The Wolverine Heavy-Lifting Workout, Direct From His Trainer
If you haven't started on your summer body by now, what the hell are you waiting for? It's only 6 months away! The personal trainer behind Hugh Jackman's iconic Wolverine body, recommends this fat-torching muscle-building set consisting of supersets. Lots and lots of supersets. Stake your claim out in the gym and get comfortable – you'll be here for a while.
Barbell bench press
Lie back on a flat bench holding a barbell in the rack above you with a shoulder-width, overhand grip. Lift the bar off the rack and position it above your chest with arms fully extended. From the starting position, breathe in and lower the bar slowly until it skims the middle of your chest. Push the bar back to the starting position explosively as you breathe out. That’s one rep.
Pull-ups
Grab the handles of the pull-up station with your palms facing away from you and your arms fully extended. Your hands should be around shoulder-width apart. Squeeze your shoulder blades together, exhale and drive your elbows towards your hips to bring your chin above the bar. Lower under control back to the start position.
Push-up
Set up with your weight supported on your toes and hands beneath your shoulders, body straight. Take care to keep your core locked so a straight line forms between your head, glutes and heels. Lower your body until your chest is an inch from the ground then explosively drive up by fully extending your arms.
Lat pulldown
Kneel in front of the cable machine and face away. Grab the bar with your palms facing away from you, shoulder-width apart. Lean back slightly and push your chest out. Pull the bar down to your chest, then return slowly to the start position. Your torso should remain still throughout.
Single arm dumbbell row
Head to a flat bench and place your right hand against it under your shoulder, keeping your arm straight. Rest your right knee on the bench and step your other leg out to the side. With your free hand grab a dumbbell off the floor and row it up to your side until your upper arm is parallel with the floor. Lower slowly back to the floor and repeat.
Zottman curl
Stand holding two dumbbells with your arms fully extended, palms facing forwards. Curl the weights up to shoulder height, taking care to move only your forearms. At the top position, while squeezing your biceps, rotate your wrists until your palms are facing away from your body. Lower back down to the start position and, at the end of the move, again rotate your wrists so your palms are facing out.
Dips
Grab the bars of a dip station with your palms facing inward and your arms straight. Slowly lower until your elbows are at right angles, ensuring they stay tucked against your body and don't flare out. Drive yourself back up to the top and repeat.
Barbell rollout
Load a barbell with 5kg plates and grab the bar with an overhand, shoulder-width grip. Position your shoulders directly over the barbell and slowly roll the bar forwards. Pause, then reverse the move.
Burpee
From a standing position squat down until your thighs are parallel to the floor and place your palms on the floor. From there kick your feet back as far as you can while keeping your arms extended. As soon as your feet land jump them back in towards your hands, then jump up into the air. Land and immediately squat down to go into the next rep.
A version of this article originally appeared on Men's Health UK.
