The Brie Larson workout for Room involved the actress having to gain 15 pounds of muscle for the role. There was also a regimented Brie Larson diet for Room.
She could not have done this without the help of a trainer and nutritionist. It turns out that the Oscar-winning actress learned a lot about strength—both mental and physical—while prepping for the role.
So what did this Brie Larson weight gain look like?
The Larson Diet and Workout for Room
When asked about her fitness routine and body transformation, Larson described working with an “incredible” trainer every day. Larson did a lot of strength training and she lifted extremely heavy weights over her head.
Essentially, she was dead lifting every day and says that this alone created a noticeable mental change in her.
In addition to working out every day, Larson teamed up with celebrity nutritionist Dr. Philip Goglia, who spoke with People magazine about the diet routine the actress followed. Before those morning workouts, Larson consumed a tablespoon of almond butter and a tablespoon of all-fruit jam or preserve.
Why peanut butter and jelly? Well, Goglia explained that recent science proves a small amount of fat and simple sugar in the morning increases your intensity rate and allows you to train while still burning fat. It’s kind of like fueling an engine, and that engine is your metabolism.
After a workout, Larson had a protein shake with almond butter and fruit or an egg. To stay full until lunch and maintain her energy level, Larson had a piece of fruit as a snack. Lunch consisted of 4 oz. chicken breast (Goglia says lunch is the best time to eat poultry) with vegetables.
Goglia suggests reducing the amount of sugar you eat later in the day, so an example of an afternoon snack is vegetables with some almonds.
Larson also ate 6 to 8 oz. fatty fish with some non-starchy vegetables for dinner. Goglia says that fish contains omega fatty acids, which reduce inflammation and also promote deep REM sleep. This is important as building muscle requires adequate amounts of recovery time, especially during sleep.
Before going to bed, Larson was allowed to have one portion of fruit, such as a cup of berries. The reason for this? “The purpose of a fruit dessert, like a little cup of berries or a fruit snack after dinner, is to actually spike your insulin so you sleep deeply in a hypoglycemic state,” Goglia said. “Then your body releases more growth hormone and you burn more fat.”
Larson also drank 3 to 4 L of water per day, and Goglia said he cannot stress how important getting enough water is—for everyone.
Brie Larson’s current diet plan is unknown, but judging by the impressive results of her Room diet, it would not be surprising if the actress is still following Goglia’s nutritional advice.
Brie Larson’s weight gain and fitness routine to prepare for her Oscar-winning role in Room required lots of hard work, diligence, and consistency. That is what helped her achieve her body transformation, along with her diet.