Has anyone here ever broken their leg? Notice how quickly the leg muscle grows back to normal size after about a month?
[quote]Flow wrote:
Ok, well I’ll admit that I alluded to the possibility that he used steroids for the transformation, however that physique is clearly a naturally attainable one. Besides, the point of this whole thread is how amazing the transformation was/is.
Whenever ANYONE does something astounding from an athletic or physique development standpoint, there will be the possibility that some sort of PED was involved. Oh well, big deal. The fact is that he gained 70-80 lbs. of lean mass in 6 months. That is a ‘holy shit’ accomplishment to me.[/quote]
This was done over 6 months?
[quote]Airtruth wrote:
Flow wrote:
Ok, well I’ll admit that I alluded to the possibility that he used steroids for the transformation, however that physique is clearly a naturally attainable one. Besides, the point of this whole thread is how amazing the transformation was/is.
Whenever ANYONE does something astounding from an athletic or physique development standpoint, there will be the possibility that some sort of PED was involved. Oh well, big deal. The fact is that he gained 70-80 lbs. of lean mass in 6 months. That is a ‘holy shit’ accomplishment to me.
This was done over 6 months?[/quote]
Yes.
I have to see that process in person, down to what he ate. I wonder if the weight came back so fast because of the “Bodyweight Setpoint”, that many people believe exists. Steroids are not 80lbs is pretty amazing. The funny thing though is that even though he was incredibly skinny, he had much more muslular build then someone who is that anerexic all their life.
I think I brought the steroid issue up.
I don’t think he used, but for all of you who think that hollywood actors aren’t using illegal supplements such as steroids and illegal fat burners your wrong.
It’s probably just as rampant in that arena as bodybuilding…well not as much but you get my point 
lol
I live in southern california and know a lot of models/wannabe actors and they are constantly on “stuff”.
Not saying bale did it, when u starve yourself and eat again, of course you will put on massive weight.
I weigh 208 right now, I can cut water glycogen and be in the 180’s within a week. Once I eat and drink again I’ll be back up towards 200. So his “not eating”, then eating will accumulate for a lot of his size he gained.
I personally don’t think it was a HUGE transformation, more like his body filled back out. Add that to being able to dedicate his ENTIRE LIFE to his role and training for the role and you can get a transformation like this.
all my opinion of course.
Gerdy
muscle memory
[quote]RWElder0 wrote:
I read an interview that he said while doing The Machinist the role got into his head. Once he had adopted the habits of malnutrition and adapted to the physical discomfort he had his brain sort of ran away with him. It was intentional but not to the level it became.
He admitted it was not healthy and was under a doctors care while on the set.
I would think the same force of will that would allow someone to achieve one state of being could be applied to reversing that and moving in another direction. Genetics are one thing but 90% of what he did was done between his ears.[/quote]
There must be some sort of lingering effect from this…or he’s just an asshole.
Yesterday he was arrested for “allegedly” beating his mother and sister. Ironic.
Still makes great films.
He was in an interview on GMTV Monday morning and looked a bit fed up. I thought it was just the interviewer (GMTV is such a shit breakfast show). Guess it was more to do with the previous night.
I am going to make a strong assertion here and say that, possibly being that skinny and meager actually helped him stack up to weight.
What I mean is, they say when you are starving, afterwards your body hoards calories…well, if you go from starvation and then immediately switch to a strict body building diet and grueling exercise.
This might actually make growing like a wee easier, than starting from a slob ass skinny-fat or chubby position or just a shitty unmuscled physique.
Perhaps, shocking yourself into starvation and then muscle growth makes it easier.
I could be wrong.
He must of got up every single day, looked in the mirror, and noticed he was bigger and stronger than the day before. i would love to see how he did it
[quote]Guerrero wrote:
I am going to make a strong assertion here and say that, possibly being that skinny and meager actually helped him stack up to weight.
What I mean is, they say when you are starving, afterwards your body hoards calories…well, if you go from starvation and then immediately switch to a strict body building diet and grueling exercise.
This might actually make growing like a wee easier, than starting from a slob ass skinny-fat or chubby position or just a shitty unmuscled physique.
Perhaps, shocking yourself into starvation and then muscle growth makes it easier.
I could be wrong.[/quote]
Yep, it’s called the anabolic rebound.
The body is so depleted that it utilizes every nutrient ingested to a greater degree than before. Bodybuilders usually experience some of their best gains in the weeks following a contest due to this.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many studies on this, but the anecdotal evidence (like this) makes it believable enough to me.
I dropped to 165 when I had mono, and I gained 10 lbs in 2 weeks because I literally didn’t eat for days. Your body definitely does whatever it can to get back to “normal.”
[quote]acelement wrote:
I dropped to 165 when I had mono, and I gained 10 lbs in 2 weeks because I literally didn’t eat for days. Your body definitely does whatever it can to get back to “normal.”[/quote]
It took you 2 weeks? I gain about 15 within 2 days after having to make make weight for a tournament.
As everyone mentioned, muscle memory and rebound effect probably had huge impact on his results. I’d wager that he went from 130 to 150 within 3 days of healthy eating. He was probably 170 by the 2-week mark at the latest.
Christian Bale’s transformation was pretty amazing, but I think Edward Norton’s transformation was better.
I know it’s kind of skewed because the lighting is different and this one has his shirt off, but I think it’s still pretty clear he packed on a lot of muscle.