Jake Gyllenhaal Talks Fitness Addiction with Men’s Journal

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal may have impressed his female fans with his ripped physique in “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,” but the truth of the matter is that he’s always been in excellent condition. In fact, he may even have a form of fitness addiction.

Jake is the cover for the April 2011 issue of Men’s Journal, out at newsstands since Friday, and, in the accompanying interview, he makes quite a startling revelation.

While others need lots of motivation to get started on an exercise routine and to keep at it, he actually needs to make an effort not to work out as usual.

The magazine dubs him “the fittest guy in Hollywood,” a title he more than deserves since not a day goes by without him doing one of his favorite workouts, which range from barefoot running to hiking and biking.

“I’ve had to teach myself to slow down a bit. Because I get so into it, it becomes a real addiction,” Jake says.

So he’s decided to take it slower: not in the sense of working out less but rather of paying the same amount of attention to other things, just as important as staying healthy and in top shape.

“But it’s like a New Year’s resolution – to sit down and read a book. Life’s not a bike ride. I wouldn’t say exercise less, but sit with myself,” Jake explains.

“It’s not: ‘I’m having a [bad] day and I’m going to go for a run,’ but ‘I’m having a [bad] day and I’m going for a run and I’m going to try to work out what’s going on’,” the actor adds.

“Not just get my serotonin levels up and feel good. I’m going to think about things. And the only way you can do that is to slow the pace down,” he underlines.

Coming from a guy who is often papped while doing some form of exercise, that’s saying a lot.

Jake famously got buff for his role in “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,” for which he did most of his stunts after training for months in freerunning / Parkour.