On a late September afternoon in Huntington, WV, John Cooper and the remainder of his bandmates within the widespread group, Skillet, have been holding a meet and greet occasion earlier than their live performance that night. It was throughout this occasion {that a} fan shared his 90-pound weight-loss journey that included numerous working. The fan disclosed that a lot of Skillet’s songs are on his playlist, and he needed to thank the band in individual for the inspiration and motivation he credited them for.
“That’s superior,” mentioned Cooper. “That’s what it’s all about. I really like that.”
John Cooper went on to acknowledge the fan in the course of the present that evening as nicely. Cooper personally felt a reference to him as a result of he’s an avid runner himself. It’s a method to assist him keep locked in mentally and put together for excursions or album releases. This yr specifically has been a busy one for him.
Cooper mentioned,” We’ve labored actually onerous this yr as a result of we needed to end our file, toured Australia, Japan, and Canada, got here again to the U.S. to play our butts off, my daughter obtained married, and we moved—all in a six-month interval.”
Cooper acknowledges that like many different individuals, he’s not good and is apt to eat some further parts sometimes. Nonetheless, he by no means lets himself get too distant from a cushty weight. Cooper does need to be at his finest when a brand new file is popping out or the band is on tour, or on this case each. He commits himself to get in form for his followers as a lot as he commits his voice to hits like “Hero,” “Monster,” or one in all Skillet’s newest songs, “Unpopular.”
“We’ve got picture shoots, video shoots, and it’s time to drop these few further kilos,” he shared. “Nonetheless, it’s been an excellent summer time for me to lean again into well being.”
John Cooper’s Wellness Plan: Exhausting coaching and Clear Consuming
To be clear, although wanting like a rock star is vital, Cooper’s precedence is solely being wholesome for his household, band mates, and profession. As nice of a performer as he’s, his finest capacity is availability.
“There’s an excessive amount of to get accomplished, and if I don’t maintain myself, it simply isn’t going to get accomplished.”
When these occasions come, Cooper has a easy technique: eat clear and practice onerous. So long as he’s been doing this, the transition is a clean one.
“The factor that normally kicks it off for me is when it’s time to cease consuming sugar,” he defined. “I’ll nonetheless be understanding a few occasions every week, however that goes as much as round six occasions every week.”
John Cooper was huge into P90X coaching, made well-known by Tony Horton. He credited that program for serving to him construct muscle. Now that he’s 49 years outdated, he saves the depth for the stage. That’s the reason he feels working is best suited to him, particularly when he’s dwelling. Whereas many followers take heed to Skillet, Cooper will placed on basic hits from AC/DC, Metallica, and Kix. On days he wants further depth, he’ll throw in 5 Finger Demise Punch.
“I like to run. It’s my favourite,” he says. “And I take heed to metallic whereas I run. I additionally love doing T25 by Shaun T. It’s in my routine on tour. I’ll do them 5 to seven occasions a month since you don’t want weights. A variety of it’s interval and body weight coaching.”
The working and interval exercises like T25 or Madness serve Cooper finest as a result of he saves his time on tour for interviews, meet and greets, and rehearsals. Discovering a fitness center in each metropolis will not be essentially the most viable possibility.
“I appreciated being sturdy however I didn’t really feel nearly as good onstage. I really feel higher now that I’m lighter because of working, and I do yoga as nicely.”
Skillet’s Revolution
Staying in nice form has been an enormous motive why Cooper’s been capable of carry out in addition to he does for so long as he has. Skillet has been rocking out phases world wide for almost 30 years, and so they aren’t slowing down anytime quickly. Their newest album, “Revolution,” showcases their basic sound with fashionable songs that resonate with their viewers. One track off the album that’s probably been added to many exercise tracks is “Unpopular.” Cooper feels that this album goes to scratch the itch for a lot of health lovers.
“I’ve written songs that individuals preserve telling me are a part of their exercise playlists, and that is part of what rock music is,” he mentioned proudly. “Showtime” goes to be one other nice lifting track.”
Skillet doesn’t seem like slowing down anytime quickly, and it received’t be lengthy earlier than they kick off one other tour, put together to work on one other album, or discover different methods to encourage followers world wide. Within the meantime, Cooper will keep prepared and preserve optimizing his well being as a result of he is aware of it’ll serve him and people round him nicely.
“I need to be there for my youngsters and household after I grow old.”
“Revolution” is out now. You’ll find out extra about Skillet, the brand new album, and the place they are going to be performing by following @skilletband on Instagram and logging in to www.skillet.com .
JOHN COOPER’S THREE TIPS FOR SUCCESS ON THE ROAD
Plan Forward
There are various simpler methods to eat, however Cooper feels staying in form is well worth the time to plan meals forward and schedule exercises.
“I convey a bag of tuna that I can stick with it the aircraft. It’s not that nice, however it works. I can also have a protein bar.”
Chewing Gum
Generally, consuming additionally solves boredom. Cooper discovered that chewing a bit of gum saved him from taking in any pointless energy. This easy hack, he says, has helped him preserve management of his health.
“It could appear dumb, however for me, it really works.”
Skip the Scale
In the event you see Cooper onstage, you’ll be able to inform that he commits to be match, and he personally doesn’t want numbers to validate that.
“So long as my garments are becoming me like they need to, then I’m not frightened about it. I don’t let my life be dominated by issues like that.”