Rocco DiSpirito: The Real Iron Chef
Kitchen Stadium is for wimps! Celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito took his battle outdoors when competing in the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater, Fla., on Saturday — right before his 43rd birthday.
Although Rocco admits he's not a seasoned athlete — "I'm basically an out-of-shape, flat-footed chef with a bad back," he tells Star — he competed in an event — his second Ironman 70.3 Triathlon — that involves a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1 mile run. And finished in an impressive 6:06:41!
Star caught up with Rocco — who has shed 30lbs. — to talk about his physical transformation, training and eating habits.
How did you begin competing in triathlons?
Rocco: It was a complete fluke. My chiropractor asked me if I could help out at a local charity event, [which turned out to be a sprint triathlon]. I finished second to last. That includes women over 60. I'll never forget watching those pink swim caps come towards me — and I started 30 minutes before them! It was pathetic. But crossing that finish line was one of the best feelings I ever felt in my life, and I just got hooked.
What have been the benefits of training for the event?
Rocco: I remember a few years ago my doctor said: God you've rebuilt yourself. You have a new body basically, from the inside to the outside. So it's pretty cool. You really need to amp up your physical activity in your 30s so that when you're 50 you have a strong foundation to live off of and work from.
Why did you decide to compete this year?
Rocco: It's nice to have an activity in my life that isn't about work that isn't about cookbooks or TV or the other things I do all the time. Even though it's competitive I don't feel the pressure I feel in my regular life.
As a chef, how do you balance your passion for food with the need to eat healthy?
Rocco: I've always wondered why can't the foods we like to eat be healthy as well? So I recently started working on a book where I makeover America's favorite comfort foods and unhealthy dishes. I didn't want to give up all the foods that I love just because I wanted to be in shape for Ironman. So instead of giving them up, I changed them.
What's your go-to healthy meal?
Rocco: Broiled organic salmon that I season with a glaze of sugar-free orange marmalade lemon juice, a little bit of olive oil and some soy sauce. I make the glaze, let the salmon sit in it for about 20 minutes. Sometimes I'll add a lot of cauliflower and red onions. Then I'll either broil it in a broiler, toaster oven or a grill basket on a grill. It's about a half-hour process from start to finish.
What music helps motivate you?
Rocco: AC/DC works pretty well for some reason. It was near the end [of a run] and "Shoot to Thrill" came on and I just started running really fast. I immediately got on iTunes and I picked 100 songs that are of similar sounds and beats per minutes.
Rocco's latest cookbook Now Eat This will hit store shelves on March 2.
READERS COMMENTS:
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I would tap that ass in a minute
-- Teresa Walker
i'm looking for a book like that (healthy versions of comfort foods)!
i love hearing about people getting fit - i'm jealous! -- SW
he is a spoiled tantrum having brat!
-- Fed Up Go to comments page: 1 |
