How a 25-minute workout keeps actor Barry Conrad in shape
Barry Conrad graces our TV screens without a shirt more often than not for his role on Neighbours but the star’s impressive physique is the result of just 25 minutes a day at the gym — as well as some intermittent fasting.
Fitness
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No matter what motivates you to stick to your diet or exercise routine, I can pretty much guarantee Barry Conrad’s got you beat.
Because when the Neighbours actor takes his shirt off, he’s got more than a reflection in a mirror staring back at him, with his topless image beamed to millions of viewers around the world.
“I play a bit of a bad boy on the show and I run a fight club and wreak all sorts of havoc,” he tells Health Hacker.
“I knew I had to hit the gym and watch my diet because I knew the shirt had to come off.
“But I love training, and so this has been great because it’s given me something to work towards. The show becomes a goal.”
Conrad has got his diet and fitness routine down to the finest of arts and while it’s hard to believe when looking at him, he says he spends less time in the gym than his fans spend watching an episode of his show on television.
The secret, he says, is working out hard and fast, along with an incredible intermittent fasting program that sees the singer and actor squeezing his daily calories into a four-hour window.
“I do a combination of body weight and weight training but I never lift anything too heavy. I’m in and out in 25 minutes. People can’t believe it, but you don’t need to do any more than that,” he says.
“The other secret is intermittent fasting, which I’ve done for years now. It’s not restricting calories but just shortening the window when you eat. But after the fast I open the window and eat whatever I want.
“It used to be 16 hours fasting, then eight hours eating, then it was 18 hours fasting, and now it’s more 20 hours fasting and four hours eating. I know it sounds extreme but once you’ve adapted to it you get this focus and energy and it’s addictive.”
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It might sound a little crazy but you can’t deny it’s working. And not just physically, with Conrad one of the most bubbly and positive people you’re ever likely to come across.
So who better to help us hack a positive mindset this week?
FAST FACTS ON HACKING A POSITIVE MINDSET
1. Make time for yourself
“Before doing anything in the morning, take some time for yourself,” Conrad says.
“So rather than reach for your phone and social media, take a walk or listen to some music. Do something that gives you the first part of the day.”
2. Map it out
“I start every day with an hour-long walk, and I think about how I want my day to go, or what I want to achieve, or what scripts I need to focus on,” Conrad says.
“And then I feel like I can focus on the rest of the world.”
3. Love to work
“Fill your life with things you love,” he says.
“Not just work, but things that bring you true happiness. And I know it’s not something that’s practical for everyone, but if you can do something you love for work, it really changes everything.”
ASK ADAM
Question: Hi Adam. I know you’ve heard it all before, but the biggest challenge I face with any diet is resisting my sweet tooth. Have you got any tips for stopping the sugary stuff ruining my fitness goals?
Answer: My single biggest hack for resisting sugar is staying well hydrated. It’s easier than you think to mistake a sugar craving for being thirsty. Before you give in, have a drink of water and see how you feel. Chances are that after 10 minutes the craving will have vanished.
* Send your questions to adam@themanshake.com.au
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Adam MacDougall is the creator of The Man Shake. A new, healthy, weight loss shake that is low in sugar, full of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals that you can have on the run and leaves you feeling full.
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