Body Of Work: An Interview With Danny Bonaduce.

Danny Bonaduce: I started working out about 10 years ago because I was about to start doing a talk show where I had to sit right next to Mario Lopez. I didn't want to be the old, fat guy.

DB: I started hitting the gym real hard about 7 years ago. Not that I loved it, but the results paid off. I got to box Jose Canseco and wrestle with Hulk Hogan.

DB: Bodybuilding.com. And vanity. Oh yeah, and my wife is half my age.

DB: I bet you guys thought you were kidding, but I just tried to legally change my middle name to Thor God of Thunder. It was not approved. Apparently there are rules.

DB: I work with a trainer in the beginning to really get me going and then I like to work out with a partner. By the way, I happen to be a certified personal trainer.

DB: No. Even if it's a fad, almost anything that gets you up off the couch is good for you. Not that I've ever done this, but have you ever seen any of those speed walkers? They look insane, but they are actually in pretty good shape.

There's always something new coming along. Now "the ropes" are real popular--light-weight high reps, heavy-weight low reps. Don't laugh at me because I know where you live, but I do Wii Zumba, the Michael Jackson dance game, and Dance Dance Revolution for cardio.

DB: It wasn't so much a regimen as much as I made pretty good friends with some of the big boys at Gold's Gym in Venice Beach. I used to train at Lou Ferrigno's house in Santa Monica as well.

DB: I try and change it up a lot. Some weeks it's push-pull, some weeks it's max reps, some weeks its max weight, and always cardio and abs. I also like to train like a boxer.

DB: It's a beginner's mistake to give up on cardio once you start to get big. No matter how much you can lift, if you're not doing cardio, there will always be a layer of fat to obscure your definition.

DB: Believe it or not, my first boxing match in front of an audience was with Donny Osmond. I didn't take it seriously at all. I thought, "I'll just walk into the ring, beat this guy to death, and then go have some drinks." Another beginner's mistake. Never underestimate your opponent.

I've probably been in 20 real fights. Real fights last about 8 seconds. Three minutes is forever. Donny Osmond was doing "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat" and he was singing and dancing for 2 hours straight. I was smoking 3 packs a day. I thought I actually killed him in the first round.

When the bell rang for the 2nd round, I was completely out of gas. The only thing I could do was look tough and take all his punches, as he was dancing around the ring like a real boxer.

As embarrassing as this may be, I came 2 points away from losing my first fight to the guy that sang "Puppy Love." After that, I trained hard and I am undefeated.

DB: I don't know if this guy is an actual celebrity. He is some punk by the name of Spencer Pratt. He was in a show called "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here." I don't think he's a celebrity, but if I ever get him in the ring, he'll be screaming, "Get Me Out of Here."

I boxed a lot of my "celebrity friends." Mario Lopez is probably one of the best boxers I know and broke my eardrum. Sugar Ray Leonard knocked me out once and so did Chuck Liddell.

DB: I just ordered Gold Standard Whey Protein, as well as a case of Power Bars, from Bodybuilding.com. When I'm training, I eat a lot of fish, skinless chicken breasts, and at least one or two meal replacement drinks.

DB:

Breakfast:

• Gold Standard Whey Protein drink

Snack:

• Power Bar

Lunch:

• Skinless Chicken Breast or Fish, serving size no bigger than my hand

Another healthy snack

Dinner:

• Lean Chicken or Tuna Steak and once or twice a week, a big fat juicy hunk of Red Meat

All meals supplemented with the appropriate amount of carbs/protein ratio, rice, brussel sprouts, etc.

DB: Aside from the obvious protein powders, I take essential amino acids. When I'm really trying to lean out, I take some thermogenics. But, I'm a high-energy guy anyway. You don't want to deal with me after I've taken some Hydroxycut. I also take a good men's daily vitamin.

DB: I couldn't do anything as easily without my workouts. You could do a decent workout in 45 minutes. It wouldn't be great, but it would count.

If you can get 45 minutes a day, 5 or 6 days a week, everything you do will be easier: carrying groceries, picking up your baby, hitting on chicks. Wait until I get on "Dancing with the Stars." I'm going to kick some ass.

DB: I'd really like not to be dead. Yes, I do have goals. I once got down to 3% body fat, but that was insane, unhealthy, and could never be maintained. I'd like to see 8% body fat again.

I also just got another invitation from Hulk Hogan to join him down in Florida. I'd like to do a tag team match in a six-sided cage with some of my favorite wrestlers. They are the hardest-working men in show business.