Workout, Diet Tips & Tricks: Jake Gyllenhaal Pumps Up to Prepare for 'Southpaw'

When Jake Gyllenhaal has announced that he will be replacing Eminem as the major character in "Southpaw," many people are skeptical as to how he'll be able to physically transform himself as a boxer, since his body type is leaning towards a trim and sexy physique.

Jake will be playing Billy Hope, a boxer who tries to move on in life following the death of his wife and separation from his daughter. 

According to Celebrity Health Fitness, the actor has followed a high-protein diet and has undergone an intense twice a week boxing workout to look "beefed up," gain 15 pounds and make his body look ripped and muscled.

Director Antoine Fuqua has asked Jake to do training in the boxing ring, together with his trainer, and the actor is even fortunate enough to train at Church Gym in New York. This is the gym where boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. also trains.

The actor has turned himself into a beast after following a workout routine which included jumping rope, 2000 daily sit-ups, push-ups, dips, 350-pound tires flip and running at least 8 miles five times on a weekly basis.

E! Online writes that after celebrity trainer Terry Claybon whipped the actor into shape, Jake has increased his weight from 147 pounds to an astounding 175 pounds in a matter of six months! Claybon admits that Jake is not in any shape to play a boxer, and when he saw Jake jumped rope, he knew he'll be in for a lot of work.

Claybon has Jake focus on his defense because he believes it can protect the actor from any stunts that he'll need to do in "Southpaw." He has Jake up and running for a total of six hours everyday, including weekends.

New York Post adds that besides the training and his physical transformation, Jake believes something in him has changed. After the training and watching a lot of boxing footages, he has realized that he didn't want to stop once filming is over.

The actor admitted that he continues to train and devote a portion of his time to watch more boxing champs at work. He has believed this film has not only made him healthy but has also made him want to pursue boxing as a sport. He even compared boxing to learning a new language—he truly immersed in what it's all about, thankful that he enjoyed the process while doing it.

Southpaw will hit theaters this Friday, July 24.