I know Hugh Jackman took steroids to bulk up for Wolverine – because I’m a bodybuilder who used to take them too
A bodybuilder known for his down-to-earth views on diet and exercise has revealed why he thinks Hugh Jackman used steroids for his latest film.
Greg Doucette has repeatedly criticized Jackman for “lying” about his drug use and making unrealistic physical demands on young men.
At 55, the actor showed off his most impressive and muscular physique ever in the new superhero film Deadpool & Wolverine, in which he plays Wolverine.
Doucette, who has coached hundreds of bodybuilders, says it would be incredibly difficult to pack on that much muscle and get that lean at Jackman’s age without the help of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) like steroids.
The fitness influencer also cited a video in which he accused Jackman of lying about his diet, saying that if Jackman is willing to lie about it, he’s probably willing to cover up his steroid use as well.
Hugh Jackman underwent a massive physical transformation to play superhero Wolverine for his 2024 film and insists his preparation included calorie replenishment and exercise. However, some weightlifters are skeptical
Mr. Douchette, a bodybuilder, coach and powerlifter, who insists that Hugh Jackman owes his muscular physique to human growth hormones and testosterone therapy, not a 6,000-calorie surplus
Jackman told The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, while promoting his new film, that he consumed a whopping 6,000 calories a day, mainly from vegetables, tilapia and chicken, in preparation for his role.
Doucette, who also has a graduate degree in kinesiology (the study of human movement), explained to his two million YouTube subscribers that to lose enough body fat to get abs as visible as Jackman’s, you need to be in a calorie deficit. That means you have to burn more calories than you take in.
He said it was impossible to burn 6,000 calories a day and that Jackman would probably just gain pounds.
Doucette said, ‘Here’s the thing: He’s lying about the 6,000 calories and he’s lying about the steroids.
“He’s not eating 6,000 calories and this guy’s not natural either.”
The term “natural” or “natural” is used to describe people who train without the aid of PEDs.
“I would bet he was consuming 3,000 calories at most, but probably closer to 2,000,” Doucette added.
At his age, Jackman is said to have naturally lower testosterone levels than a man in his thirties.
Once a man reaches 40 years of age, his testosterone levels typically decline by about one percent per year.
This drop in testosterone often leads to a decrease in muscle mass and strength, making it more difficult to build muscle through diet and exercise.
Low T levels are also associated with increased body fat around the abdomen.
Growth hormone levels also decline with age, meaning the body is less able to support muscle development.
Jackman told TV host Jimmy Fallon: “It’s 6,000 calories, and it’s not the calories you necessarily want. For example, half a pizza is 6,000 calories.
“But no, this is chicken, and it’s tilapia and beans. Tilapia and beans. I don’t know why tilapia. It’s supposed to be a lean fish, and green beans.”
Commenters online were quick to express their skepticism, with one asking which pizza could contain 12,000 calories.
Another said, “Yeah, he didn’t eat 6,000 calories of tilapia and beans. He probably ate a fair amount of [testosterone replacement therapy] And [human growth hormone]. Which is cool. He’s an actor, not a competitor [sic].
Doucette has been outspoken about his use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs during his career as a bodybuilder, and he uses his YouTube channel to raise awareness about the dangers.
He added that Jackman’s muscular on-screen physique could be the result of computer technology.
Doucette was referring to a specific scene in the new Deadpool and Wolverine film where his armor flies off, revealing a perfect body.
‘You’ve all seen the movie by now, and it was tilapia and beans; that was the secret.
‘And do you really think this 55-year-old man had a body without testosterone, without performance-enhancing drugs and without CGI?
“Imagine eating 6,000 calories a day and looking like this when you’re 55. You know, yeah, we have to imagine it because it’s not possible.”
Jackman said he ate 6,000 calories a day to gain weight for his role, mainly consisting of lean proteins and vegetables
It’s not the first time there’s been speculation that Jackman used performance-enhancing drugs in preparation for a role.
Dr Gary Motykie, a plastic surgeon to the stars, previously told DailyMail.com: ‘His appearance is more indicative of growth hormone or one of the testosterone boosters – probably a bit of testosterone replacement therapy.
At his age [55 years]it is very common to do testosterone replacement therapy. Its vascularity also makes me somewhat suspicious.
‘He does indeed have very little body fat, but if you also see fat, then it is suspicious that something else is going on.’
The movie star continues to maintain that his transformation happened naturally, without the help of pharmaceutical drugs.
Chris Wallace, host of HBO’s Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace, raised presented the allegations to Jackman, hoping it would clear the air.
Jackman denied using the drugs.
He said, ‘No, I love my job. And I love Wolverine.
“I have to be careful what I say here, but I was told anecdotally what the side effects of that are. And I thought, ‘I don’t like it that much.'”