Soap Hub Wellness Wednesday: DAYS’ Dan Feuerriegel Talks the Walk

Dan Feuerriegel brings not only an imposing presence to his role as EJ DiMera on Days of our Lives, but the actor keeps EJ on his A-game, ready to match wits with his character’s friends and foes. The former Spartacus star sat down with Soap Hub to share his thoughts on staying fit both mentally and physically in this week’s Wellness Wednesday feature.

Dan Feuerriegel Talks Physical and Mental Health

Prior to landing in Salem, Feuerriegel played the part of Agron, a skilled German fighter who was recruited to become one of Spartacus’s chief lieutenants, appearing in both the Spartacus TV series and the mini-series Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. The actor’s wardrobe on DAYS is more modest than what Agron donned, given EJ’s penchant for wearing power suits. However, that doesn’t mean Feuerriegel doesn’t stay action-star-ready in terms of his physique.

Soap Hub: How do you schedule fitness into your life?
Dan Feuerriegel: Most of it depends on my DAYS scheduling. We get a weekly and then, a daily schedule. So, I will work around that. I may have a few days in the week free, so I will definitely train then. Plus, I may only have to work in the morning or the afternoon, so I will also work around that schedule, too. On weekends, I have more flexibility to train when I want to.

Soap Hub: What’s a typical fitness regime?
Dan Feuerriegel: I train at F45 as well as a ‘regular’ gym. It gives me more variety in my training styles. Circuit work/cardio versus weight training. Keeps my body guessing, and I don’t get bored. I also like to hike and bodyboard at the beach. Anything to just keep active.

Soap Hub: Do you have a “cheat” day? Do you believe in them?
Dan Feuerriegel: I don’t have a designated cheat day. I’m trying to reach a body fat percentage goal at the moment. So the cheat meals are few and far between. I’ll have a cheat meal if I believe I deserve it.

Soap Hub: What’s one thing that you’d like to work on – drinking more water? Shutting off your cell phone after a certain hour?
Dan Feuerriegel: Get off my damn phone. See my friends more.

Soap Hub: Do you meditate?
Dan Feuerriegel: Yes, I do. Look into Dr. Joe Dispeza. Love his stuff.

Soap Hub: Have you always been active?
Dan Feuerriegel: Yes. I’ve played sports ever since I was little. Love being active. I’m not as active as I used to be, and I am working on changing that.

Soap Hub: Did you change your exercise regime during COVID? What positives may have come out of learning how to do things differently?
Dan Feuerriegel: No real changes fitness wise. But I did pick up meditation during that period.

Soap Hub: Everyone is different and has different needs but do you have any advice for those who are looking to work on their wellness?
Dan Feuerriegel: Start small and work your way up. Bodyweight is always a good beginning. Meditation is excellent, too, even if it’s just going for a walk (which is a form of meditation) for 10 to 15 minutes with no phone/or listening to your favorite music. Speaking of walking, I feel that it is such an unappreciated fitness hack. It’s easy on your body and is quite meditative, as I mentioned above. Supplement it with your regular fitness routine, and I believe that you may see amazing compounding results over time, especially with weight loss.

As always, consult your doctor or health care expert before embarking on any wellness programs. Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Salem, check out all the latest that’s been posted on DAYS spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.

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