James Bond’s trainer has shared the gruelling workout you can do if you want to re-create the 007 look.
But be warned, it’s not for the faint-hearted.
Simon Waterson, 47, from London, has worked with the cast of the James Bond films – including stars Daniel Craig, Pierce Brosnan and Lea Seydoux – for 23 years, helping whip the actors into top shape ahead of filming.
Simon’s background includes military experience, where he trained from the age of 16 for seven years and grew his interest in fitness.
He later shared articles on health and fitness and got a call in 1997 to see if he would be interested in training an actor, who turned out to be Pierce Brosnan, best known for his role as 007.
He then went on to work with Daniel Craig from his first appearance as Bond in Casino Royale and his latest flick, No Time to Die.
The pair always find it “motivational” to work out together.
“I’ve done 23 years with the Bond franchise, including 16 with Daniel Craig, I trained Pierce Brosnan for two movies and Daniel for five, from Casino Royale to No Time to Die,” Simon told Jam Press.
“That’s one of the best film franchises to work on, most of the people working on each Bond, including for No Time to Die, have done several before so it feels like a big family.
“You get together at the start of each shoot and it’s like a reunion, everyone on the Bond franchise is at the top of their game, and it means that everything tends to be smooth and efficient.
“Casino Royale stands out as that was the hardest, which was because it was the first time we were doing it, plus being part of Daniel’s first Bond movie was special, but it was also difficult because it was the first one.
“There’s the famous scene where Daniel comes out of the water in his blue shorts – we worked really hard on that scene.”
***JAMES BOND’S WORKOUT***
For No Time to Die, Craig’s workout routine consisted of five supersets, a gruelling workout in all that isn’t for the faint-hearted.
First up is an option of either 25 low to high cable chest flys, or 25 abdominal rollouts.
The second set offers a choice of 25 mountain climber push-ups, or 25 traditional pull-ups.
For the third set, the movie star does either 25 Russian twists, or 25 side oblique bends on each side.
In the fourth set, Craig uses a TRX for 25 row and curls, or completes 25 bodyweight dips.
Finally, for the fifth superset, he has the choice between 25 hanging leg raise and windscreen wipes, or 25 reverse BOSU ball cable retractions.
In between each set, the star would stretch and hydrate.
Simon, who has also worked with Benedict Cumberbatch and John Boyega, is very extensive when it comes to his routines with celebrities and works closely with the stars to create tailored workouts.
He said: “The workouts with Daniel were very circuit-based.
“When I’ve worked out with, say, Chris Pratt, it’s been more about strength-based routines with a focus on muscle mass.
“When I’m working out with someone like Luke Evans, it’s a blend of circuit-based routines and strength.
“I might have a client who’s doing yoga and I would be part of that. My clients give me a natural diversity but I will add some elements just for myself.”
For his own personal routine, the trainer is surprisingly flexible – something he believes is key to achieving fitness goals.
Simon said: “If you keep it interesting and diverse, you’re not going to feel that it’s gruelling as you’re not repeating the same thing the whole time.
“The more you work out, the more body aware you become, you also learn how to avoid becoming fatigued as that can lead to getting ill or injured.
“I’m good at judging how much I should do, with the right amount of weight or reps for me.”
In the new year, Simon advises not to have fitness as a New Year’s resolution – instead, he believes that it should be a natural part of your life.
He added: “Getting healthy should be a natural part of your make-up, the psychology of packaging it as a resolution is really tough.
“You don’t want to feel like a failure, and to be saying ‘That resolution only lasted two or three weeks, what a nightmare, I’ve failed again.’
“Start by doing what you do like, that could be going for a swim, going out on your bike or going for a walk.
“Be kind to yourself, you owe yourself your health.”
The trainer shares celebrity workouts in his new book ‘Intelligent Fitness – the Smart Way to Reboot Your Body and Get In Shape’, which was published in hardback on 6 January by Michael O’Mara Books.
The book encourages a focus on performance, rather than aesthetic, and Simon’s unique approach aims to transform your fitness by focusing on training, recovery and nutrition to enhance energy, sleep and confidence.
It also details Simon’s work with high-profile celebrities including Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddlestone, John Boyega, Gerard Butler, Luke Evans and Alden Ehrenreich.
