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Michael B. Jordan Talks Propel Fitness Water Partnership, Finding Peace and Clarity, and Reveals His Gym Bag Must-Haves

The Propel Your City Project makes fitness more accessible by championing efforts that combine movement with community.

Michael B. Jordan is a heartthrob. From stealing the scene in the long-running soap opera All My Children back in the day to evolving into a handsome hunk on the big screen while starring in Black Panther, Without Remorse, and the multi-million dollar franchise Creed, we can’t get enough.

Now he is using his platform in partnership with Propel for the Propel Your City Project, a health and wellness-focused initiative to empower deserving communities by making fitness more accessible. According to Jordan, the mission of this joint effort is to "help amplify goals" within neighborhoods across Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, and Detroit. "We're trying to meet people where they are, then inspire them to go beyond their limits," he said.

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Once an athletic and competitive teenager whose roots trace back to the East Coast, he understands how fitness affects overall health. He notes that the initiative “strives with a unique approach” founded upon a two-set model: listening, then serving the needs of each city in a non-cookie-cutter approach. 

“One of the big things about this partnership that I really enjoyed was that it didn't feel like a one-size-fits-all type of program. Everybody doesn't have one fitness goal in mind. It looks different for different people and different places.”

BET.com caught up with the megastar, who spoke about collaborating with Propel and how healthy living plays a major role in his daily life.

BET.com: How often do you hit the gym?

Michael B. Jordan: It depends on the season. If I'm preparing for a role, like Creed, I'm working out twice, three times a day [because] my job is to work out. But if I'm not working, I try to [exercise] at least once a day [to] do something [to] break a sweat.

BET.com: Do you work out at a brick-and-mortar location in the city or at home?

Michael B. Jordan: Going to gyms is not a thing anymore for me. I work out at the house or go to a park [with] a group of people. I find my community of people that workout together. When you're around like-minded people, when they all have a goal in mind, it's easier to reach your goals and help keep each other accountable. So establishing and finding your [fitness community], no matter what that looks like, is important.

BET.com: What foods do you incorporate into your daily diet to maintain your health and physique?

Michael B. Jordan: For me, diet will always be important when trying to change your body. Having the right type of supplements in water to rehydrate and replenish electrolytes. And [I eat] a lot of raw foods, the less processed, the better.

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BET.com: Take me into your morning. What do you eat, and what is your exercise routine?

Michael B. Jordan:  I do fasted cardio. I don't eat anything first thing in the morning [and] I’ll get on a treadmill. Afterward, I'll have a big meal or a couple of protein shakes. A big meal consists of steak or chicken, rice, and vegetables. Most of the time, I'm trying to gain muscle, and that requires a lot of eating when you don't feel like it and [when] you're not hungry.

BET.com: What is in your gym bag?

Michael B. Jordan: Headphones are a must. Jump rope. A pair of wraps for my hands. A sauna suit [to wear] during my workout. It makes you sweat a lot, which helps the workout process, supplements and a water bottle.

BET.com: And, what's on your exercise playlist to get your mind and body moving?

Michael B. Jordan: I listen to a lot of Afrobeats.

BET.com: What is your go-to regimen to find peace and clarity?

Michael B. Jordan: Sitting still and meditating is super important for your inner peace and mental clarity. There are many distractions and things going on daily in everybody's life. Put the phone down [to] get some peace. Work on your breathing. It doesn't have to be this intimidating thing. Start a couple of minutes a day and build your way up where you can zone out and get to a great mental place.

BET.com: We're just going ask...As a sex symbol, do you feel pressure to keep up your body in tip-top condition?

Michael B. Jordan: Yeah, but the pressure is what I put on myself, not what I get from the world. I've never not been working; I've always been in between projects, always working towards another project. So that always kept me honest and accountable for being in shape. You gotta be focused, dedicated, and willing to sacrifice. If it were easy, everybody would do it.


Editor's note: This article has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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