December 29, 2023
Just in Time for New Year's Resolutions, Out Barry's CEO Joey Gonzalez Reveals His Diet
Christopher Ehlers READ TIME: 13 MIN.
What would the beginning of the year be without some ambitious diet and exercise goals?
If your hope for 2024 involves any kind of fitness, Barry's CEO Joey Gonzalez is about as ideal a role model as they come. Not only is he a savvy businessman and unapologetic believer in inclusive group workouts like Barry's, but he's something of a domestic god, as well, and shares two children with his husband, Jonathan Rollo.
According to an interview with CNBC, Gonzalez, 45, revealed that it all started nearly 20 years ago, when he attended a Barry's class at the behest of his then boyfriend. From there, he became a regular, eventually signing on to become an instructor, then manager, director of operations, and COO. Then, 11 years after his first Barry's class, he took over as CEO, weathered a global pandemic that shuttered all locations, and steered the company back to the pre-pandemic juggernaut that Barry's was, raking in over $100 million per year. Today, Gonzalez leads a company that employs 1,400 people, with 84 studios located in 14 countries.
It goes without saying that Barry's is a big part of how Gonzalez achieved – and keeps – his perfect physique. But what about his diet and routine? Lucky for us, he recently opened up to GQ about his daily routine and exactly what he consumes to keep his body looking so fine.
For starters, Gonzalez wakes up between 6 and 7 a.m. to make – and eat – breakfast with his two kids, then he preps all of his meals for the day. After he drops his kids off at school, he'll head to the gym. On a weekly basis, Gonzalez says that he does about 200 minutes of cardio and 500 minutes of strength training, including four to give Barry's classes in addition to Olympic-style bodybuilding at a different gym.
You've probably heard the adage that abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym. While the truth is that it's a little of both, there's no denying that Gonzalez is in tip-top shape. Here's his typical diet:
Breakfast
"I always eat the same thing," he told GQ. "Four to five ounces of chicken breast with five to six ounces of egg whites and one or one and a half servings of oatmeal with berries. My preference is blueberries, but I love blackberries as well. I'll also do a shake with 40 grams of protein before and after my workout, around 9:30 or 1 a.m."
Lunch
Gonzalez fuels his body mid-day with two separate lunches, one at 12:30 p.m. and the other around 2:30 p.m. First, he will have two pieces of Ezekiel toast, a Muscle Milk, and a cup of berries. Later, he'll chow down on two cups of rice, seven ounces of shrimp, and a few ounces of green vegetables like spinach, green beans, or broccoli.
Dinner
Just like Gonzalez's two lunches, he consumes two dinners, one around 5:15 and the other around 7:30. For his first dinner, he loves pasta Bolognese.
"My mom was born and raised in Italy, so that's one of my favorites," he said. "For the pasta, I'll do seven ounces of the leanest meat, half a cup of veggie pasta, and half a cup to a cup of tomato sauce."
Then, he'll consume seven or eight additional ounces of protein and another few ounces of veggies before he heads to bed by 10 p.m. "I'd love to say I meditate, watch TV, or have some 'me time,' but I usually just get in bed and fall asleep," he joked.
Of course, being the father of two children, he also allows himself the freedom to stray from his regimented diet and takes plenty of liberties, including ice cream or popcorn and candy when they all go to the movies.
Looking for a little more visual inspiration? Click through to see some additional shots of the Barry's hunk: