History Main / PrisonsAreGymnasiums

* In ''theLicaniusTrilogy'', Davian spends his year inside the prison in Ilshan Gathdel Teth working out. He's considerably more muscular and physically strong by the time he leaves.

* Franchise/{{Batman}} villain ComicBook/{{Bane}} got himself deliberately placed in solitary confinement in Blackgate prison so he could kick his drug habit. He spent his time exercising and emerged with natural strength equal to what his drug-fueled strength used to be.
** His ''origin'' is this. Born and raised in prison, Bane took the opportunity to develop himself both physically and mentally, before he ended up hooked on super-steroids. Blackgate was a chance to get back to basics.
** [[KnifeNut Mr Zsasz]] is a particularly odd example. While in Arkham Asylum he's kept completely immobilised, except when he's sleeping. Despite this he manages to spend his time practicing isometrics, surprising Batman with his newfound strength (and resultant speed) when they finally fight.

* Discussed out-of-universe in ''Daredevil'', where the Kingpin was played by the famously huge Creator/MichaelClarkeDuncan, who apparently had to gain ''more'' weight in order to do the character justice. At the end of the movie, he is arrested, but (especially in the ominous director's cut) plans to make it out; that said, the actor playing him suggested that if there was a sequel, they could work his losing the excess weight into the script and say he had lost it in prison.

* ''Series/{{Daredevil}}'': In the second season, Kingpin is shown bench-pressing large amounts of weight in between his plotting.

Prison is a brutal environment, where [[SocialDarwinism "survival of the fittest"]] is in full effect. The generally violent nature of prison life also gives inmates a major incentive to stay in as good a shape as possible; their lives might very well depend on it. In Real Life, Prisons, even the Maximum Security ones, feature gymnasiums, and sports fields such as basketball courts. However, this trope usually involves the prisoners working out in their own cells, often in secret - ''especially'' if it's preparing for busting out.

** Marge bulks up to the point of being able to pin Homer while doing 30 days for shoplifting in the episode "Marge in Chains."

* In ''VideoGame/TheSims3'', if a Sim is in the Criminal career track, they can be briefly sent to prison, and you get a set of options as to how they should spend their time. Working out is one of them.

Since feeding prisoners costs money and prisoners are considered the scum of society, they are often given a diet which is barely enough to sustain life, especially in stories set in ancient times or in societies with a harsh government. This means it can sometimes require WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief if a character actually manages to physically bulk up in prison. Though as some prison reality shows and documentaries will point out, inmates often trade and bargain with other inmates to get more food to get around this, and even if that's not shown to be the case, it's believable if all they're doing is cutting the flab, exercising the muscles they've already got, and getting some very interactive lessons in [[TookALevelInBadass learning how]] to [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty fight dirty]].

* In the Creator/PGWodehouse story "The Come-back of Battling Billson", the eponymous boxer, while starting in top physical condition, is unable to ''stay'' in shape for an upcoming bout until he gets tossed into prison for two weeks.

* In ''Series/SamAndCat'', Nora worked out in prison. Unfortunately for her, when she tried to get revenge on Sam, she simply pushed her into a well instead of fighting her.

* ''Series/Banshee'', This is what Hood does in prison after [[spoiler:getting put in solitary confinement]] in order to be strong enough to fight [[spoiler:The Albino]].

-->-- '''Social Distortion''', "Prison Bound"

* Averted in high-security prisons, which prohibit barbells and other training equipment, as they could be misused as weapons or escape tools. Some prison authorities offer less aggressive workout programs such as yoga. Inmates can also do weight training by lifting ''each other''.

* Averted in high-security prisons, which prohibit barbells and other training equipment, as they could be misused as weapons or escape tools. Creative inmates work out by lifting ''each other''.

* Charles Bronson's ''Solitary Fitness'' is just how to work out in a cell.

* There's a very funny, albeit dark, scene in the movie ''Film/RomeoMustDie'' where Jet Li's character Romeo gets out of prison to reunite with his criminal buddy. Said friend tests his skill with an impromptu fight and after Romeo easily matches him, said friend makes the comment, "I was worried prison had made you soft". Romeo give him a look that screams, "Are you fucking kidding me?!" and then calmly states that, "You don't get soft in prison".

* Iroh of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' worked out when in prison to great effect in preparation for an escape attempt. The contrast between his figure in seasons one and three helped lead to his MemeticBadass status. By the time [[spoiler:Zuko]] came to rescue him, he had already escaped single-handedly, leaving a wrecked cell and a heap of trounced guards gibbering about he was "like a OneManArmy".

* Creator/KurtBusiek's ''The Power Company'' featured Carl Bork, a guy who messed with tribal magic before he was put away and came out looking like the Hulk and lifting tons with one hand.

* Iroh of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' worked out when in prison to great effect in preparation for an escape attempt. The contrast between his figure in seasons one and three helped lead to his MemeticBadass status. By the time [[spoiler: Zuko]] came to rescue him, he had already escaped single-handed, leaving a wrecked cell and a heap of trounced guards gibbering about he was "like a OneManArmy".

* Honestly, this trope could be the page-image for TruthInTelevision, between the need for stress-relief and constant threat of violence, it's no wonder that exercise plays a central role in many (if not most) prisoner's lives.