 'The Flash.'
