The High Volume, Fight-Ready Workout 'Power' Actor Gianni Paolo Uses to Stay Fit
Gianni Paolo, the actor you know from Starz' gritty Power series and its spinoff, Power Book II: Ghost, isn't in the gym training to build muscle for a physique that you'd see in a superhero movie or a high-octane action thriller. He's got different goals in mind when he works out.
"I just want to feel good on set," he told the MH crew when we dropped by the Zoo Culture gym in Woodland Hills, California to check in on his routine. "There's nothing specific I need to really be in shape for—well, except for a sex scene. Spoiler!"
But Paolo is selling himself short. He continues to say that he does have some more physically challenging moments as his Brayden Weston character on the show, admitting that being in good shape helps when "there are scenes where I need to shoot people, or do anything specific like that where there's a lot of action." Just a normal day at the office.
Training isn't just about how he looks, or even how his body feels. Paolo is a big believer in the mental aspect of exercise, too. "When you're in great shape, you're in great mind as well. They come hand in hand, so that's what I really focus on in the gym."
The actor didn't bring a trainer to the shoot, but he does follow a specific training protocol based off German Volume Training (GVT). The heavy duty program has a simple, brutal design—you'll perform 10 sets of 10 reps of the biggest lifts in your repertoire (think bench press, squat, etc.) with relatively short rest periods. The idea is to overload your muscles with all those reps, stimulating growth. While this version of GVT might work for Paolo, we suggest that you only give the protocol a shot if you're an experienced lifter and/or you check in with a strength coach, first.
Paolo doesn't just train to build muscle—he trains to focus that strength with MMA conditioning drills and sparring, which he credits to be "the best cardio." For anyone on the fence about martial arts and boxing, the actor has a simple piece of advice. "Just go to your local gym. I think the hardest thing in the world for me personally was that first day going to the gym." Once you get going, he says it's easy to fall in love with the training.
Still want to know how the actor gets fit? Check out his routine below.
Gianni Paolo's Power GVT Workout
Strength Training
Incline Dumbbell Press
10 sets of 10 reps
Pullups
10 sets of 10 reps
Dumbbell Shoulder Press
10 sets of 10 reps
EZ Bar Biceps Curl
10 sets of 10 reps
MMA Conditioning
Grappling and Submission Drills
5 rounds of 5 minutes
Striking Drills
5 rounds of 5 minutes
Want more celebrity workout routines? Check out all of our Train Like videos.
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