{"id":2226282,"date":"2026-01-07T21:11:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T21:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2226282"},"modified":"2026-01-07T21:11:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T21:11:32","slug":"matt-damon-reveals-his-strict-diet-for-ripped-odyssey-look-that-got-him-back-to-high-school-weight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/matt-damon-reveals-his-strict-diet-for-ripped-odyssey-look-that-got-him-back-to-high-school-weight\/","title":{"rendered":"Matt Damon reveals his strict diet for ripped &#8216;Odyssey&#8217; look that got him back to &#8216;high school weight&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F2%2F2026%2F01%2F118448343.jpg?quality%3D90%26strip%3Dall\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Matt Damon tackled his end goal flawlessly.<\/p>\n<p>The actor, 55, opened up about cutting down his weight for Christopher Nolan\u2019s upcoming<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/12\/26\/entertainment\/christopher-nolans-next-film-is-based-on-the-odyssey\/\"> Greek epic\u00a0\u201cThe Odyssey,\u201d<\/a> while on Jason\u00a0and\u00a0Travis Kelce\u2019s\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fDmLVfMmHGk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cNew Heights\u201d<\/a>\u00a0podcast Wednesday. <\/p>\n<p>The retired athlete, 38, told the Hollywood vet that he looked \u201cpretty yoked up\u201d in set photos circulating online. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Jason and Travis Kelce and Matt Damon on the \u201cNew Heights\u201d podcast.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Matt Damon on the \u201cNew Heights\u201d podcast.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_8-0\">\u201cYeah, I was in really good shape. I lost a lot of weight,\u201d Damon replied, before adding that Nolan, 55, \u201csaid he wanted me like lean but strong. It\u2019s a weird thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cI literally, just because of this other thing I did with my doctor, stopped eating gluten. I used to walk around between 185 and 200 pounds. and I did that whole movie at 167 pounds,\u201d confessed the \u201cDownsizing\u201d star. \u201cI haven\u2019t been that light since high school. So it was a lot of training and a really strict diet.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>For Damon, his trainer made the mission an easy one.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jeg_video_container jeg_video_content\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Offseason Plans, Wildcard Preview &amp; Matt Damon on Brady, Affleck Bromance &amp; Career Odyssey | EP 174\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fDmLVfMmHGk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s just having kind of a clear goal and setting it,\u201d said the Oscar winner.<\/p>\n<p>Damon compared the prep to Jason and Travis, 36, training in the NFL.<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_21-0\">\u201cWhen I do that or when I do the \u2018Jason Bourne\u2019 movies or whatever, it feels almost like a season, I would imagine, what that feels like for you guys where you\u2019re preparing,\u201d continued the writer. \u201cIt\u2019s like just part of your day. It\u2019s part of your job, right? It\u2019s like you get really routinized about it and kind of build your day around all that stuff. That\u2019s kind of the physical side of getting ready.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_23-0\">These days, Damon has yet to return to his old eating habits.   <\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Matt Damon was seen on set in Favignana, Italy in March 2025. <span class=\"credit\">CIAOPIX\/COBRA TEAM \/ BACKGRID<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_25-0\">\u201cI\u2019m done. I\u2019m gluten-free everything. I found a gluten-free beer,\u201d he shared. \u201cIt\u2019s been so long since I\u2019ve had gluten, I can\u2019t tell if it\u2019s good or not. So that\u2019s a good sign.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Nolan\u2019s action feature, which is about\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2018\/07\/11\/tablet-may-be-oldest-written-record-of-homers-odyssey\/\">Homer\u2019s ancient Greek poem<\/a>,\u00a0\u201cThe Odyssey,\u201d\u00a0also stars Zendaya, Tom Holland,\u00a0Anne Hathaway,\u00a0Robert Pattinson,\u00a0Lupita Nyong\u2019o\u00a0and\u00a0Charlize Theron.<\/p>\n<p>In March, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/03\/27\/entertainment\/matt-damon-shows-off-wild-body-transformation-for-the-odyssey\/\">pictures of Damon shooting<\/a> in Favignana, Italy surfaced. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Matt Damon filming \u201cThe Odyssey\u201d in Italy. <span class=\"credit\">CIAOPIX\/COBRA TEAM \/ BACKGRID<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The star went shirtless, sporting a chiseled physique, including a six pack, tan pants and a scruffy grey beard. <\/p>\n<p>At the time, Damon was photographed with\u00a0Zendaya, 29, on a rocky hillside. <\/p>\n<p>Last month, Universal Pictures dropped a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Mzw2ttJD2qQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">teaser for the movie<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Matt Damon in \u201cThe Odyssey\u201d trailer. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_16-0\">They first confirmed the project in December 2024 on\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/UniversalPics\/status\/1871314845083042266\">X<\/a>, writing, \u201cChristopher Nolan\u2019s next film \u2018The Odyssey\u2019 is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology.\u201d <\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_18-0\">\u201cThe film brings Homer\u2019s foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026,\u201d the post concluded. <\/p>\n<p>When the studio\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DGLhiySPGYP\/\">shared a first look<\/a>\u00a0to Instagram in early 2025, with Damon wearing armor, fans quickly flocked to the comments section.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Matt Damon shown in a scene from \u201cThe Odyssey.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThe journey begins! Can\u2019t wait to see more of the cast!\u201d one fan wrote, while another added, \u201cI AM SO GLAD DAMON IS PLAYING THE LEAD.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But not everyone was thrilled about the casting choice, with a third social media user writing, \u201cNo real \u2018Greeks\u2019 cast in a movie about Ancient Greece \u2026 very very very disappointing.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs a Greek this is so disappointing on all levels. Not a single Greek cast member in sight, the movie won\u2019t film at all in any parts of Greece. Very upsetting considering Nolan is known for his authenticity,\u201d another follower explained.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMatt Damon is Odysseus. A film by Christopher Nolan,\u00a0#TheOdysseyMovie\u00a0is in theaters July 17, 2026,\u201d the post\u2019s caption read. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Matt Damon in \u201cJason Bourne.\u201d  <span class=\"credit\">\u00a9Universal\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Matt Damon as Jason Bourne. <span class=\"credit\">\u00a9Universal\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Meanwhile, Damon is no stranger to physical transformations throughout his career.<\/p>\n<p>The action star previously worked with trainer Jason Walsh for 2016\u2019s \u201cJason Bourne.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Damon did 100 sit-ups, 300 push-ups, 50 squats and 50 squat jumps daily.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe loves challenges,\u201d Walsh\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/fitness\/a19525930\/how-matt-damon-prepared-for-action-roles\/\">told Men\u2019s Health<\/a> at the time. \u201cWe got to the point where we were doing 100 pull-ups two or three times a week. We\u2019d see how many sets it takes to get 100. Once you lose some of that excess weight, pull-ups get a lot easier. He was doing 30-some pull-ups per set.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy biggest worry was him breaking,\u201d he added. \u201cKeeping him injury-free for two straight years, doing action films, was the biggest accomplishment.\u201d<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/04\/21\/health\/how-ralph-fiennes-63-and-matt-damon-54-got-in-epic-shape\/#\"\/><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source celebrity.land \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Matt Damon tackled his end goal flawlessly. The actor, 55, opened up about cutting down his weight for Christopher Nolan\u2019s upcoming Greek epic\u00a0\u201cThe Odyssey,\u201d while on Jason\u00a0and\u00a0Travis Kelce\u2019s\u00a0\u201cNew Heights\u201d\u00a0podcast Wednesday. The retired athlete, 38, told the Hollywood vet that he looked \u201cpretty yoked up\u201d in set photos circulating online. Jason and Travis Kelce and Matt [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2226283,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25174],"tags":[25538,21751,315102,345286,21741,21993,309117,344851,21912,23522,190738,305455],"class_list":["post-2226282","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gossip","tag-actors","tag-celebrities","tag-celebrity-weight-loss","tag-christopher-nolan","tag-entertainment","tag-films","tag-jason-kelce","tag-matt-damon","tag-movies","tag-podcasts","tag-travis-kelce","tag-weight-loss"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Matt-Damon-reveals-his-strict-diet-for-ripped-Odyssey-look.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2226282","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2226282"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2226282\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2226284,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2226282\/revisions\/2226284"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2226283"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2226282"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2226282"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2226282"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}