Terry Crews on fitness: ‘The habit of working out is better than the workout’

Terry Crews swung by Busy Tonight on Martin Luther King Day. Terry and Busy Philipps were in White Chicks together. Busy is best when she’s talking to people she knows. Plus it’s Terry Crews who just gets better with each appearance so this interview had a lovely relaxed feeling to it. And yet, Terry still managed to inspire me several times. I swear, he doesn’t even look like he’s trying. Not to mention, I learned a bunch of stuff about Terry I didn’t know, like he’s a grandfather. And, in addition to being a former professional football player, actor and painter, he’s also a furniture designer and a flautist. He just plays the flute for fun now, but it still prompted Busy to ask the question we all are thinking: where does he find the time?

On why he and Rebecca appeared on The Bachelor: My wife was kind of the centerpieces of that because he (Colton Underwood, The Bachelor) was looking for a strong woman and I brought my wife as an example of a real, strong woman because I was like ‘you want someone like this.’

His fitness advice: Calm it down. Don’t do too much. The trainer that’s not good is like, ‘Come on, give me another one!’ You’re sore, you’re hurt and the thing is, you’re done. You never want to do it again. You have to treat the gym like a spa. I totally work out for my mind and the body comes. I go there and I relax, and I do my thing. There was a time that I got out of shape, after I stopped playing football, I remember making myself go to the gym, read a magazine and go home. Because the habit of working out is better than the workout… Just go. You will eventually work out. If you just go every day, you’re going to put the magazine down and go, ‘you know what, I’m going to get on the elliptical. I’m going to do this, try this.’ And what happens is, ten years later… Start small, think big.

On his AGT hosting duties: It’s literally the biggest talent show in the world, and I’m the biggest host so it was the perfect match. Perfect for me, a big personality, and I love doing it because I’m the first guy they see coming on the stage. Kind of like being a bodyguard to their dreams and then when they come off, it’s like ‘I got you, I’m securing you, I’m making sure that you have whatever you need.’

On his creative drive: I have energy for days. But when you are creative, there is no burnout. It’s only when you are competing that you get burned out.

I honestly got energized just watching this. The comments I posted are my favorites but everything Terry said was awesome. The last two comments were what I needed to hear the most. Both of those things have weighed so heavily on me of late. I’ve talked about my energy taking a nosedive during perimenopause and that it’s affected my running. But I go out every morning, regardless, even if I just walk the same route. However, I feel guilty that I’m not running. Hearing Terry say that the habit is better than the workout felt like he was speaking directly to me.

Busy called Terry’s comments on creative vs. competitive, “an Oprah moment,” and it really was. I’ve made a creative pledge to myself that motivation needs to come from within me and not some sense of competition with my writer friends. I swear, I’m breathing so much easier right now.

Here are the two clips of Terry’s interview, he’s so much fun to watch. In the first one, Busy brings out a goat to milk after Terry says his next ‘journey’ is to own a farm. Between Busy milking while wearing multiple bangles and high heels and Terry giddily shouting, ”I’m milking the Greatest Of All Time!” it’s so LA – and it’s adorable. The second video is the one in which Terry plays the flute. He plays Busy out as she sings her closing song (she really has a great voice). If you close your eyes, you can pretend they are playing just for you.

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15 Responses to “Terry Crews on fitness: ‘The habit of working out is better than the workout’”

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  1. Jen says:

    This is so true, in my experience. I always tried to make my workouts brutal and never stuck with anything consistently. I started doing smaller( to be honest easier) workouts that I would build on to slowly and made sure I stayed on schedule, and I finally got it. It stopped feeling like a punishment and just started feeling like part of my routine.

  2. Jerri Blank says:

    I flippin’ love this man so much! Every time he smiles, it feels like pure sunshine.
    To me, he’s become the perfect symbol of ‘strength.’ There’s nothing shameful about vulnerability, joy or truth, but today those things are seen as liabilities.

    Stay strong Terry! NINE-NINE!!!

  3. Here or there says:

    I love him. And I have been put off the habit because of the workout. Now I’m going to start going for the habit and see what happens. I like how he put that.

  4. Scal says:

    He was on ask me another on NPR this weekend, and after it was revealed that he had gotten scholarship for illustration, his first job was a court room sketch artist, how heknew how to play the flute because his grandma gave him one for christmas, spoke about how he believed women, taught himself and his son how to build computers, the acting, & the fitness my husband turned to me and said: That guy is the true definition of a modern renaissance man. And it’s true! He’s amazing.

    If anything bad ever comes out about him I’m going to be so bummed out.

    • lucy2 says:

      Wow he really is!
      I love the painting video he did around Christmas, it was so calming, and he clearly enjoyed what he was doing.

      • Jo says:

        Yes – the painting video was the best. I thought I would watch a couple of minutes and didn’t look away from the screen for the whole thing! It was so calming and I loved how he was talking to himself the whole time – giving himself encouragement.

  5. Esmom says:

    I don’t know about going to the gym and just reading a magazine, but if it works for someone I can’t knock it. I’ve read about the same approach to running — no matter how much you dread going out there, just do it, even if you think you can only make it around the block. Chances are you’ll be glad you’re out there and will probably do more. The key is just getting yourself out the door.

    I get up at 5:00 am three days a week to get in a workout so I’ll have no excuses as the day goes on. Getting out of bed is sometimes so hard, especially on cold, dark winter mornings, but I’m always so happy when my workout is done at 6:30 am and the sun is just coming up!

  6. Elkie says:

    Run for president. FULFIL THE PROPHECY!!

  7. Janey says:

    Can Terry Crews write a manual for the rest of us please.

    • Harryg says:

      He is so right about things! And it’s true, you only burn out when you compete, and this can mean competing with yourself too, endlessly pushing.
      I don’t think humans need that much exercise. Crazy workouts are pointless unless you enjoy them. I have started to hate the word “fitness,” it just makes me think of stinky sweaty gym clothes and people posing on Insta.

  8. asdfa says:

    I LOVE HIM SO MUCH.

  9. Pineapple says:

    I love this man, his energy and his wisdom. I started working out, I love the extra energy and the feeling of strength that comes with it. My trainer is lovely but a bit crazy. I do my own thing and I am so, so happy. Your own pace matters so, so much. Anything is better than nothing!!

  10. EJW says:

    I’ve found that training is all about momentum. Keeping going is easier than starting to go. So even though it can be tough in the beginning once the routine is established the momentum carries you.