Actress Camila Mendes recently opened up about her evolving relationship with fitness, revealing how training for her role in Masters of the Universe completely transformed her perspective on strength training.
Gone are the days of chasing aesthetic goals alone.
Instead, she discovered something far more empowering: the addictive satisfaction of building real, functional strength.
In a recent workout video with SELF Magazine, Mendes trained alongside her long-time coach Ellie Toma-Auguston, demonstrating the exact methods that helped her pack on muscle—and sharing why women shouldn’t fear getting “too buff.”
Jump to:
- From Comic-Con Connection to Garage Gym Sessions
- The Full-Time Job of Building Muscle
- Shifting Goals: From Lean to Strong
- Setting Performance-Based Goals
- Training Adaptations for Different Roles
- The Training Philosophy Behind the Results
- Progressive Overload Without Burnout
- The Psychological Component of Fitness
- Finishing with Explosive Power
- Making Fitness Accessible Anywhere
From Comic-Con Connection to Garage Gym Sessions
Mendes met her trainer Toma-Auguston eight years ago at Comic-Con in San Diego, sparking a partnership that would eventually redefine her approach to fitness. Their training sessions take place in Toma-Auguston’s garage, creating an intimate, family-friendly atmosphere that Mendes describes as therapeutic.
I go to her garage. It’s a great vibe. My dog’s there and your kids are there. Ellie’s like holding a baby and like telling me, you know, how many push-ups to do. It’s therapy.
This unconventional training environment speaks volumes about Mendes’ philosophy: fitness doesn’t require fancy equipment or sterile gym spaces. What matters most is consistency, proper form, and working with someone who understands your body.
The Full-Time Job of Building Muscle
When preparing for Masters of the Universe, Mendes discovered firsthand just how challenging it truly is to build significant muscle mass. The experience shattered common misconceptions that women frequently harbor about strength training.
I think there’s this common misconception and this fear with women that we’re going to get too buff and like a lot of women are scared of strength training for that reason.
Despite training intensively with heavy weights, Mendes learned an invaluable lesson: getting “bulky” requires extraordinary dedication that goes far beyond typical gym sessions.
What you now know is that to really get bulky, it literally is a fulltime job. It is really hard.
Her regimen included working with a performance chef who prepared meals specifically designed for muscle growth. She found herself forcing down food just to meet caloric requirements—a stark contrast to typical diet culture narratives.
Shifting Goals: From Lean to Strong
Perhaps the most significant transformation wasn’t physical but psychological. Mendes experienced a complete mindset shift during her intensive training period.
She noticed physical changes that might have previously caused concern—like developing what she called “cellulite in my shoulders.” But her reaction surprised even herself.
In my mind, like I was like really excited about it cuz I’m like, oh, that means your muscles. It’s working. All of a sudden it went from being like, oh, like I want to be super lean to being like I want to be strong.
Toma-Auguston confirmed this phenomenon, noting how addictive strength training becomes once visible progress appears.
It’s kind of addicting. Like when you start to see those muscle lines, you start to really love being strong.
Setting Performance-Based Goals
Both Mendes and her trainer emphasize establishing fitness objectives that transcend appearance. Toma-Auguston encourages clients to focus on what their bodies can accomplish rather than how they look.
For Mendes, this meant tracking capabilities like push-up performance. At her peak, she could complete 25 to 30 consecutive push-ups with flawless form—a metric that provided concrete evidence of progress.
Toma-Auguston praised Mendes’ natural body awareness and exceptional form from their very first session.
You have always had the most perfect push-up form. From day one. That is one thing with Cami. I’ve barely ever have to correct her form.
Training Adaptations for Different Roles
Mendes currently trains differently than during her Masters preparation. While filming in Mexico City, she acknowledged being “out of shape” compared to her previous peak condition.
Her current character wouldn’t realistically spend significant time at the gym, so she and Toma-Auguston adjusted programming accordingly. This demonstrates intelligent training periodization—matching fitness levels to role requirements rather than maintaining unsustainable intensity year-round.
The Training Philosophy Behind the Results
Toma-Auguston’s approach centers on tri-sets—three exercises performed consecutively with minimal rest between movements. This methodology keeps workouts efficient while targeting different muscle groups.
Unlike the heavy, muscle-focused training Mendes completed for Masters, her current programming emphasizes full-body functional fitness. Each tri-set typically includes upper body, lower body, and core components.
Key Exercise Selection
Mendes’ workout featured several compound movements that deliver maximum efficiency:
- Half-kneeling shoulder press: Builds shoulder strength while challenging core and hip stability
- Tall plank rotations: Targets shoulders, back, arms, and core simultaneously
- Glute thrusts: Emphasizes hip extension with a crucial pause at peak contraction
- Single-leg RDLs with rotation: Develops hamstring strength and hip mobility
- Bird dog rows: Combines back work with comprehensive stability training
Toma-Auguston explained her exercise selection philosophy, particularly favoring movements that address multiple fitness components.
I love this as like a good combo move. And Cammy just crushes this.
Progressive Overload Without Burnout
Building muscle requires taking sets close to muscular failure—typically within three to four reps of complete exhaustion. Toma-Auguston watches for specific indicators that Mendes has reached appropriate intensity.
That last rep, it should feel exactly like that. Should be like you should be making a face on the last rep.
However, training intensity must match available recovery resources. Current programming differs significantly from Masters preparation because Mendes lacks the same nutritional support and recovery time.
The Psychological Component of Fitness
Mendes emphasized how mental and emotional benefits drive her continued commitment to training. Physical changes matter less than how exercise makes her feel.
I’m very like psychological when it comes to fitness. Like a lot of it has to do with how I feel. And if I haven’t worked out in a week, I’ll really feel like, oh, I feel like stagnant and like I don’t feel like my blood’s flowing.
She seeks a specific sensation from training—feeling “firm and strong”—rather than pursuing aesthetic ideals. This internal focus creates sustainable motivation that external appearance goals rarely provide.
Finishing with Explosive Power
Mendes insists on concluding workouts with interval sprints, describing them as essential for feeling complete satisfaction from training sessions.
I can’t like feel complete in my workout unless I end with sprints.
They utilize a curved treadmill that responds to user speed rather than operating at preset velocities. This self-powered design creates natural interval training as effort directly determines pace.
Toma-Auguston taught Mendes proper sprint mechanics, including hand positioning—a technique she learned from her father, an elite track coach. The key involves pinching thumb and forefinger together while keeping remaining fingers relaxed, allowing necessary tension without creating counterproductive rigidity.
Making Fitness Accessible Anywhere
Despite training in a well-equipped garage gym, both women emphasized that effective workouts require minimal equipment. Toma-Auguston shared how single-leg exercises remain challenging even with lighter resistance.
She recently attended a bachelorette party where gym access was limited, so she improvised by using wine bottles for Romanian deadlifts. While not ideal loading, the exercise still provided valuable training stimulus.
You got to do what you got to do.
This adaptability represents crucial mindset for maintaining consistency. Perfect conditions rarely exist, so successful training requires creative problem-solving and willingness to work with available resources.
