On May 4, 2021, actor, producer, and recording artist Will Smith posted a shirtless photo of himself on his Instagram to announce a partnership with YouTube and the launch of a new series called “Best Shape of My Life.” The show will document his fitness journey of dropping the weight gain he sustained during the pandemic. His post inspired the “#bigwilliechallenge” where followers join in on the fitness journey and post before and after pictures 12 weeks apart. Even legendary rapper and producer Dr. Dre is in on it.
On May 27, 2021, Smith gave a quick glimpse of how the process is currently going. Standing shirtless in boxer briefs — similar to his original post — he rotated on a small turntable to show off his current physique. There was not a wow-factor difference between his physique, but a post like this during the process reinforces that changing one’s physique isn’t an overnight process. Check out Smith’s Instagram post below:
View this post on Instagram
[Related: Watch Rapper Method Man Take 475 Pounds to School for New Deadlift PR]
Although the two posts don’t show a pudgy Smith suddenly transformed into a shredded model or jacked like he was in the 2004 sci-fi action movie iRobot, there is clear progress being made. In the post, Smith is seen sweaty in the gym performing lat pulldowns, triceps extensions, leg presses, back squats, biceps curls (both with an EZ-bar and dumbbells), seated rows, dumbbell overhead presses, and dips. It is safe to assume that Smith is working with at least one trainer, but he has not disclosed that information.
View this post on Instagram
[Related: How Actor Ethan Suplee Dieted Like a Bodybuilder to Get Abs]
Smith is only a fourth of the way through the #bigwilliechallenge, and it appears he is fully committed to training to achieve his goal and is having fun with it at the same time. We’ll see how his journey progresses through future posts and, of course, during his YouTube series premiere.
Feature image: @willsmith on Instagram