Fitting Image
STARS REVEAL THEIR STRATEGIES FOR SHAPING UP AND SLIMMING DOWN
By Elaine G. Flores
You would never guess it by looking at him, but PASSIONS hunk Eric Martsolf (Ethan) wasn't always cut out for all those steamy love scenes. "I was extremely thin as a teenager," explains the actor. "I was a walking skeleton."
But all that changed in college. "My roommate was a competitive swimmer. I ended up going to the gym with him," chuckles Martsolf, even though "I didn't know a barbell from a pulley."
The attention to fitness paid off. During his years at school, Martsolf gained "25 pounds of muscle. I completely transformed."
So much so that it affected the kinds of acting parts he could try out for. "When I got to L.A., I had trouble getting roles because I looked like a guy who spent all of his time in the gym. I didn't look like a doctor or a lawyer."
Advised to get rid of the thick-necked look, Martsolf went through another transformation to achieve his current buff - but not overdone - physique.
Still, hitting the gym is a favorite way for Martsolf to relax and clear his head. "I'm one of those crazy people who actually enjoys the vibe of the gym," he shares.
But Martsolf is careful not to take it to the extreme. He learned that lesson the hard way. "I hurt my shoulder - I tore my rotator cuff on the bench press."
Subsequently, he educated himself about safe workouts. "After hurting myself, I read up on it. Men's Health and Fitness magazines are excellent. And it's good to have a personal trainer - if you can afford it."
In terms of food, Martsolf says, "I really believe [in having] everything in moderation. I go to the gym with a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup in my mouth all the time. The biggest obstacle around here on the PASSIONS set is restraint. We're asked to run around with our shirts off, but our catering service is like Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Liza [Huber, Gwen] and I always joke, 'Wanna go down to chocolate town?""
Typed up by Karrie so please do not copy & paste to your site.
