# Has Jim Parson been hitting the gym? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 18, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-jim-parson-been-hitting-the-gym/784712 "2017-04-18T16:55:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-jim-parson-been-hitting-the-gym/784712/1 "2017-04-18T16:55:02Z")
I was away from _The Big Bang Theory_ for pretty much all of this season, and I’m getting caught up. Last night I watched the episode where, to get Sheldon out of their (his and Howard’s) hair, Leonard gives Sheldon a weekend of being a locomotive engineer (The Locomotion Reverberation). It was during this episode that I noticed definitely that [skinny, scrawny Sheldon](http://images.designntrend.com/data/images/full/73797/sheldon-cooper.png?w=780) is starting to look [kinda buff.](http://images.spoilertv.com/cache/the-big-bang-theory/Season%2010/Promotional%20Episode%20Photos/Episode%2010.15%20-%20The%20Locomotion%20Reverberation/109690_0069b_FULL.jpg) Wardrobe department might want to look into bumping up the size of his T-shirts, just to keep the image of the slight, underdeveloped theoretical physicist alive. Has there been any discussion of this phenomenon on the board? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-jim-parson-been-hitting-the-gym/784712/2 "2017-04-18T17:28:05Z")
Linky to buffy no worky, but I can picture Parsons starting to think about his post _BBT_ career and getting in good shape now can help him down the road, especially if he’s thinking about making more movies. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-jim-parson-been-hitting-the-gym/784712/3 "2017-04-18T18:15:50Z")
I dunno what he looked like under his tees before, but yeah he was fiiiiiiine in that episode. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-jim-parson-been-hitting-the-gym/784712/4 "2017-04-18T18:35:32Z")
Is this a link to Amy’s fantasy about big buff Sheldon driving a train? Because I assumed that since that was a fantasy, what we were seeing was not the “real” Sheldon. I assumed also that the effect was done through some kind of video or digital magic. [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9H8Wi25Nog) is the scene I mean (Youtube link). ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-jim-parson-been-hitting-the-gym/784712/5 "2017-04-18T18:55:25Z")
Maybe he looks buffer in comparison to the every puffier Johnny Galecki. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-jim-parson-been-hitting-the-gym/784712/6 "2017-04-18T19:24:33Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Is this a link to Amy’s fantasy about big buff Sheldon driving a train? Because I assumed that since that was a fantasy, what we were seeing was not the “real” Sheldon. I assumed also that the effect was done through some kind of video or digital magic. [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9H8Wi25Nog) is the scene I mean (Youtube link). Doesn’t look like it to me. The train and other stuff is very obviously digital, but Amy and Sheldon look real. He still does look skinny buff, though. So he probably can fake not having those muscles. Reminds me of Billy in Power Rangers or Carlton Banks on Fresh Prince. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-jim-parson-been-hitting-the-gym/784712/7 "2017-04-18T19:28:34Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Doesn’t look like it to me. The train and other stuff is very obviously digital, but Amy and Sheldon look real. > > He still does look skinny buff, though. So he probably can fake not having those muscles. > > Reminds me of Billy in Power Rangers or Carlton Banks on Fresh Prince. Never a Power Rangers fan but Carlton always looked buff through his clothes. In fact, I think his school uniform should have been a size larger. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-jim-parson-been-hitting-the-gym/784712/8 "2017-04-18T20:22:39Z")
It kinda bugged me that Carlton never beat the shit out of Will after one of Will’s childish insults. He obviously _could_. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-jim-parson-been-hitting-the-gym/784712/9 "2017-04-18T20:28:00Z")
He could do the Carlton dance all over Will’s face! ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-jim-parson-been-hitting-the-gym/784712/10 "2017-04-18T22:44:25Z")
Yes, Jim Parsons has been looking a bit more burly lately. Maybe his doctor told him to work out and gain a little weight. He still has very red hands, though. I wonder what’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-jim-parson-been-hitting-the-gym/784712/11 "2017-04-18T23:18:22Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > Yes, Jim Parsons has been looking a bit more burly lately. Maybe his doctor told him to work out and gain a little weight. > > He still has very red hands, though. I wonder what’s up with that? I noticed the red hands too. Mentioned it here and when there used to be a TWIP. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-jim-parson-been-hitting-the-gym/784712/12 "2017-04-19T02:34:38Z")
Here is a video of Parsons working out. I don't know about buff, but I guess he looks more fit than he did in the past. I wonder if actors have things in their contract about not undergoing radical body transformations. Like if Sheldon became muscular, or if Kevin from the office lost weight it wouldn't be the same. Dave Chappelle gained a lot of muscle too, I prefer the skinny Dave. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-jim-parson-been-hitting-the-gym/784712/13 "2017-04-19T04:24:40Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I wonder if actors have things in their contract about not undergoing radical body transformations. I’d be willing to bet that there’s something in Kaley Cuoco’s and Melissa Rauch’s contracts to that effect. And maybe in Simon Helberg’s as well. Apparently not in Johnny Galecki’s, judging by his recent pudginess. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-jim-parson-been-hitting-the-gym/784712/14 "2017-04-19T12:15:29Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > He still has very red hands, though. I wonder what’s up with that? He has a well-known issue with OCD hand-washing that he and the rest of the cast have discussed previously in interviews. Apparently it drives the makeup people nuts. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-jim-parson-been-hitting-the-gym/784712/15 "2017-04-19T15:41:42Z")
Sorry about the non-working link. [Here’s another attempt.](http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/the-locomotion-reverberation-pictured-sheldon-cooper-news-photo/634159270?esource=SEO_GIS_CDN_Redirect#the-locomotion-reverberation-pictured-sheldon-cooper-leonard-and-try-picture-id634159270) Well, it works on preview, anyway. Note how in the first pic, there’s significant space for the sleeve of his T-shirt to wave around. In the more recent one, he’s got that thing filled out. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-jim-parson-been-hitting-the-gym/784712/16 "2017-04-19T17:36:33Z")
I wouldn’t be at all surprised that he is bulking up. He certainly has the time and money to spend going to the gym. In addition, he’s been doing the show for 11 years, one does age over that time. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-jim-parson-been-hitting-the-gym/784712/17 "2017-04-21T07:13:22Z")
Eating (and slowing metabolism as we age) can have the same effect. Not everyone grows guts. I don’t at all and neither do any of the men in my family. Everyone I can think of, as far as my uncles and brothers and cousins, gained a good bit of weight in our 30s-40s but I wouldn’t call any buff or a workout buff. In the Youtube, to me he looked bigger but not exactly muscular. He had an average level of bodyfat. He could be hitting the gym but he doesn’t look like a bodybuilder or anyone obsessed with his physique.