Inside a one-bedroom apartment tucked away between 10th Street and Greenwich Avenue, Jordan Slotopolsky’s alarm goes off every morning at 5:00 A.M. By 5:15, he’s downed a cup of water mixed with greens powder, brushed his teeth, and is packing a gym bag for the day. By 5:45, the 32-year-old is out the door en route to a workout class at one of the city’s toughest studios, where conditioning is king and “gallops,” or gorilla-looking sprints that make use of hands and feet, are a staple of every grueling session. This is just one of ten—ten—workouts that the full-time advertising technology sales executive will do this week.
Slotopolsky isn’t alone. Kenny Santucci, general manager at CrossFit Solace in Midtown, says that two-a-day-ers are becoming part of the norm for his clientele. “In a city like New York, working out is a way of life. People come to the gym not just to work out, but also to both de-stress and socialize,” he says. “People are working different muscle groups or skill sets each time, and we've got coaches here to watch out for signs of overtraining." For those reimagining what it means to adhere to a "workout routine," thoughts of getting enough protein dance in their heads between client meetings, and squeezing in a quick cardio session before a night out with their buddies has become a common practice.
Before you judge, we caught up with four guys, all of whom have full-time jobs that are not "personal trainer" or "professional athlete," to learn more about how they make this brand of fit-fanatic lifestyle work for them—and, for the curious ones out there, to take down a few tips, too.
Name: AJ Pappas
Age: 31
Occupation: Global Sports Marketing, Asset Manager at Reebok
Count: 12 times per week (including two-a-days every weekday)
GQ: Have you always been active? Or is this something you’ve adopted at this stage in your life?
AP: I’ve played sports my whole life. But I didn't expect fitness to be a huge component of my life until I was stuck working 14-plus hours a day in a job that limited my ability to exercise. One night when I was working in Germany on a project, I made a promise to myself to never take another job that limits me from doing what I love to do. And that is—shocker—fitness. Ever since then, I’ve kept that promise, which has played a pretty big part in me working for a company that embraces the lifestyle I live.
Describe a typical week of workouts.
I’m currently ramping up to run the Boston Marathon for the first time, which means that things are hectic. But I’ve made an effort to incorporate strength and accessory work—exercises that help your muscles work how they’re supposed to, even when you’re constantly working out—to continue to build strength while increasing my miles.
How does this sit with the people you care about? How do they feel about your lifestyle?
At times it can be challenging with friends and family, but they understand the passion I have. My dad was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in November. His chemotherapy is going great and is on the right track, and the thing that makes him happy in life is being proud of his son. So this question is like a double-edged sword, right? I knew by signing up and finishing the marathon, I would make him happy. But there’s definitely an opportunity cost of not spending more time with him face-to-face while I’m training. I’d say that the joy I will bring him when I cross the finish line and the proud-dad smile he will have across his face makes it worth it.
What else should I know about your lifestyle?
Traveling is a huge part of my job, but I still do some sort of exercise at the hotel in order to move the body and break a sweat. I noticed that when I used to wait a few days, my joints and muscles would get really tight. The way I see it, working out 10 or more times a week is beneficial because it keeps my body loose. If I don’t, I feel like I’m worse for it.
Name: Bishoy Tadros
Age: 30
Occupation: Financial Sales
Count: 10 times weekly
GQ: Have you always been active? Or is this something you’ve adopted at this stage in your life?
BT: As a young kid, I overcame a battle with leukemia. When I was finally healthy, I found myself being active because I knew it was good for me, but it was still just a part of who I was. Over the last five years or so, being active has become the bulk of my lifestyle, rather than just a compartment. It’s about more than empowering my body. It’s about a mindset. I’m better at holding myself accountable everywhere in my life.
Describe a typical week of workouts.
I try to get in the pool at least three days a week, usually for a morning swim. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I hit a spin class before my first meeting. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, I do a HIIT workout. Sundays are my lighter day, which generally involves a run of some sort. I take that extra time on Sundays to plan out my workouts for the next week.
Does it hinder your social life? What about dating?
I’ve realized that this kind of life means I have to make certain sacrifices—and be crafty. I’m 30, so the last couple years have been loaded with a ton of weddings, bachelor parties, and all that stuff. I’ll never say no to something like that, but I’m definitely thinking about how I can do it all. It’s part of who I am. I’m packing my stuff. I’m running in places like Cabo San Lucas, Costa Rica, and Las Vegas, while my buddies are... not.
I’m single, so no conflicts on that front. But I’m on the market for a girl that can be a teammate in this sort of stuff. I've brought girls on dates to spin classes, and even done some evening runs. Lots of high-fives.
Spin dates. That’s clever. What’s been one of the most rewarding parts of being this active for you?
Even though my schedule may sound hectic, it never feels like a mental strain to me. It just makes me a better guy. There was a time when I dreaded swimming—I was not a good swimmer, and I certainly did not belong in a competitive race. Fast forward to last year, I completed a half Ironman, and I remember finishing the 1.2-mile swim portion feeling so exhilarated—not because of a spectacular time result, but because for the entire segment, I never stopped. I never looked back. I got comfortable being uncomfortable.
Name: Jordan Slotopolsky
Age: 32
Occupation: Advertising Tech Sales Exec
Count: 10 times weekly
GQ: Describe a typical week of workouts.
JS: All of my workouts during the week are early. I usually take a 6:15 A.M. class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Monday is lower body, Wednesday is core, and Friday is conditioning. Tuesday and Thursday, I'm at Equinox by 6:30, where I do a total-body lifting session that consists of two “push” exercises; two pulls; shoulders; arms; core; and jump rope. On Saturday I take a 9:45 A.M. total-body workout class, and Sunday I’m back at Equinox around 10. The other workouts I do are at the rink. I usually play hockey two nights a week in a league.
I’ve mastered the whole pack-my-bag-in-the-morning-and-go thing. If there’s one piece of advice I can offer to guys who want to try this, it’s to find a good gym bag.
Do you find that you’re in a funk when you don’t get in those ten sessions?
For me, working out is the constant in my life. The more things I have going on, the more pressure I feel, and the more I want to work out. I firmly believe that if I didn’t have bad days or have a lot of pressure on me regularly, I wouldn’t be able to load the bench press as much as I can. The gym is my outlet to release that pent-up energy. Some people wake up, shower, and brush their teeth, and those things are all parts of their day. This is part of mine.
A lot of people may not believe it, but it has nothing to do with having a good body for me. I think that’s a byproduct of why I do it. If I don’t do it, I’ll be thinking about it all day.
What do you say to people who tell you to chill?
If you’re passionate about something and you really want to go do it, you’ll figure out how to do it, whatever it is. It all depends on how badly you want it. For me, fitness is that thing. Usually, that kind of sentiment comes from someone who wishes they had this kind of diligence in their routine.
I'm so lucky that I have the ability to get up every day and work out. Some people don't have that, and unfortunately there will be a day where I don't, either. I'm trying to get in all that I can, while I can still do it.
Name: Brian Kendrick
Age: 30
Occupation: Director of Sales
Count: 12 times weekly
GQ: Do you think living in a major city impacts how active you are?
BK: For sure. It wasn’t until I moved to New York City that I realized that I really missed everything that comes along with team sports: camaraderie, bonding, and being active. That is when I started getting more into group fitness to be a part of a community.
Would you say that group fitness is the biggest part of your routine?
I go to some sort of group fitness class four or five times a week. These are classes I take for pleasure, and also to meet fun, fitness-minded people. I try to visit my three favorite studios weekly. As for everything else, well, I lift or do some sort of strength training three times a week, and I’d say that’s the type of training that my body adheres to the most.
Outside of that, I’m constantly running. I hit the road for 15 to 18 miles per week, broken up into three runs. Almost a year ago, I started hosting a social run club called Untitled Recreation. It’s given me the opportunity to meet some amazing people, and it’s way better than spending a lot of money and calories at the bar.
Does this impact your job? Do you talk about fitness at work?
Over the past few years, I’ve been part of a team working on building a new software tech company called FitGrid, and so my coworkers are just as passionate about health and fitness as I am. I’ve worked hard to immerse myself within the boutique fitness industry. My role has been to network and interact with studio owners and instructors in major cities, so with that said, a massive part of my job is to work out. And I wouldn’t change it for a second.
