Drew Powell underwent a massive physical transformation in order to embody Solomon Grundy in Gotham. His larger-than-life, formidable presence was the result of relentless training and a strict diet. During the ‘Natty or Not’ podcast on Men’s Health with Strong Talk, celebrity trainer Don Saladino reveals the workout and nutrition strategy behind his dramatic transformation.

Saladino admits that the first time he met Powell, he didn’t know who he was, mistaking him for Brad Pitt in Fight Club. However, the two hit it off instantly. Saladino reveals how Powell weighed 260 pounds and was strong and muscular to begin with.

Within a matter of 10 weeks, Saladino got him into a ‘realistic shape ’–thick, muscular, bulky arms, and an intimidating frame.

“He looked like that football lineman that was, like, actually a bit in shape. So, like, I was proud of him there,” Saladino recalls seeing Powell after his transformation.

Powell’s training routine typically consisted of heavy compound lifts, full-body strength sessions, mobility and dynamic warm-ups, and recovery-focused training. Furthermore, he ate a calorie surplus to support muscle gain. He also prioritized high-quality foods to gain weight instead of relying on junk.

Besides Powell, Saladino has transformed many celebrity physiques, taking them from skinny to jacked in unmatched times.

A look into Don Saladino’s celebrity transformations

Saladino’s transformative magic has gone beyond just Powell in Gotham. He also worked with Scarlett Johansson in Black Widow, Sebastian Stan in The Winter Soldier, and Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool. For over two decades, Saladino has been one of the most demanded trainers in the business.

The celebrity trainer followed a couple of simple training philosophies, which he applied to most of his clients. As per an interview with Muscle and Fitness, his training philosophy involved:

• Movement and strength training. He prioritized building a strong and athletic foundation before moving on to building aesthetics. To do this, he focused primarily on heavy compound lifts. He also included bodybuilding drills in the routine.
• He doesn’t believe in “superhero workouts”. Rather than following a singular approach, he prefers to tailor his workouts for specific clients based on several factors. This can include factors like stress, sleep, the actor’s physique, schedule, and recovery.
• Saladino also focuses on proper nutrition. He ensures his clients get adequate calories with macro and micronutrients that enable fat loss or muscle gain.
• Finally, he prioritizes proper rest and recovery.

A simple rule that Saladino always mentions is to never skip 10-minute dynamic warm-ups. This can include skipping, mobility drills, hopping, or lateral movement.

His hard work and dedication to his art enabled him to open his own gym called Drive495 with his brother Joseph in 2006. It soon became a celebrity favorite, boosting his credibility as a trainer.

Saladino’s journey and results prove that lasting transformations are a result of hard work, nutrition, and personalized training, not shortcuts.

Follow Bodybuilding Bros for all things fitness!

Written by

Avantika Das

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil