When he made his debut in an HBO mini-series called Band of Brothers, Tom Hardy used to be this skinny, little actor who was willing to risk it all just to have a career in show business. Due credit to his skills and the perseverance to keep at it, he made it and made it big.

Tom Hardy looking young as hell in Band of Brothers. pic.twitter.com/uh2Z9bWJ0H

He is the kind of guy who wishes to truly commit to the roles that he is offered, so much so that he is willing to put his body on the line, just to look the part, or at least he used to. 

Hardy first jacked up for his performance as Michael Peterson in the 2008 biography called Bronson, based on the life of Britainâs most violent criminal and was weighed at 150lbs (68 kg).  

In 2011, he bulked up for Warrior (2011) and was recorded at 181lbs (82kg). 

And finally, for his role as Bane in Christopher Nolanâs The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Hardy touched the 200lbs mark which is approximately 90 kg. 

Now, for those who donât know, Tom Hardy is 5â9ââ and the ideal weight for a male this tall is between 144lbs (64 kg) and 176lbs (79kg). According to his interview with AskMen, Hardy revealed that he only had five weeks to look like the man and so âI started eating and my arse very quickly got very fat.â

âFor Bronson, I put on about 7lbs a weekâwith no steroids. In the end Iâd put on about 2 and a half stone by eating chicken and rice, which was my staple diet throughout the day. Then Iâd have a pizza, Häagen-Dazs and Coca-Cola: So not good stuff, but I had to put weight on,â he added.

Heâd put on weight for Bane in a similar manner (with more weight training) and while he did not realise the toll it was taking on his frame, he later shared how the rapid transformations cost his body. 

âIâve probably damaged my body too much. Iâm only little! If I keep putting on weight Iâll collapse like a house of cards under too much pressure,â he told The Daily Beast.

"I think you pay the price with any drastic physical changes. It was alright when I was younger, to put myself under that kind of duress, but I think as you get into your 40s you have to be more mindful of the rapid training, packing on a lot of weight and getting physical, and then not having enough time to keep training because youâre busy filming, so your body is swimming in two different directions at the same time,â he added. 

Based on the kind of things he was eating and the problems Hardy spoke about ever since his Bane expedition, it seems Hardy may have tried what is known as âDirty Bulkingâ. 

© Pexel

What is âDirty Bulkingâ and why is it a bad idea? 

Dirty Burking can be roughly described as gaining weight by any means necessary and eating whatever you can lay your hands on. Burgers, fries, pizzas, sweetened beverages, nothing is off-limits. 

Just like in Hardyâs case, dirty bulking is often paired with heavy intensity resistance training. 

While many bodybuilders and weightlifters have accepted using such means to increase bulk in off-season, others have complained about the side-effects it brings along. 

If the caloric surplus goes unchecked, unwanted fat begins to form which, in turn, leads to issues such as joint pains.  

Due to the high intake of sugar, processed carbs and saturated fats, a rise in cholesterol levels and high blood pressure can also be diagnosed, which can eventually lead to a stroke. 

Lethargy and the unwillingness to do active work also come along.

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