Zac Efron's Muscle Workout

If you’re like me, you probably never thought you’d be taking workout advice from a guy who made his fame dancing with basketballs. But when it comes down to it, Zac Efron has one of the best bodies in Hollywood-and it’s not because of genetics. Efron is the perfect example of your classic ectomorph, or what some people call a “hardgainer.” He’s a naturally thin guy with low body fat. Plus-he’s still really young, so he can take in a lot of calories and stay slim. This is great if you just want to avoid weight gain, but it makes things harder if you’re trying to build lean muscle mass. To go from scrawny to brawny, Efron had pay close attention to his training routine, diet and post-workout recovery. His exact workout may vary depending on the day, but here are a few general rules that apply to any guy with Efron’s body type who wants to build muscle mass. First, guys like Efron have to consistently eat enough nutrient-dense calories for their body to use to build muscle. All the weight training in the world won’t result in muscle if there’s not enough protein and calories for your body to use as building blocks. As far as workouts go, the focus should be on basic compound exercises like squats, deadlifts and bench press. Since these exercises use more than one muscle group, you maximize your body’s ability to build muscle and you’ll be able to lift heavier weights. It's also important to allow your muscles to rest for one full day before you work them again. So if you work your chest and back on Monday, focus on a different muscle group on Tuesday. This is to ensure maximum growth, because your muscle can only repair during rest periods. And the repair and recovery process is what makes them bigger and stronger. So obviously, it takes consistent hard work for a guy like Zac Efron to pack on muscle. But he’s proof that the work pays off. To learn more celebrity training tips, check out other videos in this series.