Mark Wahlberg consumed up to 11,000 calories a day while trying to rapidly gain weight for his role in the upcoming movie Stu. The forthcoming drama is based on the life of Father Stuart Long, a former professional heavyweight boxer who became a priest after an accident. Stu is written and directed by Rosalind Ross and also stars Mel Gibson, Jacki Weaver, and Teresa Ruiz.
The faith-based biopic is a personal project for Wahlberg, who has been committed to it since 2016 and also acts as the movie's producer. While Stu has been in development for a number of years, the movie was only given the green light to start production early this year. In May, filming began with a strict deadline of 30 days to finish. To portray the boxer-turned-priest, Wahlberg had to shed his action star physique and gain 40 pounds in the span of three weeks. Wahlberg showed off his drastic Stu transformation on Instagram and was even spotted on the film's set looking totally unrecognizable.
In a recent interview on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, Wahlberg revealed that he packed on the pounds so quickly because of his exaggerated diet. According to the 50-year-old actor, he consumed a minimum of 11,000 calories per day for two whole weeks in preparation for the role. Wahlberg said that at first, it was fun to be able to eat whatever he wanted. However, he admitted that the rapid weight gain was difficult for his body despite working closely with a nutritionist.
Unfortunately, I had to consume, for two weeks, 7,000 calories. And then for another two weeks, 11,000 calories. And it was fun for about an hour. It's such a hard, physical thing to do. Losing weight, you just kind of tough it out—you just don't eat, and exercise. And this, even when you're full, I would wake up after a meal and have another meal. I was eating every three hours. It was not fun.
It's not uncommon for actors to go through drastic changes to their appearances for a role. However, Wahlberg needed to beef up faster than usual because he was working with a 30-day filming deadline. The Lone Survivor star revealed that he's financing Stu himself so he was bent on getting things done in time. "I knew I was on a ticking clock on my own dime, and you get things done pretty quickly when that's the case," the actor added.
If the weight fluctuation did take a toll on his body, Wahlberg seems to be recovering well. Currently, the actor looks to have dropped the extra pounds he's gained and is back to his familiar fit physique. Since wrapping up filming for Stu, he has been busy at the gym and posting fitness videos on Instagram. Gaining or losing weight is never easy, but it's a common practice among Hollywood actors who need to alter their figures for certain roles. In the end, the movie's outcome and the audience's response determine if the process was worth it. In Wahlberg's case, fans will have to wait until Stu comes out in theaters.
Source: The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon
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