How This Celebrity Chef Lets Off Steam

I grew up playing rugby.

I played lock and outside centre all through school until I started cooking. And I’ve always gone to the gym. I used to be a bit bigger. I was 105 kilograms at one point. Now I’m at 95.

But I don’t do heavy weights anymore. These days it’s more about repetition and variety. I do a bit of everything with my trainer Trent Langlands, who owns Lifecycle in Bronte. It’s everything from pushing sleds, to climbing ropes, to burpees, to running, to hill sprints, stairclimbs, rowing and some weights.

MORE: Have you reached peak diet?

I always train in the morning, from six to seven. I don’t have an issue waking up and going to the gym. Some weeks I can do 4-5 sessions, other weeks it’s 2-3. It’s about making time. People say, ‘Oh, I work too hard’. Fair enough – you do. But you can get up an hour earlier. There’s always time if you really want to do it.

When I’m exercising I’m not thinking about work so much. But for me it can’t just be one type of exercise. I’ve tried it that way. I used to swim 1.5 kilometres or do half an hour on the treadmill. The problem with those types of exercises is I start thinking about what I’ve got to do. Then I actually get out of the pool or off the treadmill and I go and do it. That’s why I like mixing things up. When I’m doing different exercises my mind is more engaged. It doesn’t drift back to work.

MORE: Six reasons why the pig is a magical animal

I’m 46 now. I always said that between 30 and 50 is the time where you decide which way you go. I never wanted to be an overweight 50-year-old.

MORE: Sitting is the new smoking - plus six other sins