Although his ex, Gwyneth Paltrow, may be a health and wellness guru, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin's life changed after receiving a piece of advice from one of his idols: cut back from three square meals a day to one. "I don't eat anything after 4pm, and I learned that from having lunch with Bruce Springsteen."
Speaking on the Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend podcast, the musician confirmed that he no longer eats dinner. Martin added that, even before adopting the legendary singer's routine, he was already "on a really strict diet", but a meal with Springsteen after a Coldplay concert in Philadelphia last year prompted him to reassess his diet, noting that "Bruce still looked in better shape" than him.
Patti Scialfa, the New Jersey rocker's wife, spilled the beans on her husband's eating habits. "She told me that Bruce was only eating one meal a day. And, so, I thought, 'Well, there we go. That's my next challenge,'" Martin explained. Although Scialfa didn't disclose exactly what her husband eats to maintain his steely musculature, Martin joked with O'Brien that it must be a "flank of buffalo with a steroid sauce".
Despite occasional sightings of Springsteen enjoying a pepperoni pizza from his beloved Federici's in his native Freehold or a hot dog at Max's Bar & Grill in Long Beach, the rock icon meticulously monitors his diet down to the last calorie. "The biggest thing is: diet, diet, diet," he recently emphasized on Tim McGraw's Apple Music show.
"I don't eat too much, and I don't eat bad food, except for once in a while when I want to have some fun. So, I think if anyone is trying to get in shape, exercise is always important, of course, but diet is 90% of the game."
Springsteen, 'addicted' to weight training since the 80s, maintains a disciplined exercise regime even while touring. However, he confessed to McGraw that he's adopted a lighter approach these days. "I don't really do that much right now. I lift [weights] to stay toned. I may get on the treadmill... I'll walk - I don't run anymore."
The One Meal a Day (OMAD) diet seems to be yielding positive results for both Springsteen and Martin. Nevertheless, it's crucial to remember that before undertaking significant dietary changes, consulting with a specialist is essential.