Chase Mattson’s Training and Nutrition Routine for Adding Lean Muscle

Chase Mattson says he added 30 pounds while shifting from a model’s eating habits to a more structured approach to food and training. The actor now weighs 215 pounds, compared with 185 during his modeling days, and says he prepares for demanding roles by staying active and tracking his macronutrients. His account offers a look at one performer’s routine, but it doesn’t establish that the same approach will produce similar results for others.

Mattson discussed his preparation while promoting Agent of Shadows, a vertical-format drama made with WWE talent including Drew McIntyre, Booker T, Jacob Fatu and Nikkita Lyons. The filming called for physical work: Mattson says he performed ground stunts and was sore for days after a scene with WWE Hall of Famer Booker T, shot in desert heat. He later trained at WWE’s Performance Center and took part in a ring session, where he says he was struck with a real chair. Those experiences describe the demands of his role, rather than a workout most people should try to replicate.

A demanding bodyweight circuit

One of Mattson’s preferred workouts is “Cindy,” a CrossFit circuit made up of five pullups, 10 pushups and 15 air squats, repeated for as many rounds as possible. He recalls finding it harder than expected: he was exhausted by round eight the first time he tried it. He says he has since reached 16 rounds and sometimes makes the squats harder by holding 40-pound dumbbells.

That progress reflects his own training history and capacity. A circuit built around repeated movements can become tiring quickly, and adding weight changes the demands of the exercise. Mattson’s account doesn’t include details such as how often he does the workout, how he adjusts it on different days or how he handles injuries. Anyone considering a challenging routine can discuss suitable activity and modifications with a health professional, especially if they have health concerns or haven’t exercised regularly.

More food, with a plan

Mattson says his modeling diet left him eating too little. After getting nutrition advice, he began tracking macros and eating five meals a day, with carbohydrates included in his plan. He keeps a cupboard for his own food at home and describes choosing almonds instead of candy. He also eats plenty of blueberries, which he associates with muscle recovery.

These are details of his personal routine, not findings from a nutrition study. The source doesn’t specify his daily calorie intake, the amounts of particular nutrients, how long it took him to gain weight or whether a clinician supervised the change. Food needs vary with a person’s health, activity, and goals, so his meal frequency and food choices shouldn’t be read as a prescription. People with questions about nutrition or weight changes can raise them with a doctor or registered dietitian.

Mattson says family life shapes how he fits movement into his schedule. He has four children and two dogs, and sometimes includes his family in outdoor jogs and calisthenics. Making activity part of family time is one way he describes staying active; the article doesn’t provide information about a set weekly schedule or measure its effects.

Staying ready for short-notice scenes

Mattson says he may have as little as 24 hours’ notice before a shirtless scene, which helps explain his emphasis on maintaining a consistent routine. That pressure is specific to his work and appearance requirements. It doesn’t show that rapid changes in exercise or eating are safe or effective, and it offers no tested method for preparing for a role on short notice.

His experience also spans different kinds of production. He has worked on vertical micro-dramas, including Agent of Shadows, and was preparing to travel for a project filmed in a conventional horizontal format. For Mattson, the practical takeaway is a commitment to regular training and planned meals that can fit around family and work. For readers, the useful distinction is that his reported results belong to his circumstances: a demanding job, a history of athletic activity and a routine developed with nutrition advice. The source doesn’t describe a controlled study or provide evidence that his approach is right for other people.

Agent of Shadows is streaming on ReelShort. Watch the series. Mattson can be followed on Instagram.