Dwayne Johnson’s ‘Disciplined Approach’ Behind Weight Loss Transformation

Dwayne Johnson’s noticeably slimmer frame has set tongues wagging, and now an expert is weighing in on how the wrestler-turned-actor may have pulled it off.

The expert claimed that Johnson followed an “incredibly disciplined approach” that involved a strict diet of lean proteins and controlled portions of complex carbs.

Dwayne Johnson unveiled the new look at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, where he made an appearance to promote his latest movie, “The Smashing Machine.”

On Monday at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, fans of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson were stunned to see him sporting a dramatically different look from the muscular physique he has been known for throughout his Hollywood career.

While some were quick to speculate whether Johnson may have turned to weight-loss drugs like other celebrities, an expert, Kunal Makwana, has pointed to a more natural source as the likely reason behind his transformation, per the Daily Mail.

Makwana speculated that Johnson used a combination of a “strict and structured” diet and special fitness regimen to achieve his nearly 60-pound weight loss,  a process he says demands “an incredibly disciplined approach.”

He noted that the diet would typically involve lean proteins, vegetables, and “carefully controlled portions” of complex carbs, all focused on “creating a calorie deficit while keeping protein intake high to maintain his muscle mass.”

The personal trainer and the founder of KMAK Fitness also ruled out all “processed foods, snacks or takeaways” and that “every meal will have been weighed, and every calorie accounted for.”

Having spent much of his wrestling career bulking up in the gym to match his muscular counterparts, Johnson was no stranger to intense training.

However, Makwana noted that shedding weight would have required a very different level of fitness discipline, likely demanding even more from Johnson than what he was already accustomed to.

“The Rock is already famous for his gym sessions, but to lose this amount of weight, he must have had training sessions throughout each day, like that of an athlete,” the nutritional expert told the outlet.

He then hinted at what this regime might have included, especially with regard to the actor’s new movie, “The Smashing Machine,” which inspired the weight loss transformation.

“Strength training would have been the key focus to preserve his muscle, but he’d also have included a huge amount of conditioning work such as cardio sessions, high-intensity interval training, and fight-specific drills to reflect the role he’s preparing for,” Makwana added.

In his interview with the outlet, Makwana also explained why it is unlikely that Johnson relied on weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic or Mounjaro to shed the pounds.

“There’s been a lot of speculation about Johnson taking weight loss jabs to achieve the desired shape, but I think it’s highly unlikely,” the expert noted.

He added, “The jabs work primarily by suppressing appetite, which is not a tool someone like him would benefit from, because he needs to fuel hours of gruelling training every day.”

Makwana added that beyond the way these drugs work, the common side effects, such as nausea, fatigue, and digestive issues, would have made it “very difficult” for Johnson to train at the level required.

He went on to speculate that it took the actor at least six months to achieve his slimmer figure in a healthy manner.

“Anything faster would risk losing muscle mass and could cause longer-term health issues,” Makwana concluded.

At the Venice Film Festival, Johnson hinted that changing his weight for his new movie wasn’t a big deal, as he was really keen on playing the part the movie required.

“This transformation was something I was really hungry to do,” Johnson told the Hollywood Press.

He added, “I had been very fortunate to have the career that I’ve had over the years and to make the films that I’ve made, but there was just a voice inside of me, a little voice that said, ‘Well, what if I could do more — I want to do more and what does that look like?'”

In “The Smashing Machine,” Johnson stars as Mark Kerr, a former UFC heavyweight champion. The movie chronicles his time in the MMA alongside his inner struggles with addiction and other emotional issues.