# Does Captain America have to work out? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 23, 2015, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383 "2015-02-23T02:19:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/1 "2015-02-23T02:19:33Z")
Since he has the super soldier serum that makes him at his best physically as a human can get does that mean he still needs to workout and have a good diet or could he just sit on the couch watching TV and eating nothing but pizza and milkshakes all day but still be at his best physically? ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/2 "2015-02-23T02:55:49Z")
Well, the super-serum reflects who you are inside. Since contemporary culture equals working out and eating right with moral fortitude and general goodnes, (and sitting around eating pizza with questionable character) he must, ipso facto, be the sort of person who works out, whether be needs to or not. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/3 "2015-02-23T03:10:28Z")
All I know is it works for me! Sitting on the couch watching TV and eating nothing but pizza and milkshakes all day. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/4 "2015-02-23T03:10:48Z")
You’d think the OP would be the best person to answer this question. But based on evidence from both the comic books and the movies, it’s clear that Captain America does need to work out. We’ve seen that he does work out and that his sense of duty is such that he wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t necessary. If he could maintain top physical shape without exercising, he’d quit exercising and devote the time to some other form of self-improvement. ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/5 "2015-02-23T03:12:24Z")
As much as I hate to say it but if Captain America were created in our country today he would be an obese, autistic american that would be called Captain United Nations. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/6 "2015-02-23T03:14:42Z")
> [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](#): > > As much as I hate to say it but if Captain America were created in our country today he would be an obese, autistic american that would be called Captain United Nations. Riiight. Because it’s obvious from the hundreds of millions of dollars the Captain America movies have earned that current Americans are rejecting the character. ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/7 "2015-02-23T03:18:06Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > You’d think the OP would be the best person to answer this question. > > But based on evidence from both the comic books and the movies, it’s clear that Captain America does need to work out. We’ve seen that he does work out and that his sense of duty is such that he wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t necessary. If he could maintain top physical shape without exercising, he’d quit exercising and devote the time to some other form of self-improvement. Yeah I would have to agree with that one. He probably would workout if he had to but I am still willing to bet that having the super soldier serum alone is a major advantage. ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/8 "2015-02-23T03:19:37Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Riiight. Because it’s obvious from the hundreds of millions of dollars the Captain America movies have earned that current Americans are rejecting the character. No that’s not what I mean. I’m basing what I wrote on the current state that the US is in. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/9 "2015-02-23T03:20:21Z")
Our first glimpse of Cap in the Avenger film showed him destroying a punching bag. Shot from the back–mere mortals do not look like _that_ in sweat pants. First thing he did in _Winter Soldier_? Run laps. Extra material with the film pointed out he’d been learning some new fighting styles. (The Cap & the actor, who does quite a bit of the action.) If he sat & vegged out, he’d probably stay healthier than most. But he doesn’t date or hang out with the guys. We heard he used the 'net to catch up–& there were books in his apartment. Probably doesn’t watch much TV. Which leaves him plenty of time to work out. Besides, he’s that kind of guy… ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/10 "2015-02-23T03:36:58Z")
I think in one of the films, he was saying that he can’t get drunk because of his metabolism. He probably doesn’t need to work out. But he probably runs because he likes the exercise. I have to assume he has to practice martial arts though. He’s not Neo from the Matrix. The serum didn’t teach him Kung Fu and Krav Maga. I still can’t figure out what Hawkeye and Black Widow bring to the table. I mean you have a Hulk, a billionaire genius in a power-armor rocket suit, an alien with godlike abilities and a chemically enhanced super soldier. Then you have these two Shield agents, one who fights with a pair of pistols and the other who fights with a weapon that’s been obsolete in modern warfare for centuries. ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/11 "2015-02-23T03:44:59Z")
Hawkeye basically is the best trained marksman around so I agree he can be there but Blackwidow shouldn’t because its way too dangerous for her and allowing her in combat will just get another Avenger killed. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/12 "2015-02-23T03:52:58Z")
I’d say no, he doesn’t have to work out…he probably just enjoys it. I mean, if I had those super powers, it would be a blast just getting to sprint around the mall or jump 10 feet into the air. But I can’t imagine the Red Skull working out, and he was able to match CA pretty well. As others mentioned, he would have to train new skills even if he didn’t have to work out. And most likely he’d need to practice jumping and even running, since even if he doesn’t need it for the fitness aspects he has to learn how it all works together and constantly train so that his responses are correct for his super powers, since that wouldn’t come naturally for anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/13 "2015-02-23T04:24:25Z")
> [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](#): > > Hawkeye basically is the best trained marksman around so I agree he can be there but Blackwidow shouldn’t because its way too dangerous for her and allowing her in combat will just get another Avenger killed. Black Widow’s superpower: getting ignored until she shoves a pair of bullets up somebody’s ass. ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/14 "2015-02-23T08:03:25Z")
I’d agree with the above. Whatever the treatments did, I think his superhuman physical abilities are permanent. This is generally the case for any comic book character. Were he to start couch surfing as a hobby, I predict he would still have superhuman abilities after years of being lazy. He might be able to gain body fat, however. Maybe that’s why he was running in Winter Soldier. ---
**Author:** ![Garula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Garula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garula)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/15 "2015-02-23T09:09:28Z")
I would say that even if he became a couch potato, he would still be a helluva lot more fit than any of us normies. But he probably wouldn’t be as capable as he could be if he did work out. Superhero stories tend to have a lot of situations involving heroes being pushed to their limits and then overcoming them. If the Captain were at the absolute peak of his ability no matter what, that limits the dramatic options available to the writers. So, it makes sense for them to leave that option on the table. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/16 "2015-02-23T10:32:00Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I still can’t figure out what Hawkeye and Black Widow bring to the table. I mean you have a Hulk, a billionaire genius in a power-armor rocket suit, an alien with godlike abilities and a chemically enhanced super soldier. > > Then you have these two Shield agents, one who fights with a pair of pistols and the other who fights with a weapon that’s been obsolete in modern warfare for centuries. Stealth, espionage, infiltration, interrogation… every good adventuring party needs a rogue or two. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/17 "2015-02-23T10:51:29Z")
The serum gave Steve the talents but he needs to work on the skills. An enhanced muscle memory makes it easier. As for simply working out, I believe some border collie was included in the serum - intense loyalty and the everpresent threat of going crazy if he doesn’t get a good run in every day. ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/18 "2015-02-23T11:19:17Z")
So what is the likelyhood of the serum being developed in real life? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/19 "2015-02-23T11:32:18Z")
It depends whether CERN can verify the existence of Vita-Rays. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e79b87/32.png) [@The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Joker_and_the_Thief)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383/20 "2015-02-23T12:08:16Z")
> [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](#): > > So what is the likelyhood of the serum being developed in real life? The odds are 0, but you can become an ubermensch by working out and training hard. Captain America may have been fake, but he was played by a real actor. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-captain-america-have-to-work-out/713383.md?page=2)