Pain & Gain: Dwayne Johnson And Mark Wahlberg Workout

M&S Writers
Written By: M&S Writers
December 11th, 2012
Updated: April 7th, 2021
Categories: Workouts Celebrity
1.4M Reads
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Mark Wahlberg are big and badass in the bodybuilding comedy Pain & Gain. Learn how they train and eat for gains.
Workout Summary

Workout Description

Pain & Gain is the soon to be hit bodybuilding-centric movie starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Mark Wahlberg.

Directed by Michael Bay, Pain & Gain is an action comedy about two bumbling, drug-abusing bodybuilders who end up in an extortion ring.

Both Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg worked extremely hard to get (and stay) in top shape for the film. The Rock went through 150 days of clean dieting without a single cheat meal.

The reward for this supreme dedication? An epic 3 round cheat meal that looked like this:

  • Round One: 12 pancakes
  • Round Two: 4 double dough pepperoni pizzas
  • Round Three: 21 brownies with a huge mug of milk

So the obvious question is...how did Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg prepare for the film? Let's take a look.

All Kinds of Gains!​

Before we dive into what the Rock is cooking, let's take a look at Mark Wahlberg's movie prep. For Pain & Gain Mark ate what Hollywood reporters were calling a "crazy 10 meal per day diet." He told E! News:

I was eating 10 meals a day and drinking mass gainers...It was a lot of work. A lot of getting up at 2 in the morning to eat another meal and I was still full from the meal at 10 o'clock.

This was the training split that Mark Wahlberg used:

Rumor has it that his workouts were brief but intense 30-40 minute sessions, relying heavily on the use of supersets. Where's the ab work, you ask? Mark only performed light ab work, as he is generally not a huge fan of direct abs training.

Mark Wahlberg also focused heavily on progression, or getting stronger. He is currently bench pressing around 335 pounds.

Mark ​Wahlberg Workout

Here are the nuts and bolts of his workout routine:

Day 1 - Legs, Back, and Biceps

Exercise Sets Reps
Dumbbell Lunge 4 8-12
Leg Curl 4 8-12
Squat 4 8-12
Bent Over Row 4 8-12
Pull Up 4 8-12
Barbell Curl 4 8-12

Day 2 - Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps

Exercise Sets Reps
Bench Press 4 8-12
Incline Dumbbell Bench Press 4 8-12
Skullcrushers 4 8-12
Cable Tricep Extension 4 8-12
Seated Arnold Press 4 8-12
Cable Crossovers 4 8-12
Push Up 3 Failure

For day 3, repeat the day one workout without training your back.

Pain & Gain

The Rock Says, Know Your Role!

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson uses a more conventional bodybuilding-style split:

  • Monday - Shoulders
  • Tuesday - Back
  • Wednesday - Off
  • Thursday - Legs
  • Friday - Arms
  • Saturday - Chest
  • Sunday - Off

Dwayne Johnson Workout​

Monday - Shoulders

Exercise Sets Reps
Machine Press 3 21
Dumbbell Lateral Raise superset w/ Front Dumbbell Raise 3 8
Cable Bent Over Reverse Flye 5 12, 10, 8, 6, 4
Hammer Strength Shrug 5 12, 10, 8, 6, 4
4-Way Neck Machine 4 12

Tuesday - Back

Exercise Sets Reps
Wide Grip Lat Pull Down 5 12, 10, 8, 6, 4
Close Grip Lat Pull Down 5 12, 10, 8, 6, 4
One Arm Machine Row 4 12
Hyperextension 4 15, 15, 12, 12

Thursday - Legs

Exercise Sets Reps
Leg Press 4 25, 20, 18, 16
Smith Machine Lunge 4 8
Leg Curl 4 12, 10, 8, 6
Standing Calf Raise 6 6

Friday - Arms

Exercise Sets Reps
Dumbbell Curl 5 12, 10, 8, 6, 4
Machine Curl 6 12, 10, 8, 6, 21, 21
Cable Tricep Extension 5 12, 10, 8, 6, 20
Overhead Cable Tricep Extension 4 12, 10, 8, 20
One Arm Reverse Grip Cable Tricep Extension 2 15

Saturday - Chest

Exercise Sets Reps
Incline Dumbbell Press 5 12, 10, 8, 6, 4
Dumbbell Bench Press 5 12, 10, 8, 6, 4
Cable Crossover (super set with Push Ups) 4 12
Push Up 4 15

Note: 21 rep sets are "bicep 21's". Perform 7 upper half reps, 7 lower half reps, and 7 full reps.

104 Comments
nicolas ombima
Posted on: Sun, 03/24/2013 - 13:53

per now i will use the rock's program

stiffler
Posted on: Tue, 03/05/2013 - 00:32

can u tell me for rocks workout if u should add or minus weight for his drop reps?!?!

pier
Posted on: Mon, 03/04/2013 - 20:39

From my knowledge in Exercise Physiology these splits are off for the results they are claiming.

Mark Wahlberg workout
4 sets of everything with 8-12 repetitions. And short 30-40min workouts filled with supersets (two workouts back-to-back targeting the antagonist of the workout. ie. Biceps curl then Triceps Push downs).

Unless the food has a HUGE factor in what he is doing (which it does) then his workouts are based around "Hypertrophy" and not "Power/Strength Gains." This means his workouts aren't technically allowing him to get stronger ("bigger" the "stronger" you get the larger your muscles become). To build muscle you need to do heavy set routines 4-7sets of 2-4reps with 3-5min breaks between each set. So for users that read this workout routine and believe they are going to get big and swole from it you will be disappointed. (there is a lot more to it, but this is in rough layman's terms)

And as for the Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson he already has a extremely built body. So his routine is based on a very advanced bodybuilding strategy. By focusing only on one muscle group per exercise you allow your body too much rest before you hit that muscle again. For a beginner this can be an issue, obviously not for him since he is The Rock and huge. So essentially all the "gains" you made on leg day (Thursday) will be for the most part gone by the time you hit them again the following Thursday.

Don't get me wrong. They are decent splits, but without the diet you won't hit Mark's gains, and without the body you won't sustain you current gains like The Rock.

carl swilling
Posted on: Fri, 03/29/2013 - 20:39

Pier, You sound like you are knowledgable in this area. Where can I find a workout routine for the entire body like the one to which you were referring? (heavy set routines 4-7sets of 2-4reps with 3-5min breaks between each set.)

branden
Posted on: Sun, 05/12/2013 - 00:24

Hey man as a few other people mentioned you seem pretty knowledgeable about the workout routine. I feel like I know a decent amount about lifting and of course lower sets higher weight and focus on your diet. However I am looking for a better routine to add to my lifts. I was hoping you could send me something of a great schedule that would help me gain that additional strength. I would be focusing on usually 5 days a week. Anything you can suggest would be greatly appreciated. Thanks bud

peter
Posted on: Mon, 02/25/2013 - 06:52

how often do you repeat the routine

Bäcken
Posted on: Sun, 02/17/2013 - 11:59

Except this isn't their full routines.
The Rock said himself that he stepped up his workout routine to 6 days a week for Pain and Gain.
And Wahlberg actually did 5 days a week.
They both hit their muscle groups at least twice a week even three times,
Don't believe me? Look it up yourself it's plain and simple facts.

slickos
Posted on: Sun, 01/27/2013 - 09:39

man their routines are sh*t.. do the 5x5 workout routine for 6 weeks. i went up by 40% on everything.

this consisted of main compounds, 5 sets x 5 reps (heavy-duty strength training) 3 x a week.

On each workout day, increase the weight by 2.5kg in total, for each exercise...
*SQUATS
*BENCH PRESS
*OVER-HEAD PRESS

*SQUATS
*DEADLIFT
*BENT OVER ROWS

and additional:
*BICEP CURLS
*CLOSE GRIP BENCH...... so stop being pussys and get lifting!

Hdb
Posted on: Sun, 02/17/2013 - 08:55

n00b gains

kevin
Posted on: Tue, 01/22/2013 - 22:34

Of course he increases weight. What kind of question is that?

joe
Posted on: Wed, 11/13/2013 - 22:19

No need to be a dick

anon
Posted on: Thu, 01/17/2013 - 11:06

don't believe this at all. its BS. its a BS workout someone made up and said its what they did. youre telling me wahlberg got that big by doing 8 sets a week for his back? why do people always waste others time with these fake programs and say its what the actor did?

slickos
Posted on: Sun, 01/27/2013 - 09:45

spot on... look at the rock.... you guys really think he got that big doing that whack routine and taking that artifical junk of a protein powder they got paid millions to have their names printed on them..??.. :p ha!!

if you believe that.. stick to legs bums and tums lol

Greg
Posted on: Thu, 12/19/2013 - 13:52

The way the plan is working for Mark he hits back twice a week. It is two days off and then back on it. I just started the Rock's routine and it is doing fine with me. As anything I believe as long as diet is in place the body will change move weights and breaking a sweat.

Robin
Posted on: Mon, 01/14/2013 - 16:47

It says thar Mark used supersets but it does not says which exercises he did supersets on.

Steveo
Posted on: Thu, 01/10/2013 - 15:54

No squats or deadlifts in the rocks routine, interesting.

carl swilling
Posted on: Fri, 03/29/2013 - 20:24

Squats and deadlifts are for stupid people who want to show off in the gym!! They can kill your back and/or your knees, especially with wrong technique and too much weight! Needing these to get big/strong is a myth as we can see from the Rock's routine. I used to be one of those stupid people. Now my lower back is jacked up.

Tom hunnington
Posted on: Tue, 04/16/2013 - 00:48

so because you were stupid your back is messed up, squats and deadlift are exceptional exercises for wanting to maintain and increase strength throughout your entire body especially your core, its not for showing off, that would be for egotistic and immature weight lifters, if your lifting for your self i gaurantee deadlift and squats need to be in your routine

Dan
Posted on: Sat, 04/27/2013 - 16:10

Squats and deadlifts are not for people who want to show off in the gym...they build the most mass in the shortest amount of time...isolation movements are for shaping not mass...the only reason your low back is jacked up is cause you were doing those movements with crappy form..

sparabanane
Posted on: Thu, 06/27/2013 - 15:11

LOL at "shaping not mass". Isolation exercises are for muscle isolation (useful if you have lagging muscle groups). But build mass. Less mass than compounds, but build mass. The shape is genetic.

Gerry
Posted on: Sat, 10/12/2013 - 15:00

He jacked up his knee in college so that's why he avoids those lifts.

Ben
Posted on: Wed, 01/09/2013 - 19:25

Has anyone seen Wahlberg's diet anywhere on the net?

Patrick
Posted on: Fri, 01/04/2013 - 15:38

I have shown Mark's workout to a few people at the gym and they think the back workout is too light at once every 5 days to have posted such big gains in mass that quickly. Other than the diet - which I am sure all of us would love to know - what is being left out of this "nuts and bolts" routine?

Ken
Posted on: Sun, 06/16/2013 - 23:45

It's called testosterone........

Dazza
Posted on: Tue, 06/18/2013 - 04:41

I'd agree. Bent over row and Pull ups? There has to be more to it than that.

Brian
Posted on: Sun, 12/23/2012 - 15:27

Would love to see what weight they were using! Great info, just what I need to change things up a bit!!

ovidio
Posted on: Sun, 12/23/2012 - 12:20

The rock train every body part 2 in week this is not what he does in a week

DjangoUnchained
Posted on: Sun, 12/23/2012 - 10:45

if the rest period <60 or more likely <30, this is called a rest-pause set, mike. Not a superset. although they are super for gains.

James
Posted on: Sat, 12/22/2012 - 17:49

I read somewhere that after Mark finishes his workout routine he repeats it, doing a total of 8 sets of each.
Is this true ?

Mike
Posted on: Thu, 12/20/2012 - 03:54

You can get very fatigued if the rest between sets is almost nothing, like 30 seconds, or less. Each set is almost like extending the previous set. Some people super-set different parts and don't rest at all between sets.

Rick
Posted on: Mon, 12/17/2012 - 23:52

Oliver, if he's going down in reps it's generally because weight is being increased.

Oliver
Posted on: Fri, 12/14/2012 - 15:18

Question:??
with dwayne's program here. I notest that in his back training eg. He goes down in reps. when he does that, do you also have to change the amount of weight ..?

Marco
Posted on: Wed, 12/19/2012 - 10:07

Yeah that is probably the case, because I do not think you will be fatiqued that much with your 12max rep that you only can push out 4 more reps at your fifth set.

michael callanan
Posted on: Tue, 01/15/2013 - 14:20

Yes raise the weight so you add extra mass you potentioly could miss out on

jake
Posted on: Wed, 01/30/2013 - 10:57

no because each set it 12 rather than dropping reps/set

pedro
Posted on: Fri, 02/01/2013 - 21:26

Im not 100% sure but when i go down in reps I always go heavier. the heavier the less reps its a good pump

lee
Posted on: Tue, 02/05/2013 - 21:29

Yeah man, any time you go down in reps it's good to go up in weight. Just practice it and get to know your strength in order to get the full benefits. Never forget a spotter either!

Bo Sondre
Posted on: Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:05

Yes, when you go down inn reps, you should go up in weight :-)

Nick
Posted on: Fri, 02/22/2013 - 11:13

Mark and Dwayne used a workout similar to Stronglifts 5x5 and Mark Rippetoe's Starting Strength. They focused on strength training and then volume training.
All the high rep stuff is bullcrap, they didn't do 20 bicep curls to get big. It's all about compound exercise.

John
Posted on: Tue, 07/23/2013 - 20:36

Everything I have ever read the last ten years has said compound exercises are for getting big and are all that's really needed

areyouserious
Posted on: Sat, 01/04/2014 - 03:05

Compound movements aren't for getting big??? Are you fucking retarded??? Were you dropped on your head a few hundred times as a baby???

what
Posted on: Wed, 03/27/2013 - 10:47

Unless you're reading something different, those workouts posted above are nothing like Stronglift or Starting Strength. Additionally, Stronglift and Rippetoe program are not designed for people who want to "get big", neither are compound exercises. Your whole post is wrong.

bob
Posted on: Sun, 03/02/2014 - 12:54

Troll

sam
Posted on: Wed, 08/07/2013 - 07:01

Well, firstly you are wrong. as long as you are fatiguing the muscle you are going to build muscle as your tearing the muscle fibres as anyone knows... They are doing compound movements which release testosterone and HGH in the body at the start which carry on throughout the workout. So bicep curls DO help to get big. If you look at the rest of the program they are doing compounds at the start.

Yeahbuddy187
Posted on: Fri, 08/30/2013 - 09:37

It's not that ur post is wrong. But u can be sure that both of them dont need endogen hormones hahaha its obvious that both of them are juiced to the max. for that movie xD

DLB
Posted on: Fri, 10/18/2013 - 07:48

Not sure why this comment has more red thumbs than green thumbs. He is 100% correct.

bd020
Posted on: Tue, 12/17/2013 - 17:12

High rep ranges are ideal for body-building. Rippetoe and starting strength is focused on strength gains. If you look at the rep-ranges for any professional body-builder, in general, they focus on high reps. High weight equates to strength, not aestetics.

Alex1747
Posted on: Sun, 03/31/2013 - 20:01

yeah it would be a good idea to lower the reps and increase the weight. push it before u finish

Jamie
Posted on: Thu, 04/04/2013 - 03:05

When decreasing number of reps, always increase weight.

ahmar
Posted on: Sat, 05/04/2013 - 23:06

yes