Buff Baywatch star Zac Efron reveals how exercise has helped him stay sober as he opens up about his VERY gruelling fitness regime 

  • Zac Efron faced a public battle with drugs and alcohol before entering rehab
  • The 29-year-old Baywatch actor has revealed how exercise helps him stay sober 
  • Opened up about his intense fitness regime ahead of starring role in Baywatch 

By Stephanie Linning for MailOnline

Published: 05:05 EDT, 29 March 2017 | Updated: 05:05 EDT, 29 March 2017

He has gone from teen heartthrob to bona fide Hollywood star, and Zac Efron shows no signs of slowing down.

The actor, who skyrocketed to fame in High School Musical, will this summer strip down to his swim shorts as he fronts the remake of Baywatch alongside Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, in a film which already has all the makings of a summer blockbuster.

With all the glitter, it is easy to forget that Efron, now 29, has also suffered setbacks in his meteoric rise. He battled very publicly with drug and alcohol issues and in 2013 went to rehab, and emerged sober.

Now the Californian-born actor has told Josh Dean in an exclusive interview for Men's Fitness how his gruelling workout regime has helped him on his path to sobriety. 

Intense: Zac Efron described his gruelling work out routine in an interview with Men's Fitness

Intense: Zac Efron described his gruelling work out routine in an interview with Men's Fitness

'When I’m very careful about my fitness and have a goal in mind, it keeps me motivated and balanced,' he said. 

'I wake up earlier. I don’t feel the need to be out [socialising] – that kills your day, your hobbies, and your motivation.'

He added: 'Balancing sobriety and work and finding that comfortable place where you feel like a good person.'

The actor certainly has enough exercise to keep himself occupied. He told the magazine about the punishing fitness routine he committed to in order to remove the 'last bit of fat' from his body so he could feel his best slipping into the iconic red swimming shorts for Baywatch's many beach scenes. 

Rise to stardom: The actor has gone from teen heartthrob to Hollywood leading man

Rise to stardom: The actor has gone from teen heartthrob to Hollywood leading man

Rippling: The actor trained six days a week for 10 weeks to prepare for his role in Baywatch

Rippling: The actor trained six days a week for 10 weeks to prepare for his role in Baywatch

Before filming started it involved an intense 10-week plan that saw him train five or six days a week, often twice a day. Personal trainer Patrick Murphy told Men's Fitness it was the 'most dynamic programme I've ever put together for a client'. 

It continued on set, with Efron waking up at 5am everyday to squeeze in an early morning session. The programme goes hand-in-hand with an equally strict diet. 

'After a while your body stops craving junk food and you look forward to these meals,' he said. 'There's this trigger that happens after two or three weeks of dieting and eating healthy food, where your body switches its primary energy source from burning mainly carbohydrates to burning fat. 

Healthy eating: Commenting on his strict diet, Efron said he no longer craved junk food

Healthy eating: Commenting on his strict diet, Efron said he no longer craved junk food

Lean: The star wanted to shed the last 'bit of body fat' before he stripped down to his red trunks

Lean: The star wanted to shed the last 'bit of body fat' before he stripped down to his red trunks

'And when it switches over, all your cravings change. You go, "Holy cow, I want kale and vinaigrette shredded with beets and a little bit of sweet potato!"

Despite his dedication, Efron insists it is surpassed by his co-star Johnson.

'He's getting less sleep than I am and he already did a post on Instagram at 5.30am, doing the most ridiculous leg day you've ever seen,' Efron said. 'He's reached nirvana – muscle nirvana.'

The new issue of Men's Fitness - featuring an exclusive interview with Zac Efron and a Build a Baywatch body - is on sale now. Subscribe and get five issues for just £5.

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