Last updated on March 12th, 2021 at 09:51 am

Who is your machine?

Don Cheadle or Terrence Howard?

Mine is definitely Don Cheadle.

And at 54 years old, Cheadle is looking great for his role as our superhero.

Cheadle has starred in roles like Crash, The Guard, Hotel Rwanda (which was when I first saw him), Traitor, Ocean’s Thirteen and so much more.

But, if you’re here at Superhero Jacked you may know him from his first appearance as War Machine in Iron Man 2 when he was just Lt. Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes.

And that’s damn fine too.

Don Cheadle Stats:

Height: 5’8

Weight: (approximate) 163 lbs.

Age: 54 years old

Don Cheadle is actually quite short.

He falls in one of the shorter categories among celeb men we’ve seen at SHJ.

The average height falls in the range of 6’1-6’3 with celebs like Chris Pratt, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Adam Driver, Stephen Amell, Clive Standen and so many more.

Guys around 5’10-6’0 are dudes like Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Jason Statham, but the ACTUAL shorter range is filled with guys like Mark Wahlberg, Zac Efron, Kit Harington, Tom Holland and more.

Even taller than them are guys like The Mountain, Joe Manganiello, Ben Affleck, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Winston Duke, Alexander Skarsgard and a few others.

But, don’t worry either way.

We write these routines to be utilized by any shape and size.

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Don Cheadle Diet and Nutrition

Don Cheadle is an advocate for controlling your diet, but he also prefers a sustainable one.

In an interview with Ask Men, Cheadle says:

“It’s mostly diet — unless you’re training like an Olympic athlete, unless you’re really putting in like 6 or 7 hours a day, the most results you’re going to see are in your caloric intake. Make sure you’re controlling that.”

And in an interview with WebMD Cheadle gives us a TON of information we’ll be utilizing for his diet section, and workout routine research.

When it comes to his philosophy on dieting Cheadle says:

What’s your best health habit?

I don’t drink soda. I stay away from that.

What’s your worst health habit?

The worst thing I do is work 14-hour days and then not get enough rest afterward. That’s the most insidious thing. It tears you down. You get sick and you can’t get better. That’s a bad habit – not getting enough rest – so I try to be really mindful of that.

Do you make a point to eat healthy meals?

I stay away from grazing the food on set, and I stay cognizant of what I eat.

What is one of your guilty pleasure foods?

Bacon definitely falls into that category.

Which is some pretty good advice and information.

I do love bacon…

He also gives us a piece of what motivates him:

Do you have a health philosophy?

Vanity helps, especially if I have to be naked on set. But I’m not sure that that’s the best prescription [laughs]. To live a healthy life takes discipline. It’s a matter of how you eat, of how you rest.

We see a lot of celebs opt for a sustainable approach like this.

That’s why our Academy Nutrition Classes (Monks, Minimalists, SuperHumans, Vikings, Spartans, Hunter Gatherers, Greek Gods, Samurais) revolve around helping you find the specific diet that is right FOR YOU.

Of course, there are a lot of reasons to HAVE the strict guidelines.

We’ve seen a lot of celebs opt for specific restrictions. 

For example: Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart incorporate 80/20 dieting with big weekly cheat meals, Hugh Jackman, Benedict Cumberbatch and Terry Crews utilize intermittent fasting(something I use daily as well), Mustafa Shakir and Madelaine Petsch are vegans, Brandon Routh and Frank Grillo opt for paleo, and tons of others utilize their own variations as well.

And, that’s just to name a few celebs from each, by the way.

You can check out our Nutrition Pillars for more information and articles on all of the above and more.

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Don Cheadle Workout Routine Research

When it comes to working out, Don Cheadle has a lot to give us as well.

He knows a good majority is coming from your nutrition, but he also isn’t a stranger to the weight room.

In this regard Cheadle tells WebMD:

How did you prepare for your role as War Machine? Did you undergo an intense workout routine to become a superhero?

You do have to get in shape for superhero movies, but I was lucky. I’ve had a lot of roles that I had to hit the gym for, so I already knew my way around the weights.

What do you do to stay fit on a day-to-day basis? Do you have a regular workout that you stick to?

I have no groundbreaking moves that I do. I bike, I use free weights, I do Pilates, and I use a reformer [exercise equipment].

So, nothing crazy, but probably semi-typical workout programming.

Sounds about right.

And, for a fun piece of advice that Cheadle shares to end us off before getting into the program, he states:

What’s one thing that you know about health now that you wished you knew 20 years ago?

For three summers after college, I’d play basketball for 6 hours a day. I wish I had known that playing basketball every day would wear my knees out. My health has always been a priority, but I definitely appreciate it more now. I’m much more mindful of it now.

I think we’re ready from there.

Are you?

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Don Cheadle Workout Routine

Training Volume:

3-5+ times per week

Explanation:

No groundbreaking moves. That’s what Cheadle says. So we’ll be hitting the weights 3 days a week and then either biking or doing Pilates the other 2+ days per week.

Want To Upgrade This Workout?

The Superhero Academy now comes with an Upgrade Your Workout Tool that allows Academy members to turn any SHJ workout into a 4-8 week fully planned regime detailing exact weights to lift and including reverse & tradition pyramid training, straight sets, super sets, progressive overload and more.

Don Cheadle Workout Day One: Pull Day

Warm Up:

Stretch

Bike 10-20 minutes

Workout:

Bent Over Rows w/ EZ Bar or Barbell

3×12

Dumbbell Bicep Curls

3×10 each arm

Wide Grip Lateral Pulldowns

3×12

Dumbbell Pullovers

3×12

Hammer Curls w/ Cable

3×12

Chin Ups

3×12

Preacher Curls

3×12

Don Cheadle Workout Day Two: Bike and/or Pilates

Cheadle says he likes to bike and also utilize Pilates in his workout routine.

Today you’re doing either or…or even both!

Hit a Pilates workout on YouTube or a class – or hit the open road on a bike.

Oh, or just do the bike at the gym for some HIIT training for 20-30 minutes or some long distance steady 30-60 minutes.

Don Cheadle Workout Day Three: Push Day

Warm Up:

Stretch

Bike 10-20 minutes

Workout:

Dumbbell Incline Bench Press

3×12

Single Arm Side Lateral Cable Raise

3×10 each arm

Cable Flys

3×12

Face Pulls

3×12

Tricep Cable Pushdown

3×12

Dumbbell Arnold Press

3×12

Dips

3×12

Don Cheadle Workout Day Four: Bike and/or Pilates

Cheadle says he likes to bike and also utilize Pilates in his workout routine.

Today you’re doing either or…or even both!

Hit a Pilates workout on YouTube or a class – or hit the open road on a bike.

Oh, or just do the bike at the gym for some HIIT training for 20-30 minutes or some long distance steady 30-60 minutes.

Don Cheadle Workout Day Five: Leg Day

Warm Up:

Stretch

Bike 10-20 minutes

Workout:

Squat Variation (Goblet/Landmine/Back/Front/Hack)

3×12

Leg Press

3×10

Bulgarian Split Squats

3×12

Box Jumps

3×12

Hamstring Curls or Kickbacks

3×12

Leg/Quad Extension

3×12

Seated Calf Raises

3×12

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