DIET | DETECTIVE^®

Apparently Nick Carter is still famous. I mean, there’s a countdown clock running on the Backstreet Boys’ official website, counting the minutes until they unleash their “new beginning.” But isn’t there an upper limit on the number of comebacks you can make? And isn’t it one? Either way, I will admit that Nick has whipped himself into shape recently. I guess when you’re trying to break the world record for comebacks, it helps if you’re not a bloated mess.

Nick weighed in at 224 pounds last winter, which was not a good look for him. (Although he clearly thought he was hot enough to hook up with Ashlee Simpson when he spread rumors about a supposed tryst. To which Ashlee says, “When I heard that, I was dying laughing.”) But the extra pounds also put him at risk—at six-foot-one, his BMI fell securely in the “overweight” range, teetering less than half a point from the “obese” mark.

He noticed the massive weight gain while watching old episodes of House of Carters. (Yes, he was watching a reality show about himself. But I digress.) “I kind of woke up and said, ‘I don’t want to be unhealthy anymore,” Nick told US Weekly. “I made working out a part of my life, almost like a job.” He started training with Mike Hazard, who put him through the wringer with boxing, weight lifting, and running outdoors. Nick’s even been lugging around a calorie journal to keep track of his diet. Seven months later, he’s down to 182 pounds—back in the “normal” range.

This highlights two important points. First, it’s vital to make exercise a part of your life—not just a temporary aberration while you try to shed a few pounds. And second, despite all the health risks associated with obesity, vanity is still a perfectly valid reason to start a workout program. Nick says, “Something deep down inside of me said, ‘I’m tired of being this person, and I’m a good-looking guy!’” Hey, nobody said he was modest. But you know what? If pride gets you to the gym, more power to you.

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