hours a day. I maintained this all the way up to about age 33. Whether it was boxing, lifting weights, running, jogging, hiking or swimming, I was that out- doorsy guy. I’mstill that guy; I still love it. But my body pays the price for it.
GA: To complicate things, you had a bad cycling accident in August 2009. SM: I didn’t have to have any major sur- gery, but I took a good whoopin’ that day. It was a very scary day emotionally
that I didn’t want to go do it and find out that I can’t do it. But little by little I just knew better. I would say to myself, Let’s get back to the guy I was. Once I started exercising, it hurt. I was
sore.My calves
hurt.My back hurt. I was like, Oh, this sucks. But I kept saying to myself, Keep pushing.
GA: How does your “Criminal Minds” workload influence your fitness? SM: A lot of it I can blame on the acci-
dent, but a lot of it is our work schedule. Our hours are nuts—12- to 16-hour days. I have a gym at work so I’ll wake up one day and go, OK, I’mgonna go work out today. But then after 13 hours of shooting, the last thing you’re think- ing about is going to the gym. And then a week goes. Then a month. Then you’re sluggish. You feel like, I’mworking hard, why do I feel so bad? The accident really shook me, but the last few years have been a little strange. In the last three or
“I get guys…showing off in front of their girlfriends,who say, ‘That’s Shemar Moore. Hey,man, you look bigger on TV.’”
because it could have been a lot worse: I could’ve been dead; I could’ve been in a wheelchair. God, the universe—I’d just like to say that it wasn’t my time.
GA: In what ways did it make you take stock of your life? SM: After the accident I was more acutely aware of relationships, of dreams that I have, of sunsets, sunrises —all that stuff. The best way for me to enjoy that stuff is to be the best I can be. The accident really refueled the idea to take advantage of right now. Enjoy this moment right now. Be the best you can be right now. Don’t put things off.
GA: How did this translate into amping up your level of fitness? SM: I knew I wanted to get back into shape. But because of the accident, even though I was talking a good talk, I was kind of dragging my feet. There was an uncertainty, this block of really committing to getting into shape. I think I was kind of still shell-shocked. Scared of mortality. Scared that I’mgetting older. Scared
four months I’ve found a rhythm, and I feel like I’mgetting my mojo back. And it’s due to exercise.
GA: Can your sex-symbol status be both a motivation and a stress? SM: It’s flattering. But at this point it becomes a hell of a lot of pressure. In interviews I joke around and say, “Yeah, I used to have a six-pack, but now I’m kinda happy with a two-pack.” TV tends tomake you look bigger—and also your persona on television. I get guys who come up to me, guys who work out and are fit or they’re showing off in front of their girlfriends, who say, “That’s ShemarMoore. Hey,man, you look bigger on TV.” There’s this pres- sure that I have to hold my breath everywhere I go tomake sure I look like I have a six-pack. It’s still fun, but at 40 years old it’s somuch harder. I can’t livemy life to be the Adonis. I’mgonna have to
Top: Off-screen and on,Moore is well armed. Bottom: In “CriminalMinds,”Moore is part of a celebrated ensemble cast, including Joe Mantegna, far left, and Paget Brewster, far right.
pass the torch one day. [Laughs.]
ChrisMann is a writer and editor of the pop culture webzine
Retroality.TV.
GET ACTIVE! 39
Photos, top to bottom: ABC Studios/Randy Holmes; ABC Studios/Lewis Jacobs
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