Linda was working with personal trainer Anthony Cortés, who also helped Edward Norton beef up for American History X. Apparently she shed 12 pounds of fat with diet and exercise. Her routine included running, biking, swimming, climbing stairs as well as free weights, mini-trampoline drills, walking lunges and abdominal work. They trained six days a week for 3 hours. The really impressive thing is that she got into amazing shape after giving birth just 20 months before.
Linda Goes Crazy with Military Style Training
In order to provide authenticity for the film, Linda hired an Israeli commando to prep her for the action scenes. She says, she did “judo and heavy duty military training.” Linda adds that she “learned to load clips, change mags, check out a room upon entry, verify kills.”
Linda Hamilton’s Feats of Strength
She could easily bench press 85 pounds for reps, run eight miles and pump load a 12-gauge shotgun with one arm. After shooting the movie, Linda relaxed her diet a bit and also trained less frequently – just five workouts a week. You can not go at such intensity for too long. Even Olympic level athletes relax after a major competition.
A Routine That Linda Hamilton’s Trainer Recommends
Four times a week – 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps per exercise:
Mondays, Thursdays – Chest, shoulders, triceps
Dumbbell bench press
Inclined flies
Lateral raises
Front raises
Kickbacks
Tuesdays, Fridays – Back, biceps
One-arm rows
Bent-over rows
Standing curls
Films Like These Never Cease To Motivate
Big time! What do you guys think about movies that feature actors and actresses in great shape? Do you get motivated? What are your favorite Hollywood underdog fitness movies? Oh, and go watch Terminator 2 if you haven’t done so!
The Terminator 2 Workout.
