Matt Damon Reaches High School Weight for Odyssey Role

Actor Matt Damon has revealed the extreme measures he took to prepare for his role in Christopher Nolan's upcoming film, The Odyssey. During a recent interview, the 55-year-old star disclosed that he dropped to a weight of 167 pounds, marking the first time he has been that light since his high school days.

To achieve this transformation, Damon adopted a strict routine that included cutting gluten entirely from his diet. He detailed his regimen on the popular 'New Heights' podcast, hosted by NFL players Jason and Travis Kelce. Damon explained that the physical demands of the role required him to be 'lean but strong,' necessitating a level of discipline he compared to professional athletes in training camp. Despite his success with the method, the article highlights that gluten-free diets are not universally recommended by experts for weight loss unless medically required.

During the Wednesday episode of the 'New Heights' podcast, Matt Damon opened up about the physical preparation required for The Odyssey. He spoke candidly with hosts Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce about the drastic change in his physique.

Damon noted that his usual weight fluctuates between 185 and 200 pounds, but for this production, he maintained a consistent 167 pounds. He attributed this success to a specific dietary choice he made in consultation with his doctor.

"I literally, just because of this other thing I did with my doctor, stopped eating gluten," Damon explained. He emphasized that this was not a temporary fix but a complete lifestyle shift for the duration of the filming process.

The preparation for The Odyssey involved more than just diet; it required a total restructuring of Damon's daily life. He compared his training schedule to the rigorous preparation NFL players undergo before a season, a comparison that resonated with the Kelce brothers.

"You know, it's like just part of your day. It's part of your job, right? And it's like yeah, you get really routinized about it and really kind of build your day around all that stuff," Damon said. He mentioned working with a trainer to ensure he remained 'lean but strong' for the director, Christopher Nolan.

Damon appears to have fully committed to this new lifestyle. When asked if he planned to return to his previous diet, he stated, "I'm done. I'm done. I'm gluten-free everything."

While Matt Damon successfully used a gluten-free diet to lose weight for his role, the article provides context regarding the medical necessity of such a diet. A gluten-free diet eliminates gluten, a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye.

This diet is often adopted for specific medical reasons, such as managing symptoms of celiac disease. However, for the general population, gluten is not necessarily harmful. Experts suggest that for most people, the focus should be on a whole, minimally processed, plant-based diet, which can include gluten-containing grains.

Despite the popularity of gluten-free eating for weight loss, evidence suggests it is not a universal approach to better health. The decision to cut gluten should ideally be based on medical advice rather than a general assumption of its benefits for weight management.

This is not the first time Matt Damon has undergone a significant physical change for a film role. The actor has a long history of getting into peak physical condition, particularly for the Bourne franchise.

In a 2016 interview, Damon described the process of getting back into shape for his return to the franchise as 'brutal.' He reflected on the differences between his physical capabilities at age 29 versus age 45.

"For the first Bourne movie I was 29 and I thought that was hard work getting into shape," Damon said. "Now I'm 45 and it's just brutal." He recalled filming a bare-knuckle fighting scene on his 45th birthday, noting the immense effort required to perform at that level.