Chase Stokes is embracing a new side of himself — and changing his overall health routine — after saying goodbye to Outer Banks.
“When I was doing Outer Banks, I was intermittent fasting almost until two o’clock every day,” Stokes, 33, told Men’s Health in an interview published on Wednesday, August 26. “Just so I could keep the weight off with [my character] John B., and I was drinking upwards of a gallon of water [at] that time to keep myself full.”
Stokes explained that after playing John B. on the Netflix series for five seasons, culminating in the series finale that premiered this month, he was ready for something new.
That change includes a shift in his fitness routine — and in a surprising twist, the ability to eat more while doing different gym workouts.
“Now, I wake up at 7 a.m., fast until 10 or 11, and have a hearty breakfast,” Stokes revealed, noting that he’s now preparing to play pit crew member Ronnie Whitlock on AMC’s Thunder Road. “Then, I go to the gym, and when I come back, I have a protein shake. Later, I have another oomph of protein.”
He joked that he’s no longer “starving himself to play a teenager,” telling the outlet, “It’s nice to be able to eat more.”
The actor, who was known for his slim but toned physique on Outer Banks, said that his gym routine is now reminiscent of a professional athlete.
“There was a lot of lighter weight, higher reps with John B. to sort of keep that lean look, and now, it’s a lot more of heavy compound lifts,” Stokes shared. “It’s almost sort of mirroring a version of what a wide receiver, or even a tight end, would do. A lot of cleans, squats, Bulgarian split squats, deadlifts.”
The Maryland native added, “I’m benching for the first time in a long time, trying to hit maxes. I’m really building out my frame versus with John B., I had to be kind of lanky and lean.”
Stokes noted that after growing up in the spotlight on Outer Banks — he was in his 20s when the show began and now is in his 30s — he’s happy to feel comfortable in his body.
“I’ve always kind of struggled with body dysmorphia,” he confessed. “The internet falls in love with the blonde-haired boy with the six-pack abs and then wonders why I don’t always look like that.”
Stokes revealed that he’s “gone through a lot of scrutiny and a lot of condescending stuff over the years about my body,” which “really messed” with his mental health.
Now that he’s left John B. in his rearview mirror, Stokes said that “constant comparison and contrast” to the character is finally “put to bed.”
“We get to start fresh, and we get to build something that is really cool and entirely different,” Stokes said of his next chapter. “And you don’t have to worry about the aesthetics. You can just focus on the work and the art and making sure that you’re showing up well for the job.”
The actor, however, is aware that with a fresh start and a new TV role, comes the risk that fans will see who he truly is outside of playing a Pogue.
“I just want the world to see me,” Stokes admitted. “That’s a scary, vulnerable thing to say.”
