Daniel Craig Workout and Diet
Actor
Born: 1968
From England, Daniel Craig began acting when he was 6 years old and people would pay for his impressions of famous people like Groucho Marx. He played rugby at school but had a difficult time, being bullied and failing exams. At age 16, he was accepted into the National Youth Theatre and then the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he studied under the illustrious Colin McCormack. He graduated in 1991 and found fairly consistent work as an actor, although he admits he sometimes accepted roles purely to cover the bills, such as in the case of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. In 2005, he was asked to play James Bond, which he resisted at first, but he went on to make 5 movies which have collectively grossed over $3 billion. Craig was nominated for a BAFTA for his role in Casino Royale, the first Bond actor to receive do so. He has also been nominated for a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy. He is married to actress Rachel Weisz and they had a daughter together in 2018. He also has an adult daughter from a previous marriage. Craig generally avoids social media. He is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs about 175 lbs.
Known For:
Daniel Craig’s Diet
Summary
Not every actor to play James Bond has been cut, but Craig decided to up the ante. Just like you would never put regular unleaded into an Aston Martin, Craig puts premium fuel into his body for maximum performance. To prepare for Bond, he cut the carbs and unhealthy fats and increased his protein intake both from animal sources and supplements. He also eliminated all junk food. To keep his metabolism revved up and energy high for intense workouts, he would eat 5-6 small meals per day. He also quit smoking and limited alcohol consumption to 2 nights per week before starting a new film.
Estimated Macros
- Low Carbs 15%
- Low-Medium Fat 30%
- High Protein 60%
Diet Details
Power Up
Poached eggs and two pieces of toast are a typical English breakfast, and a typical one for Craig. His mid-morning snack was a protein shake, giving him a balance of protein, fat, and carbs to fuel his day.
Nuts About Snacks
Another typical snack for Craig was fruit, nuts and yogurt, a natural, healthy alternative to a protein shake.
Meat & Two Veg
Craig’s lunch and dinner menu revolved around animal protein including poultry, fish or beef. For lunch, he might have a small serving of complex carbs such as brown rice or potatoes, but at dinner it was low-carb veggies only, such as salad, spinach or broccoli.
Short-Changed Cheat
Craig limited his alcohol consumption to Friday and Saturday nights only while shooting. Unlike Bond, he prefers beer to martinis. He also has to down his pint in a hurry so he doesn’t get mobbed at the local pub.
What to Eat
Salmon
Chicken Breast
Spinach
Broccoli
Beef
Nuts
Salad
Brown Rice
Eggs
Fruit
Potatoes
Water
Beer (limited)
What to Avoid
Junk Food
Refined Sugar
Processed Foods
Hydrogenated Fats
Artificial Additives
Soft Drinks
Smoking
Craig on his 007 Diet
‘You’re not supposed to eat carbs after 4 o’clock.’
Craig on How Often He Consumed Protein Shakes
‘You have to eat protein shakes every 10-15 minutes, it seems to me.’
Craig on Going out for a Pint
‘I’ve got really good at drinking 18 pints in half an hour.’
Daniel Craig’s Workout Routine
Weekly Routine
Just Do It
Craig admits that he’s not always motivated to work out, but he makes himself do it anyway.
Look Like A Baddie
Craig’s goal with his training was to become muscular, and not too lean because, after all, he’s supposed to look an assassin, not like a marathoner.
Star Power
Craig’s personal trainer for Bond was Simon Waterson. He spent 7 years in the Royal Marines and thus understands the discipline and unique challenges a super spy would have. Waterson has worked with some of Hollywood’s brightest, including Halle Berry, Denise Richards, and another Bond portrayer, Pierce Brosnan.
Daily Dose
Craig worked out more or less every day of the week while getting into his 007 character. He would do weight training Monday through Friday and light cardio and stretching on the weekends.
Circuits Rule
Rather than do split routines like many celebrities, Craig would often do full-body workouts that build muscle and endurance simultaneously.
Not Always An Act
Craig performed some of his own 007 stunts and was injured on the set a few times. He’s had a shoulder reconstruction, ruptured both calf muscles, tore his ACL, and needed several stitches in his face after a fight scene gone wrong.
Exercise Style
Monday: Power Circuit
Do 10 reps x 3 sets of the following, with minimal rest be-tween sets.
Clean & press
Weighted knee raises
Weighted step-ups
Pull-ups
Incline push-ups
Triceps dips
Tuesday: Chest & Back
Do 10 reps of each exercise x 4 sets with minimal rest be-tween sets.
Incline bench press
Pull-ups
Incline push-up
Incline pec flys
Wednesday: Legs
Do 10 reps of each exercise x 4 sets with minimal rest be-tween sets.
Squat
Straight-leg deadlift
Hamstring curl
Weighted lunge
Thursday: Shoulders & Arms
Do 10 reps of each exercise x 4 sets with minimal rest be-tween sets.
Incline biceps curl
Triceps dips
Lateral raises
Shoulder press
Friday: Power circuit
Same as Monday.
Saturday & Sunday: Stretching & Cardio
Do something easy, such as a hike, mid-pace run or bike ride.
Craig on Getting in Shape to Play 007
‘Although I was big and muscled last time [for Casino Royale], I was actually not as fit as I am now.’
Craig on The Not-so-secret Way to Get in Shape
‘You do what you do. You run about and you push weights. I just did a lot of it.’
Craig on Sticking to a Routine
‘You just have to. I have no choice. I got to do it.’
Craig on Injuries
‘I got kicked in the face…so I went to see a plastic surgeon…and then jokingly I asked him to do the rest of my face, but he didn’t have time.’
Craig on Aging
‘You get tighter and tighter, and then you just don’t bounce.’
Daniel Craig’s Supplements
Protein
Get it here
Beta-alanine
Beta-alanine can also boost your exercise performance and increase lean muscle mass.
HMB
Get it here
multivitamin
Get it here
creatine
Craig is keeping any other supplements he may have taken close to his dinner jacket, but for those who are looking to get ripped, adding a supplement of creatine is a smart move because it promotes muscle gains and improves perfor-mance at the gym.
BCAAs
Get it here
CLA
Omega-3 fatty acids
Get it here
Daniel Craig’s Lifestyle
Handy Man
While Craig studied at the National Youth Theatre, he earned extra money by painting office walls and doing other odd jobs at the theater.
Taxes, Schmaxes
Craig was paid 18,000 pounds for his role in The Power of One. He blew through it all, not realizing he’d have to pay taxes. He spent 5 years paying off the tax bill.
Long Legacy
Craig is the first actor to play Bond who was born after the death of the creator of the series, Ian Fleming. Craig is also the longest-lasting Bond: 5 movies over 14 years. No Time to Die is his final film.
Blond Bias
Craig didn’t especially want the role of Bond, and neither did a bunch of other people. There were several protests against blond-haired Craig who was not considered to convey the image viewers expected. Previous Bond portrayers, including Sean Connery to Pierce Brosnan, all came out in his defense, and Casino Royale went on to become the top-grossing Bond film to date.
Giving Back
Craig is involved with multiple charities, including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, S.A.F.E. Kenya and Opportunity Network. He is also a UN global advocate for the elimination of landmines.
Craig on Acting
‘I’ve always loved to dress up a bit and show off.’
Craig on Accepting the Role of Bond
‘It’s a huge challenge, a huge responsibility. Bond is a huge, iconic figure in movie history.’
Craig on Playing Bond
‘Trying to inhabit a cipher, in a plotless blockbuster, with the world’s eyes upon you, is like living out a very particular anxiety dream.’
Craig on the Character of James Bond
‘The question I keep asking myself while playing this role is, “Am I the good guy or just a bad guy who works for the good side?”’
Craig on Shakespeare
‘I’ve never really had a desire to do Shakespeare. For me, it’s just too many lines.’
Craig on the Importance of Companionship
‘Being on your own would be sad, sick and weird. I don’t trust myself. I need that balance.’
Recommended Products
Knives Out
References
https://manofmany.com/lifestyle/fitness/daniel-craigs-james-bond-007-workout-plan-and-diet
https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/how-to-look-like-daniel-craig-in-casino-royale/
https://commanderbond.net/5664/daniel-craig-on-the-tonight-show.html
https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a19732461/daniel-craig-interview-james-bond-workout/
https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a19534405/workout-daniel-craig/
https://www.gq.com/story/daniel-craig-james-bond-no-time-to-die-cover-2020
