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Big Adventures & Big Waistlines - Good Morning America Anchors Tell All

Posted on Mar 6th 2009 4:00PM by Fitz K.

Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Our fitness expert Fiz sits down with the stars and digs out their great and not-so-great methods for staying healthy.

Next week, the "Good Morning America" anchors are going BIG! They're secretly traveling to some of the most astounding places on the planet and each day they'll turn up to surprise us with their BIG secret locations. Something else is getting BIG though, and it's far less exciting. Adorable (yet highly-esteemed) anchors, Chris Cuomo and Sam Champion sat down for a hilarious interview with me, to investigate the dramatic state of their self-proclaimed expanding waistlines and an odd tenderness creeping up Chris's right side. Chris even shared fitness advice for one "Today Show" anchor. You won't believe it, unless you read it.

Fitz: What are your favorite forms of fitness?

Chris: I get a workout making fun of Sam. It burns lots of calories and is good for the soul.

Sam: I actually would be happy with any form of fitness. Since coming to GMA, my hours have been erratic and my schedule so tight, I've gained a bunch of weight.

Fitz: You're about to embark on a very BIG trip. Will you exercise while you're traveling?

Chris: We try to use the hotel gyms for cardio and calisthenics if they're available to us, but often we're just dropped in the middle of a disaster, and exercise doesn't seem to make it on our list of things to do. While covering hurricanes, tornadoes, war and other wild events, it's difficult to make fitness a priority. We did, however, go on a great train trip a while back; Sam and I would run down the tracks when we had a break. That was terrific.

Sam: It's all very much a roller coaster. I need to get back on track though and schedule exercise and proper nutrition in to my life wherever I go.

Fitz: Which of you can do more push-ups?

Chris and Robin from Good Morning America

    NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Sam Champion hosts ABC's "Good Morning America" at June 26, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Janette Pellegrini/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sam Champion

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    NEW YORK - JUNE 26: (L-R) Host Sam Champion interviews Gavin Creel and Will Swenson from the cast of Broadway�s Hair on ABC's "Good Morning America" at June 26, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Janette Pellegrini/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Gavin Creel;Will Swenson

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    NEW YORK - JUNE 11: Media personality Sam Champion attends at the 2nd annual IREO Renewable Energy Awards Gala at the United Nations on June 11, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sam Champion

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    NEW YORK - JUNE 11: Media personality Sam Champion speaks at the 2nd annual IREO Renewable Energy Awards Gala at the United Nations on June 11, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sam Champion

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    NEW YORK - JUNE 11: Media personality Sam Champion speaks at the 2nd annual IREO Renewable Energy Awards Gala at the United Nations on June 11, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sam Champion

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    NEW YORK - JUNE 11: Media personality Sam Champion speaks at the 2nd annual IREO Renewable Energy Awards Gala at the United Nations on June 11, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sam Champion

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    NEW YORK - MAY 29: Recording artist Lionel Richie chats with Diane Sawyer, Robin Roberts and Sam Champion during ABC's "Good Morning America" summer concert series on May 29, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lionel Richie;Diane Sawyer;Robin Roberts;Sam Champion

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    NEW YORK - MAY 18: (NO SALES; NO ARCHIVE) In this handout image provided by American Broadcasting Companies (ABC), actor Christian Bale speaks with Chris Cuomo (not seen) about his new film "Terminator Salvation," on Good Morning America May 18, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Donna Svennevik/ABC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Christian Bale

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    NEW YORK - MAY 18: (NO SALES; NO ARCHIVE) In this handout image provided by American Broadcasting Companies (ABC), actor Christian Bale (L) speaks with Chris Cuomo about his new film "Terminator Salvation," on Good Morning America May 18, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Donna Svennevik/ABC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chris Cuomo;Christian Bale

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    NEW YORK - MAY 6: (NO SALE, NO ARCHIVE) In this handout image provided by ABC, Bristol Palin, 19 year old single mother and daughter of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, talks to Chris Cuomo on "Good Morning America" May 6, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ida Mae Astute/ABC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chris Cuomo;Bristol Palin

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Chris: I can!

Sam: I'll give Chris that, but when it comes to legs ... I win.

Chris: No way! I've seen your chicken legs running around in spandex shorts before, and I would slam you in a leg smack-down any day.

Sam: My legs are strong, and I only wore those shorts for that Oscar show! Chris is like my trainer. I had a neck injury, and had been avoiding things like pull-ups for a long time. Now I'm back to doing them. I surprised myself.

Fitz: Which of you is in better shape?

Chris: For "his age," I'd say Sam is in better shape.

Fitz: And what about the anchors of "Today"? Have any advice for Matt Lauer?

Chris: Matt Lauer is in phenomenal shape. It's easier for him, though, cause he's a smaller guy. Sam and I are taller and both over 200 pounds. Matt is about 5'10" and around 150. It's easier for him to look lean. Why don't you ask me about Al Roker!

Fitz: OK. What advice do you have for Al Roker?

Chris: Whatever it is that he is doing right now ... Stop! And do the exact opposite.

Fitz: Hilarious!

Chris: In fact, the reason Matt Lauer is in such fantastic shape is because he's stuck carrying Al around on his back all the time. Matt is Al's sherpa.

Sam: You know, Chris and Al spend half of their day making fun of each other whenever they can. This will never end.

Fitz: The back and forth is strangely sweet. It's great to see huge competitors actually getting along, even if it's by way of picking on each other. So you two seem fairly desperate to get in better shape. Physically, where do you hope to be in one year?

Chris: Healed! I have all sorts of issues due to old sports injuries, lack of fitness and age. I just want to heal. I also have this tenderness along one side of my body that has been preventing me from working out.

Fitz: I think that's called a rash!

Chris: No! Someone told me it was "cellulitis," but that's not it. It's just tender. I can't work out until it goes away.

Sam: I just want to overcome this yo-yo lifestyle I'm living and find a steady place. When people make the excuse about being unfit because their schedule is crazy, it's real! Hopefully by next year, I'll have this under control.


Is your schedule as hectic as Sam's? Squeeze in some exercise with this simple 15-minute workout.

Chris and Robin from Good Morning America

    Robin Roberts and Chris Cuomo attend ABC

    Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com

    Chris Cuomo attends ABC

    Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com

    NEW YORK - JUNE 13: Singer Cyndi Lauper and hosts Chris Cuomo and Robin Roberts talk to the audience on ABC's "Good Morning America" on June 13, 2008 at Bryant Park in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Cyndi Lauper;Chris Cuomo;Robin Roberts

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    Ja Rule, Ashanti, Chris Cuomo and Diane Sawyer attend ABC

    Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com

    Ja Rule, Ashanti, Chris Cuomo and Diane Sawyer attend ABC

    Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com

    NEW YORK - JUNE 06: Ja Rule, Ashanti, Chris Cuomo and Diane Sawyer perform on ABC's "Good Morning America", on June 6, 2008 at Bryant Park in New York. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ja Rule;Ashanti;Chris Cuomo;Diane Sawyer

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    Usher and Sam Champion attend ABC

    Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com

    Usher, Robin Roberts, Diane Sawyer and Sam Champion attend ABC

    Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com

    Usher, Robin Roberts, Diane Sawyer and Sam Champion attend ABC

    Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com

    NEW YORK - APRIL 25: (L-R) Chris Cuomo, Robin Roberts, Mariah Carey, Diane Sawyer on ABC's "Good Morning America" in Times Square on April 25th in New York. (Photo by Matt Carr/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Diane Sawyer;Robin Roberts;Chris Cuomo;Mariah Carey

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