Skip to content
logo The magazine for fitness, health and nutrition
Frequent Weight Gain and Loss for Films

Hollywood Star Channing Tatum: “I Won’t Be Taking on Any More ‘Fat Roles'”

Channing Tatum often had to gain or lose weight for movies
Channing Tatum often had to gain or lose weight for movies Photo: Getty Images

April 27, 2025, 12:36 pm | Read time: 4 minutes

Sometimes well-trained and defined, then again strong and bulky: One of Hollywood star Channing Tatum’s special skills is adapting his weight and physical fitness to certain film roles. Of course, this doesn’t happen overnight, but it requires a lot of hard work and discipline. Now, the 44-year-old has made it clear that he no longer wants to undergo a certain transformation.

Share article

Many fans likely first think of Channing Tatum as the stripper from the “Magic Mike” trilogy. After all, the US-American stripped off his clothes there in an almost perfect upper body — including a six-pack to kneel down on, of course. However, the heartthrob has also shown versatility in his roles. In “Foxcatcher,” for example, he played a rather beefy and much heavier wrestler, for which he naturally had to put on a few kilos. While training is often part of an actor’s job description, even superstars frequently encounter their physical limits. After all, their bodies often change drastically within a few weeks or months. Channing Tatum has recently shared why he no longer wishes to gain weight for a role.

3 Pictures, 30 Kilograms Difference

Channing Tatum recently posted three topless selfies on his social media account. The first snapshot apparently shows a current picture of him in top form weighing around 93 kilograms. In the second photo, he appears much fuller, having reached around 107 kilograms for the upcoming thriller “Josephine” according to his statement. Picture number three (from December 2024) shows Channing Tatum extremely slim at around 78 kilograms for the role in the drama “Roofman,” which is due to be released this fall. This represents a nearly 30-kilogram difference from the previous photo!

Instagram placeholder
Here you will find content from third-party providers
To interact with or display third-party content, we need your consent.

In the caption of his Instagram post, the Hollywood star attributes his body’s capability for such extreme fluctuations in a short period to his genetics. Of course, he also receives support for his physical transformations. “Thankful for my chef/nutritionist/witch. Grateful for my trainer. Without you, these significant weight fluctuations wouldn’t be possible,” he added.

Channing Tatum Also Has Problems with Losing Weight

However, we will probably have to do it without seeing the somewhat bulkier Channing Tatum in the future. “I won’t be taking on any more ‘fat roles,'” he posted afterward. The reason, as the actor explains: “It’s too taxing on the body and too difficult to lose the weight again.” “But wow, looking at these pictures, it’s truly astonishing what the human body and determination can achieve,” he remarked.

One thing is clear: Channing Tatum is very athletic by nature. That’s a good thing, as he has to train a lot and eat accordingly to get rid of the excess kilos after filming. This challenge is not always easy to overcome, even for a well-compensated Hollywood star. Especially as he gets older because that’s just the way things are. Despite his well-known dedication to fitness and adherence to strict diets for film preparation, at 44, it’s understandable that he would want to steer clear of such extremes.

Channing Tatum’s Workout Plan

However, to prepare for films for which he needs to be in top form, Channing Tatum relies on a mix of strength training, endurance, and functional exercises, among other things. This approach builds muscle mass and ensures a well-defined physique.

Warm-up

He uses skipping or light jogging as a warm-up to get the circulation going and warm up the muscles (5 to 10 minutes).

Circuit training

Afterward, Channing Tatum often prefers high-intensity circuit training, in which several exercises are performed in succession, followed by short breaks. He repeats a circuit as often as possible in 30 minutes. The exercises include jumping rope, push-ups, shoulder presses, and bench presses.

Strength training

On certain days, the actor focuses on specific muscle groups. This regimen fortifies the chest muscles and enhances endurance through the integrated cardio component. For instance, a workout might include bench presses, incline bench presses, dumbbell flyes, or jumping rope.

Core training

A stable core and visible abdominal muscles are also important to him. Exercises like planks, Russian twists, and leg raises are ideal for achieving this goal.

Cool-down

To conclude, Channing Tatum frequently includes stretching exercises (5 to 10 minutes) to enhance flexibility and reduce the risk of muscle tension.

More on the topic

Channing Tatum Relies on This Diet

Of course, the Hollywood star cannot indulge in junk food, but must eat a healthy and balanced diet. Four years ago, Channing Tatum’s former personal trainer, William J. Harris, told the Australian magazine “Men’s Health” that his protégé should eat every two hours. This regimen provides the necessary fuel for weight loss and muscle building.

“We’ve replaced the unhealthy ingredients in Channing’s preferred foods with healthier alternatives — opting for lean turkey over beef and homemade whole grain pizzas topped with organic vegetables instead of takeaway pizzas,” Harris explained. “Processed and frozen foods, as well as salt, sugar, and alcohol, were completely off-limits,” the coach emphasized.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of FITBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@fitbook.de.

Topics #Naturtreu Stars
You have successfully withdrawn your consent to the processing of personal data through tracking and advertising when using this website. You can now consent to data processing again or object to legitimate interests.