For Marc Nelson, staying fit need not be expensive
While he doesn’t go around volunteering his age, Marc Nelson doesn’t hide it either. And it tickles him when people get surprised to find out that he’s already 52. Understandably so. To this day, the model-television host still looks like he could have well hopped out of a mid-2000s episode of “Sports Unlimited.”
“Shhh, don’t tell anyone, I’m a vampire,” he said, laughing. “But no, I’m very honest with my age when people ask.”
Of course, it goes without saying that he leads a healthy lifestyle. He exercises regularly, does all sorts of outdoor sports, avoids sugar as much as possible and makes sure he’s hydrated and gets sufficient sleep. But a bit of luck in the “genetic lottery” never hurt anyone, too.
“I do have Asian blood. And you know what they say about us, ‘Asians don’t raisin!’ So I think I got that as well,” he told Lifestyle on the sidelines of the recent media launch of the new UnionBank Mercury Card.
But jokes aside, the Burmese-Australian celebrity said he has made adjustments to his workout routines as his body grows more mature. At his age, resistance training is king.
“As you become older, resistance training, for me, is the important exercise you can do. So your muscles don’t deteriorate. Now, I always make sure I lift heavy weights or incorporate some powerlifting into my routine,” he said.
When he’s in Manila, he works out at least three to four times a week. And when he’s out traveling, which is most of the time, he focuses on sports and other activities. His current “mains” are kiteboarding and freediving.
“My biggest purchases, I would say, are my kiteboarding equipment—that and the plane tickets to go kiteboarding and freediving in different parts of the world,” he said.
Sunscreen
And because many of the things he enjoys involve being out in the sun for hours on end, putting on sunscreen is a must. “I always do. Make sure to protect your skin, guys! It’s very important,” he said.
On regular days, he uses a moisturizer with SPF. But other than that, Nelson’s skincare routine is pretty much limited to washing his face with the same antibacterial soap he uses on the rest of his body.
Nelson doesn’t think his eating regimen is strict. Some people think otherwise, he said. You be the judge:
He fasts for 16 hours or more every day and eats only within an eight-hour window. If he wants his coffee less bitter, he reaches for sugar substitutes like Stevia, agave or monk fruit. And you certainly won’t see empty packs of junk food lying around his home.
That doesn’t mean, though, that he deprives himself. He eats carbs, for one. “I just don’t go crazy,” he said. “And when someone offers me a cake at a party, and I feel like having some, I go for it. I don’t feel guilty about it because I’m not constantly eating all the time.”
But at the end of the day, he said, all the exercises, sports and diets can only do so much if you don’t keep your mental health in check. “If you have decisions to make, choose the option that will give you the greatest peace of mind. It’s invaluable. It’s worth more than money, fame or anything else,” he said.
Personally, he finds morning meditation and reading beneficial. Keeping a journal also helps clear his mind. “And it’s always good to foster relationships and friendships … to surround yourself with good people,” he said.
Nelson has long advocated stress-free living, but even more so in recent years. In fact, he now has two international certifications on life coaching, which he does on the side.
Hosting
“I have grown more interested in this journey, especially after realizing that so many people struggle with mental health. So, I’m trying to work on promoting ways to address that,” said Nelson, who’s also an ambassador for World Vision and the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines.
He has just finished filming for his travel show, “Beached.” And now, he busies himself hosting various events, like this one by UnionBank and Mercury Drug, whose new credit card lets users earn five times more reward points on all health- and wellness-related purchases.
Participants were treated to cycling and yoga classes, wellness treatments, a fashion show and a dinner prepared by Grand Hyatt Manila executive chef Mark Hagan.
While it can be tempting for those getting started with their fitness journey to get their hands on the latest gadgets, or subscribe to trendy exercise programs, staying healthy doesn’t have to be expensive, said Nelson.
“It can be absolutely, extremely expensive—but only if you choose it to be that way. It doesn’t have to. It costs very little to go for a run or jump rope. You can always go to the wet market to buy fresh produce,” he said.
“And there are a lot of exercises that you can do at home, like pushups or dips. That was actually my first ever hosting job, doing a home fitness segment for a morning show,” he added.
But whatever approach to health and fitness you end up choosing, everything, Nelson stressed, will all boil down to consistency.
“If you can find a routine and stay consistent with it, it can make a world of difference. And I’m living proof of that,” he said.
