'You' star Penn Badgley's 'stalk-worthy' fitness: How the actor balances food, fitness, and mental health

Penn Badgley has always kept his audience hooked. From being the irresistible Dan Humphrey in ‘Gossip Girl’ to the obsessed serial killer Joe Goldberg in ‘You’, he has constantly delivered, and how! The charming star has a legion of fans, thanks to his incredible acting chops and his awe-inspiring fitness. Penn Badgley is bidding farewell to Joe Goldberg with the fifth and final season of the thriller series, and what better time to take a look at the actor’s diet and fitness routine, which gives him a ‘stalk-worthy’ appearance!

‘You’ star’s fitness routine

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Badgley is quite disciplined when it comes to his fitness journey. His regimen focuses on efficiency and strength. Given that he is often cast in films and shows that demand a certain physique, Badgley tries to stick to strength training. For instance, in 2009, as he was prepping for 'The Stepfather, ' Badgley underwent a rapid transformation, dropping 2-3 pounds of fat and building muscle in just one week. This required intense exercise about 4 times a week. Pull-ups, leg raises, Bosu ball pushup, dumbbell curl to press, shoulder fly, isometric pushup, and arm raises were some of the exercises he incorporated for that routine. What keeps the actor shredded is his consistency, and also mixing up exercises, so that the body burns more fat and calories, and builds muscles.

What does Penn Badgley’s diet look like?

(Pic courtesy: X)

Penn Badgley follows a vegan diet. A vegan diet is an entirely plant-based diet that focuses on foods derived from plants such as vegetables, grains, nuts, and fruits. This means foods that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs, are not a part of this diet. From his clear skin to his overall health, his vegan diet plays a crucial role.

His typical day starts with oatmeal, almonds, protein powder, a banana, and berries for breakfast. Building muscles and maintaining a shredded body is no cakewalk, and hence, the actor ensures to get enough protein in every meal. His lunch generally has plant-based proteins along with brown rice and vegetables. Badgley's dinner is rather hearty with a bowl of salad. He throws in a variety of veggies along with some plant-based protein.


Mental health

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Badgley has previously spoken about struggling with body dysmorphia as a kid. “I know that I hated my body and simply wanted a different one," he said. He had his own share of struggles while venturing into acting. But that started to fade away when he incorporated daily prayer and meditation into his routine. He meditates every day, and that has helped him maintain sanity along with “the simple stuff of life, like having a family, meaningful relationships with my friends.”



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