Summary

  • Tom Cruise's strict 1,200 calorie diet disappoints fans, as seen in recent shirtless photos from Spain.
  • Negative reactions to Cruise's physique overshadow some positive impacts seen off-camera with fellow actors.
  • Chaos erupts during filming as Cruise calls for a shirtless scene reshoot, leading to cast members altering diets.

No surprises here. Tom Cruise is intense, and the same holds true for his training and diet into his 60s. However, it seems like fans have different reactions to his physique compared to someone like Keanu Reeves. The general feeling is that fans feel as though Cruise's results from his 1,200 calories haven't been optimal given his recent shirtless photos.

In the following, we're going to take a closer look at Cruise's current diet habits - the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. In addition, we will reveal how the fans reacted to his diet.

On the flip side, we'll also take a look at the positives, which includes Cruise changing the life of a certain cast member with his work ethic off-camera. We are going to reveal which actor that is, and Tom's latest shirtless scene in Hollywood, and how it caused chaos behind the scenes.

Tom Cruise's 1,200 Calorie Diet, And 15 Snacks Received Negative Reviews From Fans

Tom Cruise has some secrets for maintaining his "youthful physique," but not every fan is impressed after shirtless photos of Cruise went viral from his time in Spain shooting Mission: Impossible 8. According to Daily Mail, Cruise has some strict principles when dieting, which really isn't all that shocking given his dedication to acting and stunts over the years. Some of the rules make complete sense, while others are a little hard to believe, like Tom only eating 1,200 cals a day.

Tom's dieting and training principles:

  • A wide range of physical activities
  • Compound exercises
  • 3 meals, and 15 small snacks
  • David Beckham's devised 1,200 calorie diet
  • No sugary snacks or processed foods
  • Dark chocolate is included in his diet

Some of the principles certainly make sense. Varying your workouts with different forms of physical activity keeps things interesting. Compound exercises also burn lots of calories and target core muscles. However, 1,200 cals per day is extremely low, and 15 snacks a day... we're not quite sure most have the time for that.

With Cruise's older age, upping his protein is important to retain muscle mass, and dropping his calories lower isn't the best solution.

Over on Daily Mail, the negativity was certainly overpowering the positive comments, especially given Cruise's shirtless pictures that underwhelmed some fans.

Fans wrote:

  • "He's in good shape still but he does not have an 'insane' physique. Strange chap in many ways, but a good actor and has done some very good films."
  • "Ok, let's get real here. His body may have looked good on the most recent Top Gun, because it was a movie. These pics of his real body are definitely not super "youthful" and he looks like an in shape 61yr old, IMO. Nothing more."
  • "Dolph Lungren I've seen up close at Equinox on the Sunset strip. He is in excellent condition for 66. The pictures of Tom are misleading. He has a sunken chest. He's a little squirt. There's nothing special about his fitness."

Although the reception to Tom's shirtless photos and diet hasn't been all that positive, the actor has been a great role model to others behind the scenes. That includes Simon Pegg, who has spoken highly of how Cruise changed his dietary and fitness habits behind the scenes.

Simon Pegg Actually Credited Tom Cruise For Getting Him Healthier

We're not quite sure how many calories Simon Pegg was taking in. But what we do know is that Mission: Impossible changed Pegg's entire life. Simon revealed that the most important part of using these practices is the fact that he has been able to stay consistent. It all started with Cruise's "pain cave."

"He famously has what we call the “pain cave” on set, which is the gym he uses when he’s at work; he lets us all use that," Pegg said of Cruise.

"We used to train together on Rogue Nation because we were all staying at the same hotel. Me and Tom and Rebecca would all train together, and it was always really, really fun. Laterally, on this one, because he was so busy all the time—he’d finish work and he’d have to go off and speak to, like, diplomats and s****, to get us permission to shoot during the pandemic—we didn’t get the opportunity to work out so much."

"But he’s really inspiring in that regard. You look at him, he’s 61, and he’s in incredible shape. He’s just a testament to the fact that if you do put in the hours, you don’t have to give up when you’re 40. You can stay in shape, and you can keep your body trim, and that invariably increases your sense of well-being, I think."

Looking back, Pegg is grateful that Mission: Impossible changed his life in so many ways, but most importantly, he incorporated healthy habits because of it.

Tom Cruise's Shirtless Scene In Top: Gun Maverick Caused Chaos Behind The Scenes

The last time fans saw Tom Cruise shirtless on-screen was briefly during Top: Gun Maverick. Cruise was able to turn back the clock and give fans some serious nostalgia with his slim look. Circumstances were different this time as Tom dieted down like the rest of the cast for the scene intensely.

However, it seems like Cruise also caused chaos in the process, as he asked for the scene to be reshot.

The major problem, the likes of Miles Teller had already dieted down for the moment, and had upped their calories in celebration.

The film's director Joseph Josinski recalled te chaos that would ensue. “Originally, I conceived the scene as shirts versus skins. And I got there and I started dividing them up, you know, shirt, skin, shirt, skins. And everyone who I told was a shirt started having emotional breakdowns,” Kosinski told Esquire.

“One of the actors came up to me and said ‘I've been working out for six months! Please, please don't make me put on the t-shirt.’” “Those actors had that date on the calendar circled six months out as you can imagine,” he explained. “And they’re working out in the gym until midnight the night before, starving themselves.”

Despite the confusion, it all worked out in the end. The scene turned into a classic. There's also an uncut version that is multiple hours long.