IF BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN decided to take a step back at the age of 76 and adopt a calmer approach to life, we don’t think anyone would hold it against him. And yet, the septuagenerian is still busier than men half his age.
Springsteen wrapped up his most recent world tour, which featured a three-hour setlist, back in June. But even after three years on tour, the musician showed no signs of fatigue and is already planning his next global jaunt. How does he do it, you ask? Springsteen’s youthful disposition can be put down to his adherence to a strict diet plan and regular workout routine.
Here, we break down everything Springsteen has said about his diet and training over the last few years.
How Bruce Springsteen eats
Bruce Springsteen is known for adopting a One Meal A Day (OMAD) diet. In a 2024 interview with The Times, he stated that “I’ll have a bit of fruit in the morning and then I’ll have dinner. That has kept me lean and mean.”
He’s even inspired other celebrities to follow in his stead. Coldplay’s Chris Martin previously revealed that he took on a similar diet after sharing a meal with Springsteen. “I don’t actually do dinner anymore,” he explained on the ‘Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend’ podcast. “I stop eating at 4 and I learned that from having lunch with Bruce Springsteen. I was on a really strict diet anyway, but I was like, ‘Bruce-ster looks even more in shape than me.”
In an Apple Music interview, Springsteen stated that his diet is the biggest reason he’s still healthy. “The biggest thing is diet, diet, diet,” he said. “I don’t eat too much, and I don’t eat bad food, except once in a while when I want to have some fun for myself. So, I think anybody that’s trying to get in shape, exercise is always important of course, but diet is 90 percent of the game.”
During an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Springsteen revealed that the “best sandwich” is a “peanut butter and jelly” served with a “big glass of milk.” Clearly, he allows himself the occasional cheat meal.
How Bruce Springsteen works out
While Springsteen remains active, he acknowledges that his body can’t do everything it used to, and he has adjusted his workouts accordingly. “I’m probably not going to do three running somersaults at this point,” he told The Guardian. “But the basic thing, the only thing that I notice as I’ve gotten older is that you have certain structural weaknesses in your body that arise, and you’ve got to manage your physical self so it can do the essential and important things.”
“I don’t do that much right now,” Springsteen said in an Apple Music interview. “I lift a little weight to stay toned. I may get on the treadmill and I’ll walk. I don’t run anymore.” He also added that “Energy wise, I don’t feel anything different. Physically, I don’t feel anything different.”
Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band provided an insight into how dedicated Springsteen is to working out. “I would catch Bruce in the gym the morning after our show day,” Anthony Almonte, Springsteen’s 32-year-old percussionist, says in the documentary. “This guy gives out three hours of concert, and the next morning, he’s in the gym.”
Musician Zac Brown has also been inspired by Springsteen’s dedication. “When I met Springsteen, I said, ‘Tell me something that’s helped you to stay feeling good.’ He was like, ‘Man, you need to sweat for an hour a day. I don’t care what you do, doesn’t matter. You need to sweat for an hour a day,’” Brown said in an interview with Men’s Health. “I was like, ‘You’re the Boss. Let’s do it.’”
Springsteen must be doing something right. At 76, he looks like he still has plenty left in the tank, and a handful of tours still to come.
