Jonathan Furr loses weight for part

Jonathan Furr poses before the diet and exercise regimen that helped him lose 30 pounds.

Jonathan Furr poses after he lost 30 pounds.

By Jonathan Furr

For The Salisbury Post

"How dedicated are you to this part?"

That was the question Reid Leonard asked after telling me that he was casting me in the part of Chance Wayne in Piedmont Players' production of "Sweet Bird of Youth."

He wasn't referring to how demanding the show was going to be or the amount of dialogue there was to memorize, which was my original thought. It turns out that the script gives some very specific details about Chance's appearance ("hairless, silky smooth, golden") and he spends the entire first scene of the play in silk pajamas. The role of Chance Wayne was originally played on stage and in the 1962 movie by Paul Newman.

Naturally, this became a reference point for how Chance was meant to look.

I had blue eyes.

So, the next day we were at The Forum signing me up for a gym membership and a personal trainer. Over the next ten weeks, I spent five days a week for an hour to an hour and a half in the gym physically developing the character of Chance Wayne, as well as spending two to three hours a night trying to develop the character mentally during rehearsals. After week one, I felt that "dedicated" may not have been a strong enough word.

Before long, however, my body adapted to this new rigorous workout program that my personal trainer, Bradley Padavick, designed to help tone and bring out the muscle definition in my body, as well as help me reach my target weight loss of thirty pounds by opening night of the show. This routine included working directly with Bradley two days a week with weights and unique exercises that focused on particular parts of my body, two days a week on my own doing cardio training and abdominal work, and one day on my own doing a full-body workout.

Bradley also helped me plan the diet that I started on top of the regular work-outs. The diet cut out all junk food and artificial sugars, of course, and added 100 percent whole wheat pastas and brown rice, as well as sources of lean protein, like fish, white-meat chicken, and eggs. The biggest changes were made to the lunch and dinner meals. Lunch became the heaviest meal of the day, with plenty of carbs to provide energy for the work-outs, and dinners consisted of lots of lean proteins and vegetables. I also restricted myself to drinking water throughout the day and skim milk with breakfast.

It didn't take long for results to begin to show. After the first four weeks, I had lost 16 pounds, my stamina and endurance were much higher, and muscle definition had significantly increased. We maintained this routine, slowly increasing the intensity as my body became more fit. On the day before opening night, my final weight and body measurements were taken. I lost five and half inches from my waist and exactly thirty pounds.

Paul Newman I may not be, but those silk pajamas fit and I have The Forum, Bradley, and Piedmont Players to thank for it.

Sweet Bird of Youth by Tennessee Williams is playing through Saturday, January 30 at the Meroney Theatre. Call the box office and get your tickets today. 704-633-5471.