The fitness secrets behind model Lara Worthington’s perfect beach body

The man who helped shape Lara Worthington’s age-defying body is a former US Marine who preaches a grueling “old school, fast and furious” training style similar to that of professional boxers.

California-based Rodney Johnson began working with the Australian model nearly a decade ago after the couple met through her husband, actor Sam Worthington.

Johnson had previously helped Sam get into top form for his 2010 action film Clash Of The Titans and before that, he was the man behind Christian Bale’s transformation for Batman Begins.

The exhaustive but no-nonsense approach has reportedly been an integral part of Lara’s preparation for her famed 2021 Seafolly global campaign.

Johnson’s first major film credit dates back to 1997 when he trained Brendan Fraser for his role in the family action comedy George of the Jungle.

An advocate of “old school” techniques that “get results,” Johnson employs a regimen that includes daily and sometimes twice-daily workouts, from lifting heavy weights to jumping and stair climbing.

Outlining his program for intermediate to advanced level trainers, Johnson recommends choosing four alternating days for strength training and then adding cardio workouts on the remaining days.

“Your 6th day will be a double aerobic day,” he says.

On those days, he recommends cardio exercises such as running, swimming, cycling, rowing, climbing stairs, skipping, and playing basketball.

Diet plans under Johnson’s program are limited to 1,800 calories per day for women and 2,500 for men, with food options such as “hard-boiled eggs, tuna in water, lean meat, cottage cheese, and whole-wheat pita.”

Lara showed off the results of her intense training in Sydney last week when she hit the waves at Bondi for a quick dip – a break from her promotion duties for athleisure label 2XU.

The 35-year-old mum of three looked super fit in a black strapless swimsuit that accentuated her toned legs and slim waist.

Speaking of Johnson’s training methods in 2020, Lara told OK! The American Magazine had also changed its approach to food, with her and Sam both switching to a “mostly vegetarian-slash-pescetarian” diet in recent years.

“For years I have worked out (if possible) with my personal trainer Rodney,” Lara said.

“Rodney is old-school and hardcore — super simple in his approach, but it’s hands down the best workout I’ve done yet, and he’s taught me a lot about nutrition too.”

More recently, Lara practices hot yoga — also known as Bikram yoga — an extreme workout done in a heated room designed to mimic India’s climate.

Other celebrities who have also embraced the cult-like practice include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, Hailey Bieber, and Meghan Markle.

Obviously, Lara, who now lives in New York full-time, practices Bikram to stay in shape while unable to train with Johnson.

Lara also regularly records Pilates sessions for the home and has a Pilates reformer installed in her home both in Australia and the US.

‘I like Pilates and of course Fluidform in Sydney is my favourite. I like to try new places and recently bought a reformer to have at home – I also studied Pilates to further my knowledge of it,” she said.

“If I can go to a gym, I walk up to an hour on a high incline each time.

‘I like skipping too! I just started using a skip app called Crossrope, it’s great!

“I like to exercise and plan time every day to get it done. Right now I like to walk all over New York – it’s sports without realizing it.’

Sam has also been a long-time advocate of Johnson’s training methods.

“Before ‘Clash of the Titans,’ I trained five or six hours a day,” Worthington told Men’s Health.

‘I got up, trained for two hours, ate and then slept briefly. Then I would get up, train with heavy weights again, eat and sleep again. By the time I was done, I was a tank.”

The now 45-year-old star’s intense schedule has allowed him to build muscle, burn body fat and build definition and he says he often feels more like a “boxer” than an actor.

“You live like a boxer. The training is fast and furious, meaning the results come pretty quickly.

“Rodney got Christian from the size he was in ‘The Machinist’ – where he couldn’t even press once – to the size he was in ‘Batman Begins’ in less than four months.”