By now you might have heard about “the 300 workout program” , the regime used to turn ordinary actors/stuntman into diced-up Spartans for the movie “300″. The 300 workout has generated tons of buzz in certain circles and spawned a slew of homemade 300-ish workouts. I’ve done a little homework and hope to present a less foggy view.

What it is NOT:

1. It is not , I repeat , Not a way to get in shape ! The 300 regime poses serious health risks if attempted by beginners (fat bastards like myself). Almost all of the program “graduates” were stuntmen , meaning already pretty fit.

2. It does not consist of 300 reps/day. The daily program varied widely, as not to let the body get used to any particular exercise. The 300 repetition workout (listed below) was a one day “final exam” for soldiers who followed the program to completion.

3. The 300 workout is not a workout. The training program the actors/stuntmen survived was a means to an end. The good folks at Gym Jones set out to turn a set of already in-shape men into an army of Spartans. Mission Accomplished.

What it is:

Calorie Restrictive.

Besides the fact that I would die , this is one of the main reasons you wont see me attempt it. The participants were given enough food to recover from the regime , that is it. One of the main goals was to get these guys cut up, so they had to consume less than they burned.

Intense.

Blindfolds ! Trainers used blindfolded weightlifting techniques to develop balance. Some days the goal of the trainers was just to break participants psychologically . The “breaking” and blindfolding were also intended to develop a sense of camaraderie. They believe that if you aren’t a little nervous before you train , your not training hard enough.

Varied.

If you came across a workout that says “just do these simple exercises (300 reps) , everyday and you will be cut!”, it ain’t the 300 regime. Gym Jones founder , Mark Twight is unique. Unique in the sense that he believes in working out as if your life depends on it. He switched the variables (weight , reps, speed, types) so that the men’s bodies would never grow accustomed , and keep them burning!

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