How Chris Pratt Bulked Up For “Terminal List”

Guardians of the Galaxy star Chris Pratt shows off his jacked physique in Prime Video’s new action revenge series The Terminal List, which dropped its first full season in July. From Guardians to the Jurassic World series, the former Parks and Recreation star has moved beyond the doughy physicality of Andy Dwyer and toward the look of his famous father-in-law, Arnold Schwarzenegger. How does he stay so fit? Read on to see five ways Chris Pratt stays in shape and the photos that prove they work.

1. He Stopped Drinking

Shutterstock

Pratt focused hard on his diet and stopped drinking while training. He swapped out a pint of beer for a plate full of chicken and broccoli. Cutting out drinking allowed him to focus on working out and eating healthy without empty calories.

2. He Eased Into Training

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Pratt worked his way up in the gym. “To begin with, it was let’s train every other day, with some days off,” said former Navy SEAL and celebrity trainer P.T. Duffy Gaver. “After all, you don’t get fit in the gym, you just get beat up in the gym. You get fit recovering in bed and at your dinner table.”

3. He Did Strength Training And Floor Exercises

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

After a quick warmup to get his heart pumping and blood flowing, Pratt engaged in high-intensity interval training and a lot of burpee reps. "When it comes to workout efficiency, HIIT is especially attractive in that it does not require a large amount of time to reap the benefits. HIIT workouts typically last 20-30 minutes and are extremely effective as long as the intensity level is high. From both a psychological and physiological perspective, it is easier to maintain a high level intensity for a brief period of time than it is over a longer period of time, greater than 30 minutes," says ACE Fitness.

4. He Did A Lot Of Weight Training

David Livingston/WireImage

Pratt did bodybuilding with few breaks and weightlifting combined with high-intensity interval training and the right diet. That’s what gave him his ripped body. "Weight training is a type of strength training that uses weights for resistance. Weight training provides a stress to the muscles that causes them to adapt and get stronger, similar to the way aerobic conditioning strengthens your heart," says the Mayo Clinic. "Weight training can be performed with free weights, such as barbells and dumbbells, or by using weight machines. You can also increase your strength through other types of resistance exercises, such as by using your body weight or resistance bands."

5. He Was Committed

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Dedication paid off. “I think Chris’s body at the time was working for the type of actor he was, but it was time for a change,” Gaver said. “I’m extremely proud of the work I did with Chris because it took him from being a character actor of sorts to being a leading man. And a really highly sought-after leading man.” Having a growth mindset can be more beneficial than people think, according to the Mayo Clinic: “Folks with this outlook understand that they can develop their abilities and adapt them to different situations. They know mistakes are inevitable, which helps them recover more quickly from setbacks.”