I recently had an opportunity to speak with Men’s Health Legend Gregg Avedon.
By: Joshua Conner
Gregg Avedon is a NASM personal trainer, nutrition specialist, model, author and photographer based in Evergreen, Colorado. Avedon inspires me both personally & professionally. Personally, I am inspired by Avedon’s connection to nature, style, physique & his great flex Friday social media posts. Professionally, I am inspired by how Avedon continues to reinvent himself and how he graced Men’s Health numerous times.
What is a day in the life of Avedon like?
“I wake up everyday around 5:30 in the morning and the first thing I do is make coffee and take care of my new puppy. Then, I head out the door for my first clients of the day for personal training. So now, I’m living up in the mountains, so it takes me a little bit of time to get down from the mountains, and it also depends on what the weather is. If it’s snowing, then of course I’m navigating the snow, on the way down the mountains.
First thing I do is, I head to the gym, I have my first round of clients and then once I have a break, I train myself. I do cardio, and then I train my second round of clients. Then, I head back home, and I take care of whatever, I need to do when it comes to like: writing programs, nutrition plans, working on new books, or my website, basically taking care of business in my office at home, then it’s dinnertime. I try to at least take one walk everyday. I try to do like a 3 mile walk, if I can especially, being out here in the mountains. Whether it’s a hike or just walking around my neighborhood. Aside from that, then I try to get to bed before 11 pm,” said Avedon.
Avedon then explained how his days are different if he has a modeling job, because he spends most of his time on road and preparing for the job.
“Everything is sort of geared towards the job that I am working on, even my prep. People tend to think I’m a fitness model, when I’m really more of a fashion model. I’ve been a fashion model, my entire career. With the good fortune of working with Men’s Health, and working with other publications, where you see my body, but mostly, most of my stuff is fashion. So the jobs, that I do are more where I am clothed, so it’s not like I’m having to dial in and prep nutritionally, to do my jobs.
Although, you know, I always want to feel my best, and look my best.
So I’m always gearing up, when I have a job to keep it clean, I think if you do that, you look clean overall. In your: eyes, face, skin tone and your energy levels. When I go on a job, off course you’re dealing with travel, it’s usually a 6 am call time and a catered breakfast, but I keep everything pretty simple when I am on a job. I rarely if ever will go out to dinner, so when I work a long day, they’ll cater lunch, so I usually have a salad for lunch with whatever source of protein they may have. Dinner, I always go to the grocery store, get a basic salad, some fruit, maybe yogurt and then I have dinner in my room,” said Avedon.
What would be Avedon’s spirit animal?
“My wife has told me that my spirit animal is the wolf, and the funny thing is one of the first dogs we had; she was a white Shepard, and she had very wolf like qualities. She has very long since passed, we lost her about 10 years ago, but I do feel like she is always kind of looking out for me. If you want to say a spirit animal, I feel her presence in a lot of ways. I would say you know a wolf in that regard. Just that she’s looking over me, guarding me and keeping me safe.
Last year, maybe about 8 months ago or so, I posted pictures of me with a wolf. In Colorado Springs, there is a wolf sanctuary, so I went out there. I actually had the good fortune of hiking with the wolves. It was just an incredible experience, in the mountains. It is incredible, super intimidating at first, they are just way bigger than you could even realize and powerful. It was an awesome experience, that was something that, I probably wouldn’t mind doing again. I made friends with the owners of the wolves and everything, and continue to stay in contact with them, it was pretty cool,” said Avedon.
One of Avedon’s mantra is, “In my life, I have learned, that there is more wisdom in nature, than all the greatest minds combined. A simple complexity of a leaf, is as miraculous as a Continental Divide.”
“Just the power in that, in the grand scheme of things. That God, is in everything, he’s the creator, it’s absolutely amazing,” said Avedon. Avedon’s favorite quote however, is by Henry David Thoreau. Avedon really likes how Thoreau is connected to nature.
“He felt like a day was not truly complete, without walking in nature, which is often how I feel. So there is sort of kinship that I always feel with Thoreau. The quote is, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined,” Henry David Thoreau,” said Avedon.
What is Avedon’s underwear preference?
“I’m so simple, basic briefs & Hanes is the brand I get 9 out of 10 times. They fit, they support everything, that’s why I don’t like boxers too much, they don’t support me as well. Basic white briefs, is honestly my go to,” said Avedon.
How does Avedon feel to be considered a Men’s Health Legend?
“I’m super grateful & of course humbled everyday, because we are all in this journey together. I’ve had the good fortune to be in the right place, at the right time, and being prepared for when the opportunity happened for me. It’s just been an incredible journey. I just have a massive sense of gratitude, because it gives me a voice. It gives me a voice to reach lots of people, and sort of my whole standard is to get results and being consistent. It’s not rocket science, you know, everybody has the ability to make massive achievements. If somebody asks me, Gregg, how can I get on the cover of Men’s Health, I encourage them and I am always willing to help them.
For me, it’s just a humbling experience. I’m just grateful that I had the opportunity to do as many covers, and have the relationship with Men’s Health that I have,” said Avedon.