Parker Young’s Muscle-Building Approach for a Busy Filming Schedule

Actor Parker Young says he added about eight pounds of lean mass while preparing to play Jesse, a personal trainer turned vampire, in the CBS comedy Eternally Yours. His account describes a focused effort to change his physique while staying ready for possible shirtless scenes and working around an unpredictable filming schedule. It’s a personal example, not a tested training plan or evidence that the same approach will work for others.

Building size while staying lean

Young, who has modeled for Tommy Hilfiger and appeared on Suburgatory, said the character’s age and work as a trainer shaped his decision to put on some size. He started increasing his training about a month before filming the pilot, then kept at it for another five months while production of later episodes was pending.

He said a conventional bulking phase didn’t suit the role because he might be asked to appear shirtless at short notice. Instead, he made changes to his eating and training while aiming to remain lean. The account says he targeted between 1,500 and 2,000 grams of protein per day. That is an unusually high amount, and the article doesn’t explain how the figure was calculated or verified. It should not be taken as a general nutrition target; readers considering major dietary changes can discuss their needs with a doctor or registered dietitian.

Young said he had previously relied heavily on fruit and vegetables and wasn’t eating enough protein for his goal. He also reconsidered his view of carbohydrates, which he had tended to avoid in an effort to look lean on camera. He began allowing them a place in his diet to support his workouts. The account gives no details about his total food intake, specific meal plan or how his body composition was measured.

Training with other people

Young’s interest in lifting began in high school, where he played running back on the varsity football team in Tucson, Arizona. He recalled competing with older, stronger teammates and lifting weights that exceeded what he could safely handle. He said proper form took a back seat to keeping up with the group.

As an adult, he paid more attention to technique, but training alone in Hollywood made it harder to find the same motivation. After moving to Coronado, California, he built a circle of friends who shared activities including lifting, running, rock climbing and jiu-jitsu. Young said training with people he respected encouraged him to push harder. His experience points to the social side of exercise: a reliable partner or group can help some people stay engaged, though the right level of effort and safe technique still matter.

He’s also balancing work with life as a father of three daughters. A routine that can adapt when filming interrupts a session may be easier to maintain than one that depends on a rigid weekly calendar.

A flexible routine and familiar lifts

Young described organizing his workouts around upper and lower body sessions, while also laying out a three-session sequence: chest and back, legs, then shoulders and arms. He repeats that sequence when time allows and adds core work to each workout. He said this structure helps him return to each body area regularly, even when a shoot means he has to miss a session.

His chest exercises include the bench press and incline dumbbell press; he works his back with pull-ups. For legs, he named Zercher squats, Romanian deadlifts with heavy dumbbells and Bulgarian split squats. He also uses the landmine press for shoulders and arms.

Young said he focuses on feeling the muscles contract and works toward failure. That’s his description of his own approach, not a prescription: the article doesn’t specify his sets, repetitions, rest periods or how he manages fatigue. Training close to failure can be demanding, and individual capacity varies. Anyone changing an exercise routine, particularly around an injury or health condition, can ask a qualified fitness professional or clinician for guidance.

Recovery beyond the gym

Young said outdoor time helps him feel mentally clear. While filming in Montreal, he brought his family and stayed in a cabin by a lake, where he could use a sauna and spend time near the water. He also described cold-water immersion as calming after he had acclimated and focused on breathing. Those are his personal impressions; the account doesn’t report a study or measure health effects.

The practical thread in Young’s story is consistency shaped around real constraints: a changing work schedule, family responsibilities and a specific role. His experience may be useful as an example of how someone adapts training and food choices to a goal, while the reported protein figure and effort level shouldn’t be copied without individual context.

Parker Young stars as Jesse in Eternally Yours, available on CBS and Paramount+. Follow him on Instagram.