DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Have you always been fit? “I was a heavy kid when I first started school. I had bad asthma and was hospitalized a couple of times. That’s not particularly conducive to a lot of moving around.”
When did you start focusing on fitness? “My early teen years. My dad had lifted weights a little bit in the ’70s, and I asked him to show me how to use them.
What really changed things was when I got into doing martial arts. I was like, ‘Oh, you actually can change your body.’ ”
What is your workout routine? “It’s different when I’m working and when I’m not. When I’m on DAYS, my main cardio will be learning lines on my exercise bike at home. It can range from a half hour to an hour and a half. On top of that, I’ll lift weights four or five times a week.”
Is there an exercise class you would recommend to beginners? “I would totally recommend any type of martial arts as a way to get fit, because you’re actually learning to use your body properly as opposed to climbing imaginary stairs.”
What would you say to someone who is intimidated by the gym experience? “They shouldn’t be intimidated. The most fun thing in the world is to realize you have a bit of control over your body, and most of the people who go to gyms are incredibly friendly. They’re usually more than happy to share their knowledge or their experience with people. All you have to do is ask.”
What’s an indoor exercise you would recommend to do at home during winter? “What I think is the best single exercise in the world is the full burpee. From a standing position you drop down to a push-up. Then you do an explosive push-up and jump straight up into the air as high as you can and repeat. They’re pretty horrible, but pretty much the most efficient exercise, and you can do it in any six-foot square space.”
What do you eat in a typical day? “Yesterday, I woke up and had a big bowl of porridge. Then I went to the gym and immediately afterwards had a protein drink. Then I ran around the Silver Lake reservoir a couple of times, came home and had half a rotisserie chicken. Dinner was a salad and some grilled pork. Right before I went to bed, I had one more protein shake.”
Do you have any tips for eating well at a restaurant? “Avoiding the salty, carbohydratebased side dish that you’re almost certainly going to get with your main meal. It’s very hard if there are fries on the plate not to eat them. Either ask to not receive fries or ask if they can bring you carrot sticks instead.”
Has fitness always been a part of your life?
“I got into it when I was really young. I’ve always liked being active. I did cheerleading as a kid and stuff like that. A lot of it was always pushing myself to be better at whatever sport I was doing.”
What’s your weekly exercise routine nowadays? “I usually work out five days a week. I weightlift two or three days, then
I’ll box one or two days.
I have a trainer that I do weight lifting with at the gym and a coach that I box with at a boxing gym. I love mixing in classes like spin and Pilates, too.”
Are there any fitness apps you would recommend? “I really like Sweat by Kayla Itsines. It’s a quick workout, only 28 minutes, and she demonstrates everything for you.
She also gives you meal plans and shopping grocery lists. You can track your progress in the app, too. It’s great if you’re on the go or in a bind and you only have a short time to work out. I used to do it when [daughter] Aleda took her naps.”
What advice would you give to someone intimidated at the prospect of getting in shape? “Don’t think of it as getting in shape so much as getting healthy. Think of it as, ‘I’m doing this because it’s better for my body, better for my heart, better for my mind.’ ”
What do you typically eat in a day? “In the morning, I usually do egg whites and turkey bacon and sometimes a piece of toast. For lunch, I have some type of salad with quinoa and chicken and beans in it. For dinner, I do chicken and vegetables or sushi.”
What do you snack on? “I’m a big fan of raw almonds. Hummus and bell peppers or hummus and veggies is a really big go-to for me when I’m snacking, too. It’s fills you up pretty quick, and it’s high in protein.”
Do you have any tips about how to order healthy when you’re eating out? “Just try to go with really clean options, like grilled chicken, some sort of healthy carb like brown rice and vegetables. If you’re worried about the oil the restaurant cooks with, you can always ask for your vegetables to be grilled.”