Sylvester Stallone Shares 'Rocky III' Photo, Diet Details (2024)

It's been nearly 35 years since Rocky III premiered, but even now we are learning things about it that we never knew.

This weekend, Sylvester Stallone shared a photo from the set along with some fascinating details.

Apparently, the actor pushed his body to the extreme for the movie. Not only was his diet strict, but he also utilized some interesting techniques in order to do the fight scenes:

Just for fun… A flashback from Rocky three. Between rounds I would get lightheaded and quite exhausted. I was on a very high protein diet which did not provide Much physical or mental energy. During the period I only ate very small portions of oatmeal cookies made with brown rice and up to 25 cups of coffee a day with honey and a couple of scoops of tuna fish. Sounds incredible right? At the time my body fat got down to 2.9 which is a really dangerous level. I may have looked pretty good on the outside but inside it was very dangerous thing to do. But I wanted the movie to be about change. How people have to adapt to different challenges because if they don't they will be conquered. I will always believe the adaptation is the key to survival and that's what this story was all about ... and while, getting smashed by Superstrong,CLUBBER LANG continuously four months of rehearsal plus the fight, tended to wear a person out so I would literally go to the corner between rounds, when I wasn't directing and try to get some blood back into my head so I could carry-on with the complicated fight choreography … It's funny, I never knew this picture existed!

That's intense.

Given the legacy the Rocky films created, Stallone can look back at all the hard work and say it was worth it.

Sylvester Stallone Shares 'Rocky III' Photo, Diet Details (2024)

FAQs

What was Sylvester Stallone's diet in Rocky 3? ›

Sylvester Stallone Says His Diet for Rocky III Was Just Tuna, Oatmeal Cookies, and Coffee. 'I wanted to keep my body fat down to 2.8%."

What does Sylvester Stallone eat in a day? ›

Stallone's diet consists of lean protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. He eats six small meals a day to keep his metabolism burning and his energy levels high.

Did Sylvester Stallone bulk up for Rocky? ›

Sly confirmed he added about 10lbs to his frame during the 6 weeks he trained with Franco for Rocky III, and those results were well documented in the final movie. “He gained about 10lbs, but his waist was very small at around 29 inches.

How much can Stallone bench press? ›

Stallone claims to have been able to bench press 385-400 lbs (174.6-181.4 kg) and squat 500 lbs (226.8 kg) in his prime. While in a bench pressing contest with former Mr. Olympia Franco Columbu, he severely tore his pectoral muscle and needed over 160 stitches on it.

How much body fat did Rocky have in Rocky 3? ›

Rocky 3 Took Stallone's Body Fat Down To "Dangerous" Levels

According to Stallone, this diet did not provide "much physical or mental energy," and it took his body fat down to 2.9.

How heavy was sly Stallone in Rocky 3? ›

In preparation for the film, Stallone claims to have got his body fat percentage down to his all-time low of 2.6% and weighed 155 lbs. He stated that he ate only ten egg whites and a piece of toast a day, having a fruit every third day.

How many eggs does Rocky eat? ›

In a scene from Rocky (1976), Rocky's alarm clock goes off, and he groggily walks over to his refrigerator to crack five raw eggs into a plastic cup. He drinks the eggs in one gulp as some stray yolk runs down his face and onto his sweatshirt. He wipes away the yolk with the back of his hand and burps.

What is Sylvester Stallone's favorite Rocky? ›

Stallone has many movie regrets like Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot or Rhinestone, while he believes First Blood is his best action movie. When it comes to his favorite Rocky movies, he believes the first entry and Rocky Balboa are the best.

Which actor has the best body in Hollywood? ›

A celebrity trainer says his fitness discipline is unparalleled.

Did Sylvester Stallone do his own fights in Rocky? ›

As well as doing his own stunts, Stallone has previously revealed that one fight scene in Rocky IV could have killed him after things got a bit too real during filming. Fans of the franchise may remember that Rocky IV saw the boxer take on steroid-using Russian Ivan Drago (played by Dolph Lundgren).

How much can Brad Pitt bench? ›

Bench press – 165, 195, 225 (25, 15, 8 reps) Nautilus press – 80, 100, 130. Incline press – 80, 100, 130.

What is Mark Wahlberg max bench? ›

“She's in a league of her own”: 5 ft 8 in Behemoth Mark Wahlberg, Who Bench-presses 335 lbs for Fun, Won't Dare to Compete With X-Men Star Halle Berry. Mark Wahlberg has appeared in many movies as an action star for which he had to apply a strict workout plan and a diet philosophy.

Who can bench 1000 pounds? ›

Gene Rychlak is the first man to bench press 900 lb (408 kg). Gene Rychlak is the first man to bench press over 1,000 lb with a lift of 1,004 lb (455 kg) in November. Scot Mendelson presses 457 kg (1,008 lb) (February 18) in a powerlifting exhibition called Fit Expo in Pasadena, California.

Did Sylvester Stallone lose weight in Rocky 3? ›

Sylvester Stallone put himself through an intense diet and exercise routine ahead of filming "Rocky III" in the 1980s. The actor recalled what he ate and drank to keep his body fat down to 2.8% as he prepared to portray Rocky Balboa fighting James "Clubber" Lang, played by Mr.

How much did Sylvester Stallone actually weigh in Rocky 3? ›

For his climactic fight against Rocky Balboa's antagonist, Clubber Lang, in the third installment of the sports drama film series, Stallone took his body fat down to an alarming 2.8%. Weighing only 166 pounds at the time, The Expendables star revealed that was the lowest he ever weighed.

What was Stallone's weight in Rocky 4? ›

Rocky IV: 173 pounds.

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