Debonair DAREDEVIL

American Fitness, Sept, 1999 by Bonnie Siegler

Days of Our Lives actor Victor Webster talks about sports, food, family and fitness.

For seven years, Victor Webster wreaked havoc on the fashion world as Versace, Valentino and Armani engaged in bidding wars to get the 6'3" looker to model their latest clothes on the runways. Everyone knows someone with Webster's looks and personality is bound to turn up on the screens of daytime television. Webster's role as the handsome troublemaker Nicholas Alamain on Days of Our Lives seems to have been created just for him. "Nicholas is right up my alley," Webster says. "He creates problems for bad guys. He's a good guy who does evil things to the bad guys. I love it!"

Webster thrives on extreme sports such as high speed skiing, race car driving and combat sports. "I'm still a big kid," says the 210-pound star, who loves pushing himself to the limits in daredevil sports. "I love the adrenaline rush of roller coasters, driving fast, skydiving and one-on-one martial arts competitions." Even though his very livelihood depends on an intact body and good looks, the self-proclaimed daredevil says, "I don't think of the negative. I just think of how much fun I'm going to have."

Born in Calgary, Canada, Webster grew up in a very close-knit family that emphasized spirituality and a healthy physical existence. "My mother is a very spiritual person and because we are so close, I too am very spiritual," he says. As corny as it may sound, Webster lives his life by the proverbial golden rule. "I'm not better than anybody else just because I've had opportunities come my way," he says. "I still believe you should treat others as you want them to treat you. I believe in karma and all the principles that create good karma. Go that extra step."

However, it took many years of self-discovery to be as focused as he sounds today at age 26. As a teenager, his rebellious nature created trouble in school. "I was always getting into fights as a kid," Webster explains. "I have a very aggressive nature. That's when my parents exposed me to martial arts, which provided the perfect outlet to redirect my energy. I immediately became addicted to the sport and my entire life changed. Martial arts is my passion." Webster still engages in martial arts up to five times a week, depending on his schedule. "I could do it every day if I had the time," he says. "Besides the physical aspects of giving me coordination, flexibility and agility, kickboxing and tae kwon do give me mental and physical discipline. They improve my self-esteem and confidence in other areas of my life."

Sports play a major role in Webster's overall physical fitness. "If I have time, I'll do some type of sport every day," he says. "I swim every morning at the Y because I consider it number one in total body conditioning." The rest of his list includes skiing, snowboarding, wakeboarding, basketball and tennis. I would much rather do something outdoors than be stuck inside a stuffy gym with a bunch of grunting guys," Webster says. "It's a necessary evil that I lift weights for at least 45 minutes three times a week, but if I'm lucky, I go for 90 minutes a stretch." Because boredom sets in quickly, Webster mixes up his routine. "I might do one or two body parts one session and do a full circuit upper body training the next with no rests or stops between sets. It provides me with aerobic and weight training simultaneously."

OK, let's put some perspective on this athletic body. "My chest is not so perfect," admits Webster, who says he would like to expose larger pecs in his shirtless scenes. "I'll just lift heavier weights (bench press 250 pounds) with less reps to get them pumped."

Another imperfection Webster admits to is eating doughnuts once or twice a month. "Maple bars and jelly-filled doughnuts are my downfall," he says, but he's learned how to trade in doughnut fat for "good fat." "I have a little bit of natural fat such as avocados with every meal," he explains. "I stay away from carbs such as bread and pasta, but I do like to have some rice."

With a diet following much of the Atkins principles, Webster says his breakfast usually consists of some fruit, yogurt, coffee, a meatless vegetable patty and egg whites. Lunch consists of chicken or fish with rice and veggies served at the Burbank Studios Commissary where Days of Our Lives is filmed. Dinner is steak, chicken or fish with some vegetables, but dining in is rarely an option. "I'm the king of eating out," he jokes. "I eat out almost every meal. With my busy schedule, I don't have time to fix a nutritional meal that can be prepared in 15 minutes at a restaurant."

Any snacking going on? "Oh yeah. That's the best way to maintain your diet--have five or six small meals throughout the day so your body metabolizes everything and stores only what it needs," Webster says. "A breast of chicken or high protein replacement bars provide a good nutritional snack. Webster s vitamin supplements include a men's multivitamin and vitamin C.

Webster spends his free time working with charities and staying close with family. "One of my biggest regrets in life is not keeping in touch with family that has since passed away," he says. "I believed they would be around forever. But I think a lot of my health and happiness has to do with family. My parents now live an hour away from me, so I spend a lot of time with them. Today, I went shopping with my mom. She bought a dress and a pair of shoes with my definite approval--and not just because she's my mom, but because she looked great!"