Jonathan Majors didn’t just act like a bodybuilder — he became one.
In preparation for Magazine Dreams, his upcoming film where he plays a mentally unstable amateur bodybuilder obsessed with greatness, the Creed III star went all-in on his physical transformation. That journey included a no-nonsense chest and triceps session with Ronnie Coleman, the eight-time Mr. Olympia and a living legend in the bodybuilding world.
For Majors, the workout wasn’t just about muscle — it was about mentorship, mindset, and pushing past limits.
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A Workout Fit for Mr. Olympia
The training session, shared on Ronnie Coleman’s YouTube channel, wasn’t a staged Hollywood scene. It was the real deal — heavy volume, high intensity, and no shortcuts.
The duo tackled a classic Coleman-style chest and triceps split:
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Seated Chest Press | 2 | 20 |
| Seated Chest Flye | 3 | 20 |
| Decline Dumbbell Press | 3 | 20 |
| Rope Triceps Pushdowns | 2 | 20 |
| Seated Triceps Machine | AMRAP | 50+ |
Each movement was done with minimal rest and maximum intensity. Coleman kept the bar high — metaphorically and literally — pushing for 20 reps on every set, no matter the weight.
“You got Ronnie Coleman looking after you… you gotta go!” Majors joked mid-set, drenched in sweat.
Fueling the Transformation
Jonathan Majors didn’t rely on a few extra reps and protein shakes to prep for Magazine Dreams. He went full beast mode. For four straight months, he ate 6,100 calories every day, training up to three times a day.
“I’m 6 feet tall. I’m 202 pounds,” Majors shared at the Sundance Film Festival. “In order to sustain that and to grow that you have to eat as much protein as you weigh.”
That meant six meals a day, loaded with protein from chicken, elk, and lean meats. Each meal was dialed in to fuel brutal training sessions. He combined that nutrition with a grueling routine: two two-hour gym sessions a day, plus a third round after filming.
“Playing [Killian Maddox], you don’t mess around,” he said. “You train, eat, sleep, and repeat.”
Pre-Workout, Pain, and Pure Energy
Before lifting a single weight, Majors got his first taste of the Ronnie Coleman Signature Series — specifically, the “Yeah Buddy” pre-workout.
One scoop in, and the effects kicked fast. “I’m tingling like crazy,” he said, eyes wide, as beta-alanine flooded his system. Coleman laughed, adding, “It gets you strongheaded. You feel it in your head first.”
The energy was infectious. Even with Coleman dealing with multiple surgeries and mobility limitations, his intensity didn’t waver. He banged out reps, coached Majors through each lift, and made sure the actor didn’t coast.
“Lightweight, baby!” echoed through the gym, a signature Ronnie Coleman mantra.
No Excuses: The Ronnie Coleman Way
Perhaps the biggest surprise for Majors came when he learned how Coleman trained in his prime. Despite being the most decorated bodybuilder in history, Ronnie revealed he only trained one hour a day, even while working full-time as a police officer.
“One hour a day, my whole career,” Coleman said. “And I went to work after. No excuses.”
That moment hit hard. Majors paused, visibly impressed — a reminder that greatness often comes from consistency, not just intensity.
Surgeries, Setbacks, and a Comeback Mindset
Behind Ronnie Coleman’s trademark grit is a body that’s been through war.
The King shared that he’s undergone 13 surgeries:
- 8 on his back
- 3 on his neck
- 3 on his heels
His body, he explained, was so strong that the surgical screws implanted during procedures snapped. In some cases, he had to go back under the knife just two weeks after the previous operation.
“My back was stronger than the screws,” he said. “I’d bend over — pop — just like that.”
Still, despite needing a wheelchair for mobility, Coleman keeps training. His goal? To be back on his feet within two years.
“It’s been long enough,” he said. “They’ve got new machines. I’m gonna try ’em. Starting now.”
Respect, Real Talk, and a Wedding Invite
Between sets, Majors and Coleman bonded over more than just lifting.
They swapped stories — about faith, family, and longevity. Majors revealed that his mother, a preacher, would be officiating his wedding to actress Meagan Good. Without missing a beat, he invited Ronnie and his wife.
“I can make it to Dallas, baby. Come on.” Coleman replied.
The energy in the gym shifted. It wasn’t just two lifters sweating it out. It was two men — generations apart — connecting through struggle, legacy, and love of the craft.
Pushing to the Finish
The workout ended with a triceps burnout on the seated machine. Coleman did his standard 20 reps.
Majors? He kept going.
Ronnie left briefly for a bathroom break, and by the time he returned, the actor had knocked out over 50 reps without stopping.
“We going to be here until he gets back,” Majors said, half-laughing, half-grimacing.
It was the kind of grit Coleman admired — the kind that’s needed to portray a character like Killian Maddox.
A Performance (and Physique) That Demands Attention
Majors’ Magazine Dreams performance stunned Sundance audiences. Critics hailed his work as raw, vulnerable, and physically transformative.
“Majors looks and sounds like the hulk cousin of Dennis Haysbert,” wrote Variety critic Owen Gleiberman. “His inner silent pensive quality is transfixing.”
He may no longer train three times a day, but the foundation’s set. Majors now trains once daily and still eats like an athlete.
“I played football in Texas,” he said. “I’ve got an appetite. I’ve got to do something to stay with it.”
With Ronnie Coleman as his coach for a day, Jonathan Majors got more than a pump — he got a piece of bodybuilding history.
And when Magazine Dreams hits theaters, audiences will see the sweat, the discipline, and the legacy built into every frame.
Want more workouts like this? As Ronnie says:
“Yeah Buddy!”
