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Science fiction. Genetic modification. Things don't have to make sense by our standards. Astartes physiology is so far removed from ours it's ridiculous. There's no saying how much or what type of training they need to do in order to maintain their physique.

Even nowadays a lot of the huge ass bodybuilder just take copious amounts of IGF-1 (human growth hormone) and Insulin and they can grow without barely lifting anything. I'd imagine that in the far future that Marines don't even need to lift at all, they just need to get injections of space anabolics and they're good to go, since I'm sure that they would have much better developed methods.

Vladsimpaler wrote:I'd imagine that in the far future that Marines don't even need to lift at all, they just need to get injections of space anabolics and they're good to go, since I'm sure that they would have much better developed methods.

According to GW's Index Astartes, the Marines indeed require regular chemical treatment for the rest of their lives to prevent their bodies from breaking down - it's a valid thought to imagine that it would include these "space anabolics", or something that causes Marine bodies to produce them itself.
Likewise, the one "daily schedule" we have was missing any kind of sports, although (as has been pointed out already) close combat training could qualify as a workout. Marines pumping irons, however? Maybe in some Black Library novel.

Brother Thomas wrote:Let's be realistic. There is no way they all have huge hulking muscles if they don't. To be honest it never mentions anything about a gym in the books besides the training pit. Same goes for CSM s. PLUS their bodies are corrupted and maggot ridden... hmmm. All that aside. Are their space marines that are tall and slender too? Or are they all just hulking beasts?

I wonder how much one could bench press on average. Lol... 700 lbs.

Workout? Probably not in terms of bench press or squats. Much like the modern military (especially special operation), most of the workouts they get come from running drill after drill in full combat gear. Sparring a Space Marine for a few hours straight would be tiring, even if you are a Space Marine.

It's pretty much this but in power armor.

Commander Endova wrote:It's pretty much this but in power armor.

Oh Emperor, why do I have such a vivid and pictorial imagination.

I understand what you're saying. Sure, they fight a lot but that won't give you hulking muscles. It will make you lean and fit, not massive like a bodybuilder. You will look like a boxer or mma fighter(with the exception of the super roided heavyweights or a few other exceptions), or basketball player, whatever.
But take in consideration 2 things
Space Marines are basically on super steroids, steroids will give you a lot of mass even if you watch television and play in the PC all day. Yes, working out will make gains even better, but steroids are like the difference between man and women(two sedentary, the man will be a lot bigger)
Now the Space Marines not only have a lot of unnatural hormones but they are also more sensitive to it.
Plus bigger bone structure...

And the second thing is, it's fantasy, it's a great game and story, but it's not realistic at all.

What excersise? Aren't space marines always out stomping someone... wouldn't that count as their workout?

Veteran Sergeant wrote:Honestly, you're talking about working out and serious dedication to physical fitness.


Have you seen the pics of the principal design guys who have worked at GW over the years or the Black Library authors?


I imagine that kind of thing isn't written about because, well, the authors don't have any idea what it would take. I mean, they don't know much about weapon design or warfare either, but that stuff is relatively easy to fake if you've seen enough action movies since the 40K fanbase isn't too overly concerned with realism or believability.


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Brother Thomas wrote:Well in that case i never hear about them eating any copious amounts of protien either. Not to mention that kind of training would make ones body slender as opposed to "hulking" as i always hear


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Veteran Sergeant wrote:Well, they probably weigh around 600 pounds if they are 7.5 feet tall with denser (and more) bones, denser musculature, an expanded chest cavity with additional organs, etc. So I imagine their bench press is pretty absurd, heh.

To answer the question though, I'm sure there's a pretty rigid exercise regimen they adhere to, as well as all sorts of fancy muscle-stimulation equipment.

Or perhaps they are like real world Marines and spend ungodly hours in the gym, buy overpriced supplements online and get illegal gak shipped to them from Canada and other parts of the world when they are deployed.

First off, entertaining how you described marines, as i am one and posting from the gym right now. Lmao. Anyhow yeah your posts make much more since than the first poster. More of a visual for me.

I was a Marine for ten years, and I guessed from your avatar that you'd get the humor in it.

There is even a comic for that (Terminal Lance) for that.

Space Wolves are about the closest you will see to real USMC....hahahahahaha...(former 0331).

When not in battle/training, they are drinking high powered mjod and eating bloody meat. Sounds like weekend liberty after a week in the field.

Btw, 5'5" Mexican here and I could ace pullups and situps, but never broke 18mins on the run, 18:45 was my fastest ever.

Thanks to Lynara for posting the "day in the life of" breakdown, I've been looking for that for a while now. While old, it IS Codex material and hasn't really been superceded since, except perhaps in Black Library.

I always interpreted it as being a fairly standard example - perhaps even specified in the Codex Astartes? - but as a guideline only, to be adapted by the various Chapters as they see fit. Then of course you'd have to have modifications for being on active duty, patrol details, in transit to a warzone on board a ship... all kinds of circumstances.

As for workouts - I imagine some Chapters do, some Chapters don't. Vainer chapters like the Blood Angels and pre-Heresy Emperor's Children likely did/do, as the form of the body is just another outlet for aesthetics. A standard Codex Chapter would probably lean more towards the combat exercises laid out in the guide. And Space Wolves? You can sod off with your prissy gym exercises - grab an ale, take a seat and watch them have sparring matches in the Great Hall instead. :p

Super Ready wrote:I always interpreted it as being a fairly standard example - perhaps even specified in the Codex Astartes? - but as a guideline only, to be adapted by the various Chapters as they see fit. Then of course you'd have to have modifications for being on active duty, patrol details, in transit to a warzone on board a ship... all kinds of circumstances.

Pretty much. It just fits my perception of the Space Marines as being bred solely for war, kind of like the SoB do nothing but train, fight and pray all day long. Imho, to give either organisation some sort of "social life" threatens the grimdark sacrifice they had to make (their humanity) and at best turns them into Everyday Joes that have somehow received superpowers. Kind of why I dislike the whole party deal the SW have going on - just makes them look "less Marine'ish".
Matter of preferences, though. Some think this makes them better than any other Chapter. *shrug*

Refering to the bench-press capacity. The England rugby team's front row (3 very strong men) can bench-press the weight of 2 smart cars, so I figure 3 marines could probably bench press, I dunno, 2 smart cars each...
It's a ridiculous notion anyhow since to support the movement of those ridiculous muscles then their bones must be at least twice as thick as a normal humans...

Imperial Monkey wrote:It's a ridiculous notion anyhow since to support the movement of those ridiculous muscles then their bones must be at least twice as thick as a normal humans...

I recall having read somewhere that their bones were reinforced somehow. Not sure right now if they were just bigger or if they were augmented by a metal sheet.

The diet of Space Marines as their bodies interacted and bonded with their new organs also helped strengthen their bones, in addition to whichever organ it is that increases muscle growth helping with bone growth as well. This is why they need them young, so their bones and muscles will develop correctly.

I fully expect a Space Marine to be able to bench press around 750kg and squat slightly less than double that.

McNinja wrote:The diet of Space Marines as their bodies interacted and bonded with their new organs also helped strengthen their bones, in addition to whichever organ it is that increases muscle growth helping with bone growth as well. This is why they need them young, so their bones and muscles will develop correctly.

I fully expect a Space Marine to be able to bench press around 750kg and squat slightly less than double that.

Last time I checked, neither humans nor marines had an organ that made muscles grow...Oh. My. God. I think we have just hit on something. The organ implant that GW never told you about "The scwartsnaeggererer...er" an organ that creates steroids and feeds them around the body!