It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment you fall in love with Mario Lopez.
when you first witnessed him host the
iconic entertainment show franchise Access
Isit
Hollywood? Or when you discovered his
jock muscles as a teen on Saved by the Bell? Maybe
it was his dimple, way back in the early years, with
Kids Incorporated. Whatever your trajectory with this
juggernaut, one thing is for certain: Mario Lopez has
been part of our cultural zeitgeist for decades and he
isn’t about to slow down.
Mario Lopez was born in Southern California during the 70s. His
San Diego based family always knew there was something special
about him. He was considered a child prodigy by age three when
he began to express himself with tap and jazz dance. His physical
acumens as a toddler didn’t stop there. With the support of his
family, he continued being active and went on to learn karate.
At age ten, young Mario was scouted by a talent agent and that
got his feet wet with acting in commercials and the like. During
his high school years, he was an award-winning wrestler.
As his talent abilities took off, he was also starting to dip his
toes into Hollywood. Mario was in the famed franchise Kids
Incorporated for three seasons before landing a big break for a
little unknown Saturday morning show. The series was called
Saved by the Bell, and the rest is history. The show became a
cultural phenomenon and lasted for five years before spawning
a second franchise, Saved by the Bell: The College Years, that
Mario was also a lead on. He continued on to do many successful
projects and in 2006, Mario became a contestant on ABC’s
Dancing with the Stars. He later went on to host the show with
Khloe Kardashian.
Nowadays, you can catch Mario updating the world on
entertainment news as a lead host with the iconic franchise
Access Hollywood. He balances being a father with a busy career
but always finds time to take care of himself. “I never feel like I've
really woken up until I’ve broken a sweat,” he explains over the
phone as he’s crushing the elliptical. He admits that his schedule
is so unpredictable that he can’t help but multi-task just like he is
doing now. A jam-packed schedule is a double-edged sword, yes
it creates chaos, but it also allows him to prioritize. “My schedule
is so unpredictable; I have to prioritize. That is my biggest
challenge,” he admits.
Fitness centers his days—but it also primes his career. “It has
not only kept me feeling young, it has also hopefully helped me
look a little younger,” he jokes. “[Fitness] has complemented my
energy and my attitude, which I think helps me be able to balance
work & life every day.” He doesn’t say this lightly, “I wouldn’t be
where I’m at if I didn’t make health my priority.” His mantra in
life is being healthy and making it an important part of his day.
Without health, “What good is everything else?” he asks aloud.
When it comes to workouts Lopez doesn’t discriminate. He loves
to mix it up, even when traveling. “I love to improvise [when
traveling],” Mario says. “I can go for a run or a I can work out in my
room. I travel with bands so I can get to work whenever I need to.”
Although hard to imagine, there are some days when Mario
would rather hit the snooze button instead of getting up to
break a sweat. On those days, the star shares that he will opt for
a coffee or energy drink to keep the momentum going.
Mario’s need to constantly get creative with workouts was what
partly fueled his new exercise line at retailer Ross. “I’m really
happy and about this exercise line at Ross. I think it’s cool and
effective,” he explains. Lopez firmly believes that workouts
should be accessible and affordable, and his line aims to check
off those two boxes. “I’ve been getting some good compliments
from people, which helps and makes me feel good,” he
sheepishly admits. When probed about his favorite product
in the line he can’t help but pick a few. “You know, I think I
like them all!” he giggles and flashes that signature dimple.
“We’ve got full-body stuff, ab rollers, and I’ve been getting great
responses on them all,” he says.
Ever the consummate entertainer, Lopez created and serves as
executive producer of the Netflix scripted series The Expanding
Universe of Ashley Garcia and is producing a reboot of his cult
classic, Saved By The Bell for NBC’s new streaming service
Peacock. Always on the go, Lopez is also the producer and lead
of the Lifetime Christmas film FelizNaviDAD and currently hosts
the national iHeart radio programs On With Mario Lopez and
iHeartRadio Countdown with Mario Lopez.
Despite having one of the most booming careers in Hollywood,
there is no bigger motivator for Lopez than being dad to his
three children. “When it comes to being a father,” Lopez begins.
“It’s the biggest compliment in my life.” He credits his children
for making him feel completely inspired and reinvigorated.
“They made me want to focus and be even more committed
to work and family.” Being a great dad doesn’t take away from
his fitness goals. In fact, he says, “It’s important for me to
incorporate fitness into my family too.”
In addition to his children, he has close friends that he admires
that help him stay motivated as well. When asked about people
who motivate him, Mario offers up a familiar name. “You know,
my friend, Mark Wahlberg and I are about the same age,” he
begins. “I really respect and admire him a lot. He’s obviously
incredibly successful and busy with his career.”
Lopez’s choice in friends says a lot about the star. Mario
gravitates towards personalities who are consistent, who value
family and friendships and who work hard. All those attributes
seem to also describe Mario. He is a family man who has worked
hard to get where he is and who values all the relationships and
lessons he’s picked up along the way. One can’t help but find
similarities, but maybe that’s what made us fall in love with him
in the first place.
Extraordinary Health ™ • Vol 39 27