E D G E B O D Y B O O K As told to Steve Mazzucchi

FULL HEART I was at a point where I’d done JD PARDO little projects here and there, The Mayans M.C. star talks adding muscle, but people forget about those, and I wanted to quit acting. compound movements, and never giving up. After my Mayans M.C. audi- tion, I went to my car, and I BIGGER ROLE almonds, seven ounces of pro- just cried. You know, we get MATT SAYLES/CPI SYNDICATION; JAMES MINCHIN/FX My character, Ezekiel “EZ” tein—steak, fish, chicken—and in our way a lot of times, with Reyes, is a prospect in the then a protein shake. If you fear or expectation, and we Mayans M.C., but he also want to grow, you have to cre- don’t really give our true self. just came out of pris- ate the atmosphere for But in that moment, there was on. I wanted to tell it, because your body nothing to lose. I just threw it the story of the will adapt—that’s all out there, and guy who goes TUNE IN what’s so amazing. the next day I got into prison for Catch the first the offer to be survival and the season of Mayans COMPOUND on the show. animal that it M.C. Tuesdays at GAINS You have creates, not only 10 p.m. EST on FX. I’ve learned to to believe psychologically place my energy on in yourself but physically. And the areas where it’s more than so it made sense to put needed. I have naturally anybody else. on some mass. I started at broad shoulders, a tiny waist, 149 pounds in October. Ten and slim legs. So I focus on months later I was 186. compound movements and heavy weights. Squats BULK FOODS and deadlifts really As an actor you wanna be- changed my come the role, but this time body. Those are I was really battling against insane for your nature. I met with a nutrition- body and your ist, who taught me about diet, mentality. To recovery, and mentality. Three build anything times a day, I have two cups of you have to carbs, a cup of greens, some have a strong fatty acids like avocado or foundation.

HOW THEY CONNECT MAYANS M.C. AND SONS OF ANARCHY

Sons of Anarchy fans will recognize at least one fierce, familiar face.

As Pardo says, Mayans M.C. is “not a remake of Sons, it’s not even a sequel—it’s a different chapter, but still there’s a monster fan base to honor.” The series begins a few years after SOA, and while there isn’t much initial crossover, one regular has made the jump: Marcus Álvarez, prez of the Mexican-American motorcycle club that clashed with Jax and friends. Long story short: EZ’s gonna have his hands full as a prospect.

34 MUSCLE & FITNESS / OCTOBER 2018