Get This Body: From weakling to hulk with Eric the Trainer

The Hollywood trainer has worked with cast members of the HBO drama and much of the cast of AMC’s The Walking Dead. Now he’s released a how-to manual and mobile app package called Hollywood Muscleto share his expertise.

Fleishman spoke with the Star from Maine where he was visiting family after a stop in Toronto for the Canfitpro World Fitness Expo. Here he shares his tips for going from weakling to warrior.

You started your career as a quote “98-pound weakling,” as you say on your website. What was that like and how did you get to where you are today?

It was a drag at the time, because all the girls I wanted to make out with looked more like my babysitter than my girlfriend. Luckily it all worked out, and I started to mature into a young man. I went to a local gym to try and fill out my lanky physique and realized it was such a magical place. The gym is a place where the underdog can come in and emerge the hero.

What’s the key to making a physical transformation?

The key to all physical change, whether you’re slight and want to gain muscle and weight, or if you want to lose weight, the key is to understand the science of change. That’s three things: exercise, diet and sleep. Of the three the most important is sleep. You’ll hear many fitness professionals tell you that it’s 90 per cent diet but they’re not telling you the truth. But the magical element in the science of change that causes the physical transformation is sleep.

How much sleep?

It’s not only how many hours of sleep, but it’s also when you sleep. We want quality sleep earlier in the evening. When it comes to physical transition, the hours before midnight are worth nearly twice as much as the hours after midnight. The version of you that goes to bed at 10 p.m. and wakes up at 6 a.m. is actually better looking and changes more than the version of you that goes to bed at midnight and wakes up at 8 a.m.

Let’s talk nutrition. If your goal is to build muscle, what do you need to be eating and how much?

Most women we work with want the sleek, feminine, elongated — empowered but quite feminine body. They want to be long, lean and beautiful. Most men that we work with need what we call physical relevance: broader shoulders, more commanding back and chest, powerful arms, but very small waist. When it comes to men, there are basically three options that I give all actors.

Option number one: I could turn him into what I call a “sleek ninja.” I could take a normal looking man and make him smaller, tighter, sinewy, very much like Bruce Lee. Explosive, lean muscle mass. If he’s wearing a T-shirt you might not even know that he works out. But when he takes it off, it’s crazy time.

Option number two: “lord of the jungle.” I can make a normal guy look like Tarzan. Tarzan has broad shoulders, a small waist, increased pectorals that are high and flat on his torso, like two dinner plates. Powerful, but strong, like Tarzan or James Bond.

Option number three: “the Incredible Hulk.” This guy is massive, covered in muscle. The type of person you see walking down the street and you cross the road because you don’t want to be near the person. I can give him excess physical relevance.

Those three different options require three different eating plans.

If your readers want to look like a sleek ninja, I would put them on a strict diet of egg whites, tuna, salmon, green salad. It would be a very lean diet with protein sources that encourage the body to be small but sleek.

If they want to look more like Tarzan, I would add in some whole eggs to that diet, some chicken and occasional steak and some turkey.

If they want to look like the Incredible Hulk: whole eggs, cottage cheese, steak, beef in general — those things would encourage size.

In Hollywood we call it destination training. Before we even begin our first workout, we sit down and I say to you, “If I was holding a wand from the Harry Potter series, and there was one wish left — don’t be practical — tell me the way you want to be.”

In the gym with Eric the Trainer

With over two decades in the fitness industry, Fleishman has made himself an expert on the Hollywood physique, which he flaunts on his social media. Follow him on Instagram @ericthetrainer.

Fleishman has trained Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son, Patrick.

Some of his social media famous clients include so-called “Instagram’s Hottest Guy,” model and jewelry line owner Brock O’Hurn.

Jane the Virgin star and Mexican telenovela sensation Jaime Camil trains with Fleishman.

Fleishman pumps iron during a chest workout sporting some fashionable Crocs.

“What makes me excited?” asks Fleishman in this Instagram post. “Hotel gyms that go past 50 lbs. Dumbbels!”

Fleishman made a stop in Toronto for the Canfitpro World Fitness Expo.