Muscle Fitness Muscle & Fitness UK - April 2018 | Page 30

MALE
MUSCLE
///
BY DANNI LEVY
“I’M FEELING BETTER
THAN EVER AT 40!”
Exclusive interview with Hollyoaks
star Duncan James
H
e’s about to turn 40,
but hit sensation Duncan
James certainly hasn’t
aged a day since he burst
onto the pop scene with boy band
Blue.
We chatted pizza, fake tan, and why
Zac Efron is his body idol!
chest. I love that pumped feeling you
get after chest day. Also, I enjoy
shoulders. Big shoulders always look
good I think.
What’s your go-to
cheat meal?
The best cheat meal has to be pizza.
I blame the Italian blood in me (I’m
half Italian), but I do try to keep it
How do you manage to stay
looking so young? Your body and moderately healthy and always have
tuna, anchovy and rocket. I know that
face are still in top nick and you
may sound gross to some of you, but
look the same as you did in the
mixed with the tomato and cheese
early Blue Days! Any tips?
it’s amazing!
I do like to try and take care of myself
the best I can. When I started in Blue
at 21, our hair and make-up girl
Who’s your body idol?
Maarit told me I should always use a
I think what Zac Efron has done
good moisturiser as a golden rule.
to his body is amazing. He’s really
I don’t think I ever moisturised my
transformed his body and looks
face until I met her!
awesome for it.
I try to eat well too and stay as
healthy as I can. I’ve never been one
What do you do to chill out
to binge on fast food thankfully. I
around your hectic filming
think a good diet is actually 80% of it. schedule?
I have always loved going to the gym
My chill out honestly is going
also. I try to stay active in my day to
to the gym. I unwind, focus my
day life, swimming or exercising at
mind on my work out and have a
least three times a week. I’m always
moment not to even think about
interested in new health and fitness
work. I love to do boxing pad work
techniques. I have a great personal
with my trainer Maz and it’s a great
trainer who’s helping me get back into way to offload any stress from your
shape after I had to have spinal
day (sorry Maz!).
decompression surgery 18 months ago.
What’s your fave body part
to train?
My favourite body part to train is
28
MUSCLE & FITNESS / APRIL 2018
Have you ever been on a
fitness mag cover?
No, I haven’t, but I’d love to! Is that
an offer?
How did you get injured? Are
you almost 100% again now?
My injury was sadly a build up of
many things over many years. I had
a disc bulge L5 S1 and I didn’t stop to
have an op until it was too late. The
final straw was dancing in heels for
Priscilla Queen of the Desert and my
disc really didn’t like it… (I 100%
empathise with you ladies!). One day
on tour my back said enough is
enough and pretty much my disc
compressed my nerve which needed
emergency surgery.
It’s a long road to recovery and back
problems take a lot of time to heal.
But day by day as they say.
What music do you
workout to?
Anything with a good beat and
melody. I love something that gives
me energy and gets that adrenaline
flowing!
Sunbeds or fake tan?
Fake tan all the way! I’m proud to say
that I love fake tan! I find Fake Bake is
the best on the market for the colour
of my skin. I had moles removed so
I can’t really use a sunbed and worry
about the risk of skin cancer.
Any exciting projects coming up
you can spill the beans on?
I’m going on tour with Blue and Steps
this summer. The tour runs from the
end of May through to July. Tickets are
available now at www.ticketmaster.co.uk
#summerofsteps
@mrduncanjames