A few months ago, I created a Squidoo Lens about Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool Workout.
The lens was essentially an introduction to the workouts that Reynolds had to endure in order to transform his naturally thin (aka scrawny) frame into a muscular, ripped physique worthy of superhero status.
Since then, I have received a ton of emails from guys eager to build their own Deadpool bodies.
The only problem was that I was underwhelmed by the original workout.
It was good, but it wasn’t great.
Sure, it would help you look like a superhero, but it wouldn’t help you perform like a superhero.
So, I re-invented the Deadpool workout and spent the summer beta testing it on some willing victims up here in Toronto.
And, if I say so myself, I have come up with a seriously kick-ass training program.
Over 3 months, my 4 scrawny test subjects:
In short, by the end of the summer, my little guinea pigs didn’t just look like superheroes.
They were superheroes.
So, without any further ado, I would like to present…
(Because this workout is too detailed for one post, I am going to break it into chunks – today’s chunk will outline the theory behind my madness)
Like the original workout, my MRRYB workout had two distinct phases.
The key to the success of this phase was the focus on the nervous system and the development of fast twitch muscle fibers.
Using a combination of high speed movements and plyometric style loading, my GPs forced their fast twitch muscle fibers to engage during part 1 of their 2-part supersets.
(Here’s how I activated their fast-twitch muscle fibers)
Once I had the fast twitch fibers turned on, I moved them immediately to part-2 of the superset.
In part 2, the GPs were able to handle loads much heavier than normal because of the activation of their hard to activate fast twitch fibers.
Taking advantage of this situation, part 2 of the superset consisted of explosive concentric movements combined with slow eccentric movements. The GPs were not allowed to pause at either the top or bottom of the lift.
And yet, due to the activation of the fast twitch fibers, the GPs were able to lift more than ever before, add more muscle than ever before and yet experience only moderate muscle soreness.
Depending upon the exercise, the muscle group and the techniques used, reps for each part of the superset ranged from 3 to 8 reps.
Phase 2 is all about melting the baby-fat off of the newly built muscle.
To do that, I introduced the GPs to some particularly nasty HIIT and HIRT workouts.
And while I expected fairly rapid fat loss, I did not expect what happened.
For some reason, in the first week, each of the GPs lost over 6 lbs of fat.
And this is after almost 2 months of very intense training and a strict diet. They had already lost fat during phase 1.
I can only speculate on the reason behind the very rapid fat loss, but to be honest, I don’t care. I am more than happy to leave the science to the scientists. All I know is that this workout hit one out of the park.
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In the next installment of this series, I will get into the nuts and bolts of the workout.
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Jay
August 22, 2012 at 1:20 pm
The example workouts for phase 1 are awesome. Do you have any examples of phase 2? Also how long should each phase go on? I plan on starting this soon.
healthhabits
August 22, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Hey Jay – I had such great feedback from these workouts, I decided to make this a full-time part of the blog and created the Best Body series of workouts – Here are the 52 weeks I did in 2011 and here is what we’ve done so far in 2012
Jason
May 26, 2011 at 12:52 pm
Where can we find the nuts and bolts of Phase 2?
healthhabits
May 26, 2011 at 1:24 pm
I didn’t post a phase 2, because it was too detailed for one post – I expanded it into this series of articles – http://www.healthhabits.ca/2008/09/23/workout-design-why-cant-i-lose-this-fat-part-3/
The link is to the 3rd article which outlines the training concepts
This series of workouts – http://www.healthhabits.ca/archives/body-workouts-2011/ – is based on the same theories – great fat burners
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Melt It Off
May 20, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Ryan Reynolds isn’t as big as he is ripped. any combo of cardio and diet with a strict weight lifting regimen should get you pretty close.
Cassie
May 17, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Ryan reynolds….you are HANDSOME…and i want your body…enough said.
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grace
November 25, 2009 at 1:52 pm
btw I like the other RRs you’ve posted on too… Rudy Reyes and Richard Roll… and #26 (part 2) *haaa* you crack me UP.
grace
November 25, 2009 at 1:44 pm
OMG. You. Are. Hilarious. A 4-part Deadpool workout ??!
YOU ROCK!!
I love RR… I couldn’t help to blog about him and his workout as well… I like his new GF/wife too… SJ is a goddess. I think she is low carb now coz she looks ripped (yet round)…
http://drbganimalpharm.blogspot.com/2009/04/warrior-race-kinda-unrelated-to-cardio.html
http://drbganimalpharm.blogspot.com/2009/05/provokingenvy.html
Matt Jones
September 16, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Man 21% to 9% in 12 short weeks, those results make me drool and angry all at the same time. I wish I could just take a 3 month vacation, go to a resort like location, and do this type of workout (and have the diet provided). Sure would beat the heck out of what I have been able to accomplish so far on my own!
-Matt
dmdalton
September 15, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Looking forward to reading more about this. I find your blogs quite inspiring. Keep up the great work.
Will you be including diet info or at least pointing us back to past blogs if it is already posted?
Dave
Truth About Abs
September 14, 2009 at 11:03 pm
OMG, hurry up and post the next installment!! I’m already whincing in pain after reading this installment and don’t even know what’s in the workout yet. I can’t wait to try it on myself and see if I can make myself cry!! LOL
soon, right? its coming soon?
GWNN
DR
September 16, 2009 at 9:17 am
Diet info will be included.
The GPs followed my version of a Paleo-style diet.
A search for Paleo in my archives should give you a good idea of the type of diet we used
dmdalton
September 16, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Thanks.
DR
September 17, 2009 at 7:12 am
Forget the resort…how about a desert island where all there is to eat is fruit/veg & any animals that you can catch
We’ll call it the Survivor Spa & Weight Loss Clinic