Team Player

American Fitness, Nov, 1998 by Bonnie Siegler

Sunset Beach heartthrob Eddie Cibrian's rise to fame hasn't changed his love of sports.

Team sports like soccer, basketball, football, volleyball and golf have always been Eddie Cibrian's thing. But now he's joined a new team, jumping ship from the prime time sudsy waters of Baywatch Nights to become part of daytime's Sunset Beach. As the show's Cole St. John, the 6'1" dimpled actor is a popular object of affection for legions of female co-stars.

Named one of TV's Hot Fall Guys by Details magazine, the native Californian keeps his sex symbol status in perspective. "I'm happy with it," Cibrian says. "But when I'm working, I think of it as acting."

What about those sexy scenes with bed-hopping Cole? "Those love scenes aren't difficult at all," he says. "It's the exact same thing over and over--a little rolling around and then, cut!"

From the playing fields to the gym, Cibrian's exuberance only adds to his appeal. He grins, revealing those deep dimples that send hearts swooning. "I've always been athletic," Cibrian says modestly. "For me, being in shape is a way of life. It's important for me to stay in good physical shape--not just for my career, but for me."

In fact, Cibrian was offered a football scholarship from the University of Pennsylvania because he excelled in a number of varsity sports in high school. Instead, he opted for the University of California, Los Angeles. "I played there, but I was injured after a year," he says. "That's when I started acting." National commercials (you might remember his handsome face peering out from a Coca Cola can), followed by three years on The Young and the Restless, led to his beating more than 300 men for the coveted Baywatch Nights role.

While his career took off, Cibrian never turned his back on sports and fitness. "Guys love sports because of the competitiveness, adrenaline, satisfaction--and the workout, too," he says. For the past 13 years, the 200-pounder has kept his body in shape with regular soccer games and weekly basketball and golf. "In golf I'm a 14 handicapper, so I'll probably struggle with that my whole life," he admits. "The other sports come naturally. I just go out there and have a lot of fun. They keep my cardiovascular system in shape."

Monday, Wednesday and Friday he alternates between heavy and light weights, working primarily on chest, arms, shoulders and back with various bench routines and flies. "My legs will always stay toned because of sports, so I don't focus on them because they would get too big," he says. "For my upper body, it's usually three sets of 10 reps. Depending on the day, I might go lighter or heavier." And for his midsection? "I do sit-ups with a machine, not crunches off the floor or mat," he says. "In order to build a six-pack, you have to build muscle. The only way to build muscle is to have some resistance, so I stack the weights with 200 pounds and do three sets of 25 reps. Then I go on to hanging leg lifts--three sets of 35 reps for the lower abdominals. That's where you lift the knees up to your chest while hanging by your arms on a pull-up bar."

The result would make Adonis himself jealous, which is just what exercise equipment manufacturers intended. However, Cibrian admits his diet could stand some improvement. "What diet? I don't have one!" he says. "It's really bad right now."

Laying blame on the culinary expertise of Brandi, his live-in model girlfriend, Cibrian says he's lucky to have youth on his side, as well as a love for keeping physically active. "The worst thing you can do is eat whatever you want--which I do--and not be active," he says. "That's when your body can start falling apart."

Can Cibrian cook? "Are you kidding?" he asks. "Nah. I do make a mean leftover turkey sandwich, though." His ingredients: French bread, white meat turkey, Dijon mustard, lettuce, tomatoes and Swiss cheese. "No mayonnaise," he adds. "I love mayonnaise, but that's the one thing I will not eat. It's too fattening." Culinary indulgence seems to be a forbidden luxury in his line of work.

Cibrian's current eat anything, no calorie-counting attitude toward food runs the gamut from pasta and lasagna to burgers and tacos. "I have so many guilty pleasures, it's not even funny," Cibrian admits. To indulge his sweet tooth, his favorite dish is decadent tiramisu. "But I'm not a big candy or chocolate eater," he adds.

Fans can look forward to Cibrian playing Holly Hunter's erotic masseur in the upcoming feature, Living Out Loud. "Two months before I started the film, I got into the best shape ever. My fat intake was almost zero, and I ate 350 grams of protein a day," Cibrian explains. "I'm glad that's over with--the diet, not being with an Oscar-winning actress naked. Then again, it's all part of the job."

Bonnie Siegler covers celebrity fitness for American Fitness.