Henry Rollins Workout and Diet
Musician
Henry Rollins is the stage name of Henry Garfield. He was born in Washington DC and began writing in high school. Rollins attended American University for 1 semester, dropping out in December 1979. He worked minimum wage jobs and as a roadie for local bands including Teen Idles. In 1980, he was briefly part of the band State of Alert (S.O.A.). From 1981-‘86, Rollins was lead singer for the punk band Black Flag. He then set up the record and publishing label 2.13.62 (his birthday) which he used to produce spoken word albums. He also formed the Rollins Band which tour from 1987-2003. Rollins has hosted various radio and tv shows and appeared in films. He also supports various political causes including gay rights and ending all war. Rollins is a regular contributor to Rolling Stone Australia and LA Weekly. He has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. Rollins is 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs about 175 lbs.
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Henry Rollins’ Diet
Diet Summary
Rollins loves to have a packed schedule, and is very particular about what he eats to fuel his busy days. To keep his energy up, he eats lots of veggies, spinach in particular, and engages in intermittent fasting. He uses several supplements including Athletic Greens super-food powder and beet extract, along with plant-based protein. He says that while it isn’t always easy to eat clean, it’s essential to his health. He is also strongly against any kind of drug or alcohol use, saying that such things limit potential, and is a way for the government to keep people passive.
Estimated Macros
Medium Fat
Low-Medium Protein
High Carb
Diet Details
Eat Your Greens
Rollins focuses on his veggies every day, including lots of spinach. He says no matter where he is in the world, he eats his greens.
Intermittent Fasting
Rollins says he often only has greens powder and beet extract powder along with some plant-based protein during the day, and nothing else until he is done with work at nearly midnight.
Squeaky Clean
Drugs and alcohol are very prevalent among artists, and although Rollins tried marijuana and LSD back in the day, he says it isn’t the right path for him or anyone, and that a clear mind is the best way to produce quality work.
What to Eat
- Spinach
- All veggies
- Greens supplement
- Plant-based protein
- Beet extract
- Whole grains
- Natural foods
- Water
What to Avoid
- Drugs
- Alcohol
- Eating outside your feeding window
- Refined foods
- Junk food
- Artificial ingredients
- Chemicals
Rollins on his diet
‘I eat a lot of spinach and other vegetables.’
Rollins on the importance of a clean diet
‘For me…diet is perhaps the most important thing I do for my mental health, besides going to the gym.’
Rollins on sticking with healthy eating
‘It’s not always easy, but this is what I do — no matter where in the world I am.’
Henry Rollins’ Workout Routine
Workout Routine
Helping Hand
Rollins says a teacher in high school set him on the path to bodybuilding, and that what he learned has helped him in every other aspect of his life.
Lift for Mental Health
Rollins considers his daily gym sessions to be essential for his mental as well as his physical health.
Practical Goals
Rollins says that while at one time he could lift 565 lbs. and run miles every day, these days he cares about longevity and keeping his mind and body limber.
Daily Dose
Rollins usually works out 6 days a week. He makes a point of exercising no matter where he is in the world.
Moderate Weight
Rollins used to powerlift, but now he says that if he can’t lift a weight 10 times, he reduces it to not hurt himself.
Moderate Cardio
Back in the day, Rollins would run 8 miles before a show, but now he does 30 minutes on the elliptical and another 30 on the stationary bike because it’s easier on his knees.
Exercise Style
A Henry Rollins Routine
- Elliptical & stationary bike: 30 minutes each, daily
- Lift 6 days a week, moderate weights: be able to do at least 10 reps
- Big push day
- Small push day
- Abdominal work
- Cardio
Rollins on getting started with weightlifting
‘My high school teacher…told me, “You’re skinny. I’m going to teach you how to lift weights, and you’re going to do everything I say.’
Rollins on his early progress
“I went to Sears and bought a sand-filled weight set…Eventually I could take that weight set and throw it around the room.’
Rollins on the effect of becoming strong
‘I felt such a sense of achievement…I’ve been applying that lesson to everything I do.’
Rollins on why he exercises
‘The workout is so important on the road, to combat depression and a feeling of non-achievement.’
Henry Rollins’ Supplements
Greens
Rollins uses Athletic Greens supplement every day to get his vitamins and to support overall health, including digestion, immunity, focus, and energy. Its powdered form is convenient for travel, too.
Beet Extract
Also on the list of daily supplements is beet extract, which is a caffeine-free way to boost energy and protect your heart.
Plant Protein
A scoop of plant protein is a daily staple for Rollins. Along with the greens supplement and the beet extract, it is often all he eats all day until he stops working around midnight.
Henry Rollins’ Lifestyle
Sleep: A Complicated Relationship
Rollins says both that sleep is mostly a waste of time, but also that if he starts to miss out on it, everything else is harder to do.
Hyperactive Kid
Rollins was diagnosed with hyperactivity in 4th grade and took Ritalin for several years to help him focus at school.
Early Discipline
Rollins attended Bullis Preparatory School and says it was there that he learned the discipline that helped him for the rest of his life.
Battles with Depression
Rollins was sexually assaulted as a child and teenager, and suffered from low self-esteem and depression, which he still fights today.
Grueling Work
Rollins says that being the front man a band was tough; he would lose 3 pounds of water weight at every performance. But being a a spoken-word artist presents its own challenges because it’s just him out there on stage with no backup.
A-List Collabs
Rollins has done a lot in his life, including recording Jingle Bells with William Shatner and appearing in the film Heat with Al Pacino.
Test Your Limits
Rollins is all about doing hard things, and recommends it to everyone. He says that if you’ve never tested yourself, you will never know who you really are or what you’re capable of.
Rollins on sleep
‘Sleep is for squares.’
Rollins on being a workaholic
‘I’m just a monkey looking for the next vine to swing from.’
Rollins on quitting music
‘I didn’t want to become a human jukebox playing old songs.’
Rollins on staying clean
‘If I write a book, I want to be able to put my name on it, not my name along with “and heroin.”
Rollins on not wasting time
‘No such thing as spare time, no such thing as free time, no such thing as down time. All you got is life time. Go.’
Recommended Products
Henry Rollins Merch
Athletic Greens Supplement
Elliptical Machine
Stationary Bike
Free Weights
