Matthew McConaughey Workout and Diet
Actor
Born: 1969
Matthew McConaughey is originally from Texas. He graduated college with a degree in media and had plans to become a lawyer, but decided against law school in favor of acting. He landed a few small roles before his breakout in 1996 with A Time to Kill. He went on to star in a lot of romantic comedies, but he has also taken on more serious roles. McConaughey has been nominated for and won praise for his acting, including an Oscar and a Golden Globe for playing an AIDS victim in Dallas Buyers Club. He was voted Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine in 2005. McConaughey got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2014. He has been married to Camila Alves since 2012 and they have 3 children together. McConaughey co-founded a charity called ‘just keep livin’ for at-risk teens. He has millions of followers on social media. McConaughey is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs about 185 lbs.
Known For:
Matthew McConaughey’s Diet
Summary
For Magic Mike, McConaughey lost 30 lbs. by focusing on eating low glycemic index (GI) foods, which means foods that do not cause a spike in blood sugar. Things like veggies, meat, fish, avocados and certain fruits such as plums are all low-GI foods. He worked with nutritionist Dr. Chris Lockwood to be sure he was getting all the nutrition he needed. McConaughey also worked with celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson and he has his own approach to dieting which is ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ In short, Peterson recommends purging your kitchen of junk food so you don’t feel tempted. Protein shakes were also a staple of McConaughey’s Magic Mike diet and he would have one first thing every day, and also between meals. Another thing McConaughey worked into his diet was wine, but just 1 glass per day.
Estimated Macros
- Low-Medium Carb 25%
- Medium Fat 25%
- Medium-High Protein 80%
Diet Details
The Glycemic Index Diet
The glycemic index rates carbohydrate-containing foods (meaning not things like meat) based on how they effect blood sugar. ‘Low’ is rated at 55 or less while ‘high’ is 70 or more. High GI foods cause blood sugar to shoot up then fall rapidly, making you feel hungry and irritable. A low-Gi diet helped McConaughey drop 30 lbs.
Timed Eating
In addition to following a low-GI diet for Magic Mike, McConaughey would also eat less as the day went on. A couple of days before shooting shirtless scenes, McConaughey would also reduce his water and sodium intake to really make his muscles pop.
Shake It Up
McConaughey would have several protein shakes a day to help keep him fueled, and retain muscle tone while burning fat.
Extreme Diet
To look like a dying man for Dallas Buyer’s Club, McConaughey lost 50 lbs. by following a liquid diet. This kind of crash dieting can be hazardous for your health.
Bottoms Up
To look like a dying man for Dallas Buyer’s Club, McConaughey lost 50 lbs. by following a liquid diet. This kind of crash dieting can be hazardous for your health.
Homestyle Cooking
McConaughey does a lot of cooking for his family. He is reportedly very adventurous and enjoys trying out new recipes from ethic cuisines including Greek, Mexican and Italian.
What to Eat
Low GI foods
Broccoli
Spinach
Salads
Cucumbers
Peppers
Eggs
Salmon
Chicken
High-fiber Grains
Beans
Plums
Water
Tea
Red Wine (1 glass/day)
What to Avoid
High GI Foods
Sugar
Sodium
Rice
Pasta
Soft Drinks
Junk Food
Processed Foods
Excess Alcohol
McConaughey on the Importance of Diet
‘As I’ve gotten older, I realize that being fit and in shape is 90% diet.’
McConaughey on Losing 50 lbs.
‘I dared myself. I haven’t been this thin since 9th grade.’
McConaughey on Dropping so Much Weight
‘It’s a bit of a spiritual cleanse, mental cleanse.’
McConaughey on Exercise vs Diet
‘It doesn’t matter how much you run; it’s how little or much you eat.’
Matthew McConaughey’s Workout Routine
Weekly Routine
Keep It Up
McConaughey believes in maintaining a certain level of fitness at all times, which makes getting in shape for a film role a whole lot quicker and easier.
Compound Movements
McConaughey has worked with celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson for several films. Peterson has his clients do compound moves such as dumbbell squats to maximize gains in minimal time.
Great Outdoors
McConaughey loves to run outside, which is why there are a lot of pictures taken by the paparazzi of him sweating it up on the trail.
Daily Dose
McConaughey worked out twice a day, 7 days a week to get ripped for Magic Mike. Since he was already fit, it only took 2 weeks to get those 6-pack abs.
Circuit Training
McConaughey does circuits to hit multiple muscle groups at once and rev up his heart rate at the same time.
Go Easy On the Crunches
While McConaughey did need to focus a lot on his abs for Magic Mike, he’d do things like planks and leg lifts rather than a million crunches.
Exercise Style
A Matthew McConaughey Routine
Circuit 1: Legs
Do 3 circuits total. Do each exercise for 30 sec (about 10-12 reps), then take 15 sec rest after every other exercise.
Dumbbell squat & press
Dumbbell forward lunge
Dumbbell side lunge
Stability ball leg curl
Circuit 2: Core
Do 3 circuits total. Do each exercise for 30 sec (about 10-12 reps), then take 15 sec rest after every other exercise.
Forearm plank w. leg lift
Twisting planks
Crunches
Reverse crunches
Walking planks
Leg lifts
Abdominal twists
Mountain climbers
Circuit 3: Cardio
Repeat 9 times
Cardio machine: 5 min
Jump rope: 1 min
McConaughey on Exercise
‘When I work out, I like to run. If I see a tree, I’ll stop and do pull ups. Randomly, I’ll do push ups too. This is how I get the body I want.’
McConaughey on Motivation
‘Vanity is a great motivation.’
McConaughey on Why he Stays in Shape
‘Curls for the girls!’
McConaughey on his Fitness Goals
‘I’m working on having my debut in the UFC at 45. Nah, not really, but I am just trying to stay limber.’
Matthew McConaughey’s Supplements
Protein
Mass Gainer
Multivitamin
Coenzyme-Q10
Green Tea Extract
Pre Workout
BCAAs
Glutamine
Electrolytes
Vitamin B6
Fenugreek Seed Extract
Forskolin
7-Keto DHEA
D-Aspartic Acid
Get it here
Matthew McConaughey’s Lifestyle
Wonder-ful Way to Fall to Sleep
McConaughey narrates a Sleep Story for adults on an app called Calm. You can drift off listening to the soothing voice of Mr. Smooth.
Not Exactly Love at First Sight
McConaughey may be a heartthrob to millions, but his wife Camila Alvez did not find him attractive at first, and had to be told who he was.
Skip the Stick
McConaughey hasn’t used deodorant in decades. He says if his smell becomes a bother to others, he’ll take a shower.
Family Trivia
McConaughey’s dad was drafted into the NFL but was released before ever playing a game. His older brother Mike is a self-made millionaire and has appeared on tv himself in the documentary series West Texas Investors Club. His parents have been married 3 times — to each other.
The McConnaissance
McConaughey wanted to break out of his image of being a sex symbol. It took guts and some time, but he managed to reinvent himself.
McConaughey on Selfishness
‘I’m a fan of the word selfish. Self. Ish. When I say I have gotten a lot more self-ish, I mean I am less concerned with what people think of me.’
McConaughey on Himself
‘I want to evolve. As a man, as a human, as a father, as a lover.’
McConaughey on Gratitude
‘It’s a scientific fact that gratitude reciprocates.’
McConaughey on Motivation
‘There are 3 things…that I need each day. One of them is something to look up to, another is something to look forward to, and another is someone to chase.’
McConaughey on Advice
‘The best advice comes from people who don’t give advice.’
McConaughey on Life
‘The older you get, the more rules they’re gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin’ man.’
McConaughey on Life, Take II
‘Life is a series of commas, not periods.’
Recommended Products
Calm app
Dolce & Gabbana for Men
References
https://www.popworkouts.com/matthew-mcconaughey-workout-diet-routine/4/
https://www.bodybuilding.com/content/matthew-mcconaughey-magic-mike-abs-workout.html
https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/a27131284/matthew-mcconaughey-wife-camila-alves/
https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2014/03/matthew-mcconaughey-reveals-rebranding-secrets
https://www.wellandgood.com/good-advice/matthew-mcconaughey-calm-sleep-app/
https://www.lifedaily.com/story/20-celebrities-worst-personal-hygiene/
