‘Reacher’ Star Alan Ritchson Reveals How His Workout Routine Differs From Jack Reacher’s
In Amazon Prime Video’s new action-packed series, Reacher, Alan Ritchson portrays Lee Child’s buff hero, Jack Reacher. The actor is known for his towering physique. And he recently revealed details about his disciplined workout routine and not-so-disciplined diet.
‘Reacher’ star Alan Ritchson doesn’t work out for strength
Reacher, which is based on author Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books, stars Ritchson as the broad, 6-foot 5-inch tall hero (the actor is 6-feet 4 inches tall in real-life). His appearance is distinctively large in the show, as he towers over his co-stars.
Impressed with his physique, fans jumped on Ritchson’s recent Reddit AMA to ask him about his workout routine. The Reacher star revealed that he does lift weights regularly. But that wasn’t always the case.
“I built a modest gym in my house and hit weights 5 days a week,” Ritchson wrote. “For twenty years I almost never used weights. 4 sets of 25 Pushups, pull-ups, dips, and sit-ups always kept me at 205. Weights for 8 months got me to 235.”
The actor also noted that he uses weights, his workout goals aren’t necessarily about getting stronger. “I don’t work out for strength,” Ritchson revealed.” What am I gonna have to lift a car? Punch a horse?”
“I lift for health, longevity, and physique,” he added. “My goals are different than most. Which means high volume lower weight.”
Alan Ritchson admits he has to work harder than Jack Reacher
In Reacher, Jack Reacher is a cool, calm, and collected military man who rarely seems to break a sweat, even when he’s thrashing whole groups of bad guys. It’s hard to imagine the hero heading to the gym every day to get that muscular figure. But Ritchson admits, in real life, his workout routine is far different than what Jack Reacher would do.
“It’s hilarious to me,” the actor wrote in his Reddit AMA. “Reacher’s routine is stretching when he wakes up. Mine is anything but.”
Ritchson also revealed that there was dialogue in the screenplay that suggested Jack Reacher doesn’t exercise. And after realizing how unbelievable it sounded, he and the showrunners omitted it.
“We removed some lines that said ‘I never workout,’ cause it just was too ridiculous,” he explained. “I have to work my a** off to fill his frame.”
Alan Ritchson says he does cardio to burn off the ‘crap’ he eats
Ritchson is disciplined in his workout routine, utilizing weights and calisthenics. But admittedly, the Reacher star doesn’t take his diet as seriously.
In his Reddit AMA, he revealed that he likes to eat all kinds of foods, including sushi. But he makes sure to do a cardio workout afterward to burn it off.
“I usually eat whatever cause I run so much,” Ritchson admitted. “I clean it up a little when going to camera.”
“[I] love good sushi,” he added. “I run off that crap food I eat. Lotta cardio.”
Amazon Studios announced Reacher is renewed for season 2. So, fans will get to see more of Ritchson’s towering hero when the show returns.
Reacher Season 1 is currently streaming on Prime Video.
