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Double duty: staying in shape enhances Ty Treadway's stage presence on One Life to Live and Soap Talk

American Fitness, March-April, 2003 by Bonnie Siegler

Daytime-television veteran Ty Treadway also co-hosts SOAPnet's Soap Talk, in which he talks the talk about soaps and their players. In his other job, he portrays the mysterious Dr. Troy MacIver, identical twin of the late Collin on One Life to Live. Well, almost identical. "Collin was closer to 188 pounds, but then, I dropped to 180," explains the bi-coastal resident. "I wanted to drop 10 pounds for the twin brother."

Lately, Treadway has had a difficult schedule, taping One Life to Live Monday through Friday in New York and six shows of Soap Talk Saturday and Sunday in Los Angeles. To top it all off, he became engaged to model/actress Monica Surratt before the holidays. "I'm based out of my suitcase," he laughs. "I'm a gipsy."

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The handsome 5'11" actor likes to kid around, but doesn't joke about fitness and its importance in his life. "Monica and I share a house by the beach in Santa Monica, California, so we play beach volleyball as much as possible," he says. Additionally, when he's on the West Coast, Treadway heads for the gym early with his fiance, where he'll spend 45 minutes weight training and 25 minutes on cardio. In the afternoon, they go hiking (an average of six miles) or bike riding.

Taking advantage of Los Angeles' year-round temperate climate, Treadway describes Surratt and himself as "very outdoor oriented. I consider outdoor activities bonus cardio sessions for that particular day." Other days, Treadway runs three miles. "I did that twice a week, but when I wanted to lose weight for the twin role, I added one more running session, which wasn't too difficult. I used to play soccer and sports as a kid, so I grew up running," he explains.

The youngest of seven children, Treadway attended Rider University on a soccer scholarship and later transferred to the College of New Jersey, where he graduated with a degree in accounting. However, the Trenton, New Jersey, native always enjoyed sports. "Ideally, I would have loved to play professional soccer," he confesses.

Treadway's serious fitness approach mirrors the attitude he extends to acting. The earnestness with which he tackles his work has probably contributed to his longevity in the business. When Treadway's previous character, the handsome and enigmatic Dr. Collin MacIver (nicknamed "Dr. Feelgood" by his fans), met his maker in a show-wide murder mystery, the fans protested. Due to their tremendous support, Treadway was asked to return to the show. Just as the mystery was solved and everyone started getting on with his or her life, in walks the equally enigmatic and handsome twin brother, Troy.

"My character takes his shirt off quite often," admits the strapping Treadway, who displays his abs of steel on a regular basis, "so there's definitely a demand to stay in shape. If the fans become used to you being fit, they don't want to see love handles the next time you take your shirt off. In a way, if you are on television, especially in daytime, I think it's your job to stay in shape and it's good for health in general. I feel better about myself and have more energy when I'm eating right and exercising."

A former bodybuilder, who won the "Mr. Natural Pennsylvania" title in 1994, Treadway knows the rigors of staying in shape. "What I got most out of competing is self-discipline--I learned not to give up. I basically ate the same meal six times a day, every day, for eight months: chicken breasts boiled twice in spring water, brown rice and sweet potatoes. I learned that if I strayed off my diet one time, it wouldn't really affect me physically, but if I gave in there, then I would give in everywhere else in my life," he reasons.

Not sticking to such a stringent meal plan now, Treadway keeps his diet well balanced. "My fat is probably up 20 percent and I try to have at least 200 grams of protein a day. I'm as regimented as I can be, but don't beat myself up as much anymore. With my schedule, I have to be more flexible," he says. Does such a disciplined man have any guilty pleasures? "Oh yeah," he gushes. "I'm a huge candy corn fan. I try not to have them around because I'll eat the whole bag. So on my cheat day, which is either Saturday or Sunday, I'll have some. I try to keep everything in moderation."

Except when it comes to candlelight dinners with Surratt. "Oh gosh," exclaims the hopelessly romantic guy, "I cook her a candlelight dinner at least once a week. Over the holidays, we had at least 10 of them. It's one of our favorite things to do. I love to cook and do so frequently on the talk show, so I've learned a lot, too." Favorite recipes change constantly. "Recently, I made lemon garlic chicken sauteed in white wine with roasted pine nuts, artichoke hearts and capers on a bed of linguini," he recounts. "Also, we just came up with this great crab, avocado and feta cheese egg white omelet."

Double duty: staying in shape enhances Ty Treadway's stage presence on One Life to Live and Soap Talk

American Fitness, March-April, 2003 by Bonnie Siegler

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