GENERAL HOSPITAL
Before acting fulltime, you were an instructor at
Soulcycle. “I kind of happened into it. I took a class and it was a really hard class, but it was also very motivational. There were so many aspects that I loved, so
I became an instructor, which led to me falling more in love with fitness. I love exercise because I like practicing things that are hard. I think it helps kind of get your mind right.”
What advice do you give to novice exercisers? “I say, ‘Go at your own pace.’
On January 1, don’t start working out Monday through
Friday, two hours a day. Just do it once or twice a week, keep it small and build on that. And pick something you enjoy. When I taught at Soulcycle I would say, ‘If you don’t like this, find something you do like.’ Working out is hard enough — you want to enjoy it as much as possible!”
What does a typical week of working out look like for you? “I’ll do a Soulcycle class on the weekends and I try to go to a boxing class every day or every other day at this place called Gloveworx. It’s awful in all the right ways. It’s an hour-long workout with a Versaclimber, a trainer holding mitts and calling out combos, then sprints on a Woodway, which is like a treadmill. It’s the only workout I do where my legs go numb! The women I work out with are even more badass than the men.”
What is your approach to diet? “I’m hitting the age where I can’t just eat whatever I want. I try to eat dinner by 6 o’clock and I’ve been learning about portion control. Meal prep is hugely important. Emme [Rylan, Lulu] got me hooked on that. You can buy containers to put your different food groups in, and when it’s gone, it’s gone. When I’m being good, I bring my lunch to GH — chicken, lettuce, cottage cheese, fruits and vegetables. But I do have a sweet tooth, so even when I’m being super-strict or I have a scene coming up where I want to look good, I’ll let myself have a treat. I’m not the guy who’s like, ‘I want to have a chiseled eight-pack.’ ”
How do you work out while traveling? “I’m huge into gravity-based workouts, or militarybased workouts. Even 15 minutes can do so much. I will set my alarm 10-15 minutes early and do as many squats, sit-ups and push-ups as I can.”
What are your own fitness goals in 2019? “I want to incorporate yoga or Pilates into my routine and try to get flexible.”
You are a certified physical trainer. Have you always been athletic? “Fitness has always been a part of my life. In high school, I did dance team and track concurrently. All I know is being active!”
What does your own exercise life look like?
“I like to change up my approach to fitness because
I like a challenge. Recently,
I’ve gotten into yoga, and I spend a lot of time doing that. For cardio, I was recently training for a triathlon, so I was doing a lot of running. I typically work out three to four times a week, between yoga classes and hiking. I hike a lot.”
What is your breakfast/lunch/dinner routine on an average day? “I’ve been a pescatarian since I was 16 because I learned about my body that I get very tired when my body has to break down more complex things, like heavier meats. So, that said, my diet is focused on things that give me energy, but I don’t spend all day breaking down. Usually, I do starches in the morning, like a breakfast potato and eggs, and a [protein] shake. In the middle of the day, I do greens and a lean fish; I love sushi for lunch. My heaviest meal is usually breakfast, and I go light at lunch, and then dinner is in the middle. I usually do a warm meal at dinner, so
I’ll do a rice dish with fish or tofu or
I’ll have a veggie burger. Impossible Burgers are, like, my life! I usually snack on nuts or fruit.”
What is your advice to someone who is trying to focus on a healthier lifestyle in 2019? “Diet and exercise go hand in hand; you can’t do one without the other and expect good results. Think about how you’re balancing your meal plan with how you exercise, but you want to make lifestyle changes that you can keep, not just, ‘I’m going to do this for three months because it’s my New Year’s resolution, and then I’m going to forget about it.’ A huge part of staying in shape and being at your best is being consistent. Also, find things that you like to do, whether it’s walking or taking dance classes or doing exercise DVDS. The biggest thing isn’t what exercise you do, it’s designating the time and incorporating it into your life in a consistent way. The things that we stick with are things we make routine.”