Fresh princess - actress Karyn Parsons - Cover Story

American Fitness, July-August, 1994 by Bonnie Siegler

Karyn Parsons is nothing like Hilary, the self-centered socialite she plays on NBC-TV's "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." While her alter-ego would have the butler raise and lower her arms for workouts, Parsons is a down-to-earth, do-it-herself exerciser. "Hilary's workout attire would be delivered to her from Neiman Marcus," says Parsons. "I just wear whatever feels comfortable."

Parsons enjoys the external and internal benefits of fitness. "I've been consistently exercising the past three years," she says. "I like the way it makes me feel."

Born in Hollywood, the 5'7" actress recalls being enthralled with theater since the first grade and dancing almost every day as a teen. "I loved dance as a form of exercise, but I never pursued it professionally," says Parsons. "I would do jazz, funk or some other dance for at least 90 minutes a day, five days a week." After a knee injury, she was forced to stop in 1987. "It was a gradual injury," explains Parsons. "My knee started giving me problems over a period of time."

In place of her dancing, Parsons tried aerobics classes, the Stairmaster and Versaclimber, finally settling into a cross training workout. Her routine consists of running 30 minutes on the treadmill at a slight incline, followed by free weights and machines three to five times a week. "I was told once the only way to get rid of your midsection was to run," she says. "So I made myself walk, then run for five minutes on the treadmill and built up to what I do now. That's the easiest way I've found to keep weight off my midsection." Not to mention the 90 crunches at the end of her workout with personal trainer, Roy Haimes. "Roy has really given me inspiration," says Parsons.

Alternating days between upper and lower body, the 125-pound actress concentrates on the pec deck machine. "As you work out more, what you want to focus on becomes clear," she says. "So I now know I like getting my shoulders defined, but I'm not one of those people who goes for the burn. Gradual and moderation are key words for me."

As for every actress, looks in front of the camera are also important to Parsons. "One thing I always notice is my butt," she admits. "I want to have shape and definition, but if I adhere to my five-day workout, I always lose weight in my behind."

In addition to her regimented gym workout, Parsons enjoys fencing, which she studied at Stella Alder acting school, and horseback riding. Occasionally, her love of dance resurfaces as well.

With 14-hour workdays, personal time is scarce. However, Parsons doesn't stint on taking care of her inner-self by combining good nutrition with her regular exercise. "I think it's important to pay attention to both," she recommends. "I know my body looks better, and my whole system works better since I became a vegetarian. My diet is as much for vanity as it is for moral reasons."

The confirmed three-year vegetarian stocks her Hollywood Hills pantries with tons of bottled water and bags of various greens. "I've found interesting ways to eat salads that don't taste like I'm just eating lettuce," says Parsons. One of her favorites is lightly sauteing red peppers and corn in olive oil and tossing them on top of greens with a light tahini dressing. "There are many different ways to eat healthy without being boring," she says.

For meal substitutions, Parsons says she finds veggie burgers just as satisfying as regular hamburgers, especially if topped with the right soy cheese. "Some kinds can taste funky and don't melt, so you have to experiment," warns the healthy gourmet, who also creates Mexican and Italian dishes. "I'll put cheese and veggies in chipati bread with salsa--I love it. I also experiment with different ways of cooking vegetables and pasta in garlic and olive oil with a lot of zesty stuff like onions, peppers and salsa for flavor."

Parsons supplements her light meals with megadoses of vitamin C in the form of three tablets daily. "I got the flu twice this past season when I wasn't taking my vitamins," she says. Along with the C, she takes a multi-vitamin, vitamin E, calcium supplements and an occasional iron supplement.

The conscientious effort has paid off. Entering her third season on the hit sitcom, Parsons is more confident and accepting of her appearance. "I have curvy hips and breasts--my mom is built like that too," she confides. "I realize I'm going to be fleshier, so I have no aspirations for a 'perfect' body--just a healthy one. When I'm at my healthiest, I really appreciate the way I look."