Oscar Isaac Workout and DIET
Actor
Born: 1979
Oscar Isaac Estrada was born in Guatemala but his family immigrated to the US when he was just a few months old. They moved around to several states before settling in Miami where Isaac started acting with the Area Stage Company. He also played guitar and sang for a ska-punk band that was successful enough to open for bands like Green Day and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Isaac was accepted into the Juilliard School in 2001 and worked as an actor while still a student. His first major role came in 2006 with The Nativity Story, and his breakthrough happened in 2013 with Inside Llewyn Davis, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination. Isaac won a Golden Globe for Show Me a Hero in 2015. In 2022, he took on the lead role of Moon Knight for the MCU Disney+ show by the same name. Isaac has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. He is married and has 2 children. Isaac is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs about 160 lbs.
Known For:
Oscar Isaac’s Diet
Summary
Even when he’s not playing a Marvel superhero, Isaac often finds himself in the role of a character with lots of muscles, and so his diet is an important part of his prep work. For Moon Knight, he added more calories, almost all of them clean. Many Marvel actors follow the protocol of fasting for a minimum of 12 hours per day and cycling carbs to stay lean while building muscle. Macros are counted and a low-carb day would mean eating only 100g of rice and then plenty of greens and lean meat. High-carb days allow for carbs to be eaten at every meal, although quantities are still measured. It isn’t all chicken breast and salad, though, and Isaac has been known to sneak a few Cheetos here and there. He stays hydrated with plenty of water.
Estimated Macros
- Low-Medium 30%
- Medium Carb 40%
- High Protein 60%
Diet Details
Diet Discipline
Isaac considers diet to be an essential component of his character, and so he makes an effort to eat nutrient-dense foods most of the time.
Intermittent Fasting
The Marvel diet recommends actors take at least a 12-hour break between their evening meal and their first meal the next morning. This means if you’re eating at midnight, you should not eat anything before noon the next day.
Carb Cycling
The Marvel diet also involves cycling low- and high-carb days. On a low-carb day, Isaac might only have a small bowl of rice. On high-carb days, he might add toast at breakfast and another serving of rice at dinner.
Power Snacks
Isaac has a protein shake as a snack, usually following a workout to replenish glycogen stores.
They’re Called ‘Cheetos’ for a Reason
An image of Isaac eating Cheetos with chopsticks went viral a couple of years ago. He says he uses chopsticks so his fingers don’t turn orange.
What to Eat
Eggs
Egg Whites
Green Veggies
Avocados
Chicken
Sweet Potatoes
Peanut Butter
Fish
Rice
Bananas
Protein Powder
Water
What to Avoid
Refined Sugar
Processed Foods
Empty-calorie Foods
Junk Food
Chemical Ingredients
Artificial Additives
Isaac on His Moon Knight Diet
‘I tried to eat clean, but more calories than I normally eat.’
Isaac on his Preferred Flavor of Cheetos
‘Chili-lime. It’s a very Latino kind of thing.’
Isaac on Using Chopsticks to Eat Cheetos
‘I’m a sophisticated gentleman, so I didn’t want to get the powder on my fingers.’
Isaac on Alcohol
I’m not a huge drinker. I didn’t drink until I was 25 years old.’
Oscar Isaac’s Workout Routine
Weekly Routine
The Real Deal
Isaac trained in martial arts techniques to make his fight scenes look authentic. When he played in Ex Machina, he worked out just like the character Nathan would.
Weapons Training
In addition to punching, kicking and spinning like a ninja, Isaac also did specialized training with various weaponry. That said, Isaac does have a stunt double.
Pro Help
Isaac has worked with celebrity fitness trainer Josh Holland who has also coached stars like Madonna and Gigi Hadid.
Daily Dose
Isaac alternates between weightlifting, boxing, martial arts, and cardio, in addition to his specialty training.
Pumping Iron
Isaac usually lifts 3 days a week and devotes 3 more to his other forms of exercise.
Playing Favorites
Some of Isaac’s favorite exercises are squats, crunches, push-ups and leg lifts.
Exercise Style
An Oscar Isaac Routine
Exercise daily
Weight training: 3x/week
Boxing
Martial Arts
Cardio
Isaac on Training for Ex Machina
‘We tried to follow the regimen Nathan would follow, which was a bit of cardio, a lot of weight training, and hitting the punching bag.’
Isaac on the Importance of Being as Ffit as His Character
‘It was important that Nathan was a formidable-looking dude…That’s why I really focused on the bag and the weights, things that require quite a bit of aggression.’
Isaac on the Effect of Being Fit
‘There’s…this aggression underneath, and that comes from the physical preparation.’
Isaac on Getting in Shape to Play a Superhero
‘The superhero aesthetic is all about the human form and showing the body, whether they be female or male.’
Oscar Isaac’s Supplements
Besides his protein shakes, Isaac isn’t copping to any other supplements as of now. So, below are options that may benefit anyone following a similar diet plan.
protein shakes
Isaac enjoys his protein shakes.
BCAAs
A pre workout
A pre workout can help sustain energy throughout killer workouts, while a fat burner can help your muscles pop.
greens supplement
multivitamin
Oscar Isaac’s Lifestyle
Evangelical Upbringing
Isaac’s family took religion very seriously, and Isaac attended Christian school where his pranks were not appreciated.
Class Clown
Isaac liked to make other kids laugh at school and was such a jokester, he got expelled for his antics.
Always a Performer
Isaac was lead singer and guitarist for The Blinking Underdogs, but gave up music once he was accepted in the Juilliard School for acting. But he says he wouldn’t mind going back on the road and playing again.
Fickle Fans
Isaac was dubbed ‘The Internet’s Boyfriend’ by bloggers for a time, but he got dumped after an image circulated of him wearing a t-shirt with an image of Ayn Rand’s book Atlas Shrugged on it. He says he just liked the image and does not have libertarian leanings.
Total Lightweight
Isaac got completely drunk while filming Inside Llewyn Davis because he wasn’t used to consuming alcohol.
Isaac on Acting
‘When I’m creating a character, I don’t see it so much as playing someone else as just playing a specific part of myself under certain circumstances.’
Isaac on the Film Industry
‘A movie set is like a petri dish for neuroses, you know? It’s just, like, egos and weird personalities and, more than anything, fear.’
Isaac on Fame
‘I’m definitely someone that’s private. I’ve never bee interested in celebrity.’
Isaac on Being ‘The Internet’s Boyfriend’
‘The internet never struck me as being into monogamous relationships.’
Isaac on Music
‘If it was never new and it never gets old, then it’s a folk song.’
Isaac on Fashion
I get attached to things. I wear the same jeans for a year.’
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