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Christian Bale’s Weight Loss for “The Machinist”: How the Actor Transforms Himself for Varied Movie Roles
Christian Bale's weight loss and weight gain journey will leave you awestruck. From starvation to consuming water, coffee, tuna, and working out, he did it all!
It is challenging to keep track of the number of movies in which Christian Bale had to transform himself drastically. Throughout his career, the 51-year-old actor has undergone significant transformations to bring authenticity to the movie roles he chooses to perform. One of the star’s jaw-dropping transformations was when he played the role of Trevor Resnik in The Machinist. His thin and extremely lean frame questioned the levels of realism as he dropped from about 173 pounds to 110 pounds. Whereas to play Batman in The Dark Knight and Vice President Dick Cheney in Vice, Christian Bale’s weight loss and gain saga kept on soaring to greater heights.
In a nutshell, there is nothing that the Hollywood personality won’t try to fit better into his characters. Right from losing 60 pounds to gaining 40 pounds, one can observe his sheer commitment and dedication to his work. Scroll down to know the inside details of the versatile Welsh-born English actor’s professionalism and the methods he vouched for to undergo stunning transformations.
The 50-year-old actor dropped from about 173 pounds to 110 pounds while shooting for The Machinist, which was released in the year 2004. In 2018, he had gained 40 pounds to play Dick Chaney in Vice. His dramatic ups and downs concerning weight make him stand apart from the rest.
Who Is Christian Bale?
Christian Charles Philip Bale is an English actor popular for his dramatic transformations over the years. He is one of the leading actors and the main cast of movies revolving across varied genres. He married Sibi Blazic, a former model, in the year 2000 and the couple has two children, a daughter and a son.
At the age of 10, Christian decided to be an actor. In the year 2000, he played the character of ‘Patrick Bateman, an investment banker and serial killer, in American Psycho. To match the nature of the role, it was revealed that the actor exercised and tanned himself for months. Gradually, the movie and his portrayal developed a cult following as his journey to success began. Bateman was the role that established him as a leading actor.
In the next four years, Bale witnessed a downfall commercially and critically. In October 2004, The Machinist was released and to prepare for the role of an insomnia-ridden and emotionally dysfunctional character, he shed 63 pounds. The film earned 8.2 million at the box office, and the performance and drastic weight loss of Christian Bale were recognized and well-received by the critics. Being the recipient of an array of accolades like an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards, he is among the highest-paid actors in the industry. All in all, his versatility and wild physical transformations make him the talk of the town.
Read More: Eva Marcille’s Weight Loss Journey: How the Divorce Affected Her Health
Why Did Christian Bale Gain Weight?
After losing over 60 pounds for the movie The Machinist, the English actor, has been seen consistently putting his body through the wringer to transform for varied roles. To play Dick Chaney in Vice, he once gained 40 pounds. He built a muscular neck leaving behind his athletic body frame.
In one of the interviews, Bale revealed that he never saw a nutritionist or a doctor concerning losing and gaining weight. Eventually, he caught up and reached them to gain those 40 lbs in a better way. He also clarified that it wasn’t very easy to get that weight in a shorter period but he was glad to have done it in the healthiest way possible.
Read More: Yvette Nicole Brown’s Weight Loss Story And Her Take on Obesity
How Did Christian Bale Reduce Weight?
In 2004, the Sigma male confessed that he had come up with a brilliant idea of losing weight. He smoked cigarettes and drank whiskey to shed a few pounds. As per a study published in NCBI, body weight is determined by the balance of caloric intake and daily energy expenditure. Cigarette smoking reduces body weight by increasing the expenditure (1).
On the other hand, alcohol intake is significantly correlated with the body mass index. Although the relationship between alcohol intake and weight change is still unknown, it is recommended to cut down on alcohol or else it might derail your weight loss treatment (2).
The actor also stated that he did try consuming alcohol to reduce weight for the second time but he failed to taste success during his 40s. He complained of waking up to heart palpitations and things didn’t seem right. As per research, reductions in alcohol use during weight loss treatments are relevant for the success of people with high levels of impulsivity (2).
Later, the actor underwent a flawless transformation to play the role of an Army captain in the movie Hostiles. However, this character needed more facial hair and an accent and was less about physique transformation.
Ford v Ferrari was yet another movie in which Bale’s impeccable transformation left movie lovers awestruck. Bale reportedly gained over 100 lbs for his role in Adam McKay’s Dick Cheney biopic Vice, but then in just a matter of months, he shed 70 lbs and slimmed his appearance to fit into the role of a racer in the movie, Ford vs Ferrari.
In an interview, his co-star, Matt Damon, recalled asking Bale how he managed to lose 70 pounds to which Bale responded that he didn’t eat.
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What Workout Routine Did Christian Bale Follow to Lose Weight?
For Christian Bale, working out was one of the keys to losing weight for his new roles. After putting on weight to play Dick Cheney, in the movie Vice, he again lost it all for the film Backseat by following a 5-day workout plan. His workout includes bodyweight exercises, compound exercises, cardio, and lifting weights. A study published by NCBI states exercise programs alone do not produce significant weight loss, one also has to pay heed to the calorie intake. Adding to that, weight regain is significantly less likely when physical activity is combined with any other weight-reduction routine (3).
Read More: Maren Morris's Weight Loss: Diet Plan and Workout Regime
Christian Bale Weight Loss Before and After Images
Before
After
Is Christian Bale’s The Machinist Diet Dangerous?
Christian Bale’s The Machinist weight loss journey is indeed dangerous. It was revealed that he consumed an apple, a tin of tuna, water, and coffee and only consumed roughly 100 calories per day. Apples are the major source of dietary fiber and other nutrients, which largely promote anti-obesity effects. They target fat tissues and have been reported to reduce weight gain (4). In addition, coffee is not only high in caffeine but also other bioactive compounds. However, the benefit of coffee intake against obesity is not as fundamental as balanced diets and physical activity (5).
As per a research study published in NCBI, daily caloric intake is influenced by factors such as gender, height, weight, activity level, and age. A male should eat 2500 or 2000 calories per day (6). That means Christian Bale only ate about 5% of the standard and hence, his diet for the preparation of The Machinist is dangerous.
According to studies, it is recommended to make weight loss plans responsibly. Shift your weight gradually and sustainably, backed by a nutritious diet and regular exercise. Extreme weight fluctuations like Christian Bale's should only be attempted under the supervision of a healthcare professional (7).
According to Varsha Khatri, a Registered Nutritionist at Prowise Healthcare, “Frequent Weight gain and Loss on health due to Yo-yo diets, which are characterized by constant cycles of losing weight, and then regaining it back have potentially disastrous implications on personal health in the long term perspective. This may induce metabolic dysregulation, such as insulin resistance and hormonal imbalances as well as increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases among others. Consequently, healthy eating habits and fitness routines should be consistent enough so as to avoid these repercussions.”
Are the Weight Changes of Christian Bale Healthy?
How Christian Bale lost weight is often the repeatedly asked question. Bale has dropped a serious amount of weight for The Machinist and appears unwell. On the other hand, he is renowned for putting on a load of bulk to play Batman. In an interview, Christian shared that he ate a lot of pie for acing the role. However, one should restrict overeating sugary foods to minimize the risk of obesity (8).
After transforming into various characters for movies like The Big Short and American Hustle, Bale realized that he couldn’t play with his weight so drastically all the time. It is not good, after all. Adding to that, he opened up stating that his morality kept staring at him right onto his face. No matter how many times he has shed pounds or gained some, his wife has seen it all. She has appreciated his role and dedication to give his best but is not someone who supports his actions when it comes to weight.
Christian Bale’s weight loss for The Machinist is applaud-worthy. Known for extreme weight transformations for his roles, the actor’s way of acing different characters is phenomenal. What makes him a stand-apart actor is his dedication and consistent persistence. His commitment to embodying every role demonstrates not only his talent but also his desire to push the boundaries of physical transformation. To date, the media and the public still marvel at his physique and look forward to what he will achieve in his upcoming roles.
Sources
1. Cigarette Smoking, Nicotine, and Body Weight
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3195407/
2. The relationship of alcohol use to weight loss in the context of behavioral weight loss treatment
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4768732/
3. Weight-Loss and Maintenance Strategies
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK221839/
4. Weight Loss Associated With Consumption of Apples: A Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29630462/
5. Coffee Intake and Obesity: A Meta-Analysis
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6628169/
6. Calories
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499909/
7. Metabolic Consequences of Weight Reduction
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572145/
8. Association between Food, Beverages and Overweight/Obesity in Children and Adolescents—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9920526/
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