When Nick Cannon released his self-titled debut album back in 2003 [Ed. note: a classic], he was a very different entertainer than the man you see on TV hosting Wild ’N Out and, until recently, America’s Got Talent. And although he’s remained pretty busy over the years, between making music, representing other artists, and making an unforgettable star turn in Drumline [Ed. note: also a classic], the 37-year-old still finds the time to keep his gym routine on lock.
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Despite his fondness for tank tops, Cannon wasn't always this ripped. But in 2012, a lupus diagnosis forced him to take a step back and reevaluate everything about his health, from how he works out, to how he hydrates, to how he sleeps. Since then, getting (and staying) in phenomenal shape has been a key component of how he manages his condition. We recently caught up with the father of three to learn more about how he handles everything that gets thrown at him in a day, from tough workouts to bad traffic to the ubiquitous social media haters.
GQ: When was the last time that you had a day where you didn't wake up pain-free?
Nick Cannon: Probably a few months ago. And on those days, I can only blame myself, because I'll be feeling so good that I'll slack on my regimen a little bit. You know, I'm supposed to drink two gallons of water a day to take my vitamins and my medicine properly. I’m supposed to stay on a pretty strict diet. But then when I'm feeling good, I'll slack off on that stuff.
A couple of months ago, I was overworking myself, and not having water, until one day I woke up and couldn't move. It took me about an hour to get out of bed. I knew that was the beginning of a flare-up. So I got my act together and took a rest day. I did some meditation, and some yoga, and got back on my hydration game. All the things I should’ve been doing in the first place.
And of course, this “bad” is so much different than when I was at my worst. It got really serious at one point. I had to have a bunch of blood transfusions, and chemotherapy. It’s been tough, but luckily I've been able to overcome it all to get to this point. I'm feeling great now. People ask me that question a lot. I'll say I'm well, and grateful to be. I've been in those places where I haven't been well, and those days sucked. Any day I can wake up pain-free is an amazing day.
You mentioned that you used to stick to a pretty strict diet. What does that typically look like for you?
For a while, that consisted of no sodium and no processed foods. I couldn't have certain green vegetables because there was too much vitamin K. I hated that, but I did it for almost a year.
Once I got out of that, I knew I wanted to keep a healthy lifestyle, but I didn’t want to be that confined. I wanted to enjoy food. So now it's just eating clean. I don't eat pork or processed foods. I'm able to have fun, and my trainer makes sure that when I want something, I can eat it, as long as it's balanced and it's all clean.
And hydration?
Two gallons of water a day. I feel like that truly is the fountain of youth. Water is the secret medicine of the earth. People don't understand how important it is, and if you get it in your system, it prevents, like, so much build-up. And alkaline water makes me feel even better.
Alkaline water?
Yeah. I drink Essentia a lot. If you have something with a seven or eight pH level, with the proper electrolytes and stuff, it’s a game-changer. It just makes me feel so energized. The doctors recommend it, so I’m good to go on whatever they say is good for me.
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And you keep up with all this even while you’re on the road? What’s a typical day look like for you?
I’m lucky, because when I travel, I get meals and things prepared for me. I hired someone to travel with me to make sure I’m always making time for my diet and my workouts. I have to do this, because otherwise I can end up back in the hospital.
So what does your fitness routine really look like?
I love core training. I’ve also been doing martial arts since I was a kid. Muay Thai, jiu-jitsu. And then I’m also really big on a bar training. I’d say that there are a only couple of days a week where I just go really heavy in the gym.
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Oh! Also! Me and my team on set have fire drills all the time.
Fire drills?
Yeah, everybody has the ability to call a fire drill once a day. It doesn't matter what the setting is, or where you are. If somebody screams “FIRE DRILL,” we all have to drop down and do 50 push-ups. So you might get two, three, or five drills a day. I get in all my push-ups this way.
What about cardio?
I hate running. I was just giving Kevin Hart crap because he runs all the time. He’s just the running man. I'm not running unless somebody is chasing me. So I do a lot of martial arts, kickboxing, and boxing. I was really into boxing for a long time. If I do too much cardio, though, I'll lose weight. And I don’t want to lose weight.
You mentioned meditation earlier. What does that look like for you?
It’s been sort of a savior for me, honestly. I was having a really bad flare-ups—bad inflammation. Learning to meditate and to use my strength from within helped me get moving and limber, which also tied into yoga. I started a pretty constant practice in 2012, and realized that the more time I spend with myself, the more stress releases from my body.
Most PopularHow do you stick with it? Do you ever get distracted?
I have these meditation apps on my phone, so I do it probably three different times during the day. When I first wake up, I sit for about 30 to 45 minutes in silence, listening to the meditation and getting the day started, clearing the mind of confusion. I tend to wake up an hour before I have to actually be up and get going.
What else have you picked up since your diagnosis?
A lot of issues with autoimmune diseases are exacerbated by stress, so I work as hard as possible to have a stress-free life. I’ve found key people to surround myself with. Sometimes you don’t even realize the things in your life that stress you out. It could be as simple as, like, the traffic you sit in regularly. My body just reacts to that stuff in a physical manner. I’d rather fly at a higher frequency.
Does it ever get easier to be someone about whom everyone has an opinion?
It doesn't really bother me. I understand the purpose of the media. I know how to play the game pretty well. So other people's opinions don't really matter to me. I always say that what people think about me is really none of my business.
Have you always had that approach to criticism?
No, I've definitely been on every side of it. I’ve been really immature, and I’ve been affected by social media. But nine times out of ten, if we have a real conversation from human to human, it's never really that serious.
A lot of the time, the criticism of “me” is really about Nick Cannon the character. They don’t really know me, though. I know that. I think I'm a completely different person than the one on TV. That's not a bad thing. It’s just that everyone sees me as the guy from TV. They don't get to see a father, or a businessman. I don't believe any human is one-dimensional.
What kind of advice would you offer someone who wants to build their own best body?
Do things that actually make you happy. I don't do anything unless I enjoy it. So even with fitness, you have to be willing to put in the hard work and the effort, but if it’s not enjoyable, you won’t do it, and you won’t give it your all.
What advice would you give yourself back in 2012?
Enjoy every minute, and just do it all with a smile. I remember those days, being in the hospital. We're so often caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, and in always wanting more, but you realize just how much you take for granted when everything’s taken away from you. Be present. Be grateful to wake up each day.
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