Kim Kardashian is the bombshell, Chloe’s dramatic, Courtney’s the new mommy tolerant of her baby’s father and Kris … well she’s always on a manic mission. But in this wild family which actually includes seven other children, Bruce Jenner is the calm voice of reason as the husband and father whom we’ve all re-fallen in love with. Has he won any gold medals lately like he did in the decathlon at the 1976 Olympics? No! But he has shown to be this amazing source of normalcy in one of television’s most chaotic reality clans. He’s also back to working with Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice, which he gushes about as his exciting new project! Bruce chatted openly with me for about an hour and without having to compete with six women …. he really had a lot of great things to say! In this interview Bruce reveals how he survives in his great big family, how he stays fit and what his wife did to terrify him during our conversation.
Fitz: The first thing I want to ask you is how you ended up re-teaming with Tropicana as their spokesperson. What a blast from the past!
Bruce: They called – which is really good news! I worked with them back in 80’s when they introduced their first not-from-concentrate juice Tropicana Pure Premium. It was a great campaign which lasted a few years and was a whole lot of fun. Recently, they went back through their old campaigns, came across mine, really loved it and just decided they should “bring Bruce back!” “Keeping up with the Kardashians” is doing pretty well and I’m kind of the integrity of the show, the “doting dad” so it made sense. When they called I was very excited to get on board. I’m a big fan of fitness and nutrition and there is no better drink out there than Tropicana Pure Premium!
Fitz: Even though your daughters are the kind of the chosen stars of the reality show, it seems like you have the most fans and are more adored now then ever. Everyone wishes your family would go easier on you.
Bruce: I get a lot of sympathy, you’re right. It’s hard in a house full of women, but I am the “get real person”. Sometimes life seems exciting and fun, but in the end you have to get real and look at the big picture instead. I think it’s imperative to lead by example and share advice when it counts.
Fitz: Besides being a good guy, you look like you’re still in pretty great shape. Tell me what you do to stay fit.
Bruce: Well I just hit the big 6-0 and I hit the golf ball as far as I ever have. The only problem physically I have is a bad right knee and I really don’t want a knee replacement, so I have to be careful not to do more damage. Honestly, I have never seriously run since the Olympics. People are shocked, but I just stopped!
Fitz: You stopped cold turkey, or did you at least run a few miles a week?
Bruce: Nothing! Been there, done that. For years, I ran 70 miles a week which was an enormous amount and once it was over with I felt like “God, I’ve had enough of that running thing”! So I got in to biking, but I didn’t like riding on the streets. So I got a mountain bike and I’ve been doing that for the past 25 years. In my forties, I would go so damn hard it was just a joke, but now I just put it in to gear and spin it up the hill so I won’t hurt my knee. I always get about an hour workout though; it’s great.
Fitz: Do you do strength training?
Bruce: I don’t! I do a bunch of stretching, but I’m more focused on training my heart and lungs. That’s where you build quality of life.
Fitz: Tell me about your eating habits.
Bruce: I’ve never been a big eater, cause I really don’t like the feeling of being stuffed. Plus I’ve always been active, so I’ve never had a weight problem. I eat like any normal person would with the basics of good nutrition. I go light on breakfast (sometimes just fruit) and dinner (meat, fish, vegetables) is often my main meal of the day. I’m on the 80% – 20% theory. If you eat really good food 80 percent of the time, you can enjoy the other 2o percent!
Fitz: What’s your biggest indulgence?
Bruce: I’m a sucker for ice cream, a big Haagen-Dazs guy. My only vice is sitting down at 10 o’clock at night with a giant bowl of Haagen-Dazs.
Fitz: Ack! That’s the most sinful ice cream too.
Bruce: Absolutely! That’s my 20 percent.
Fitz: What’s your advice for the over 40 crowd when it comes to fitness?
Bruce: I believe people have to get in shape in order to work out. Too often people’s enthusiasm is greater than what their body is capable of and they end up doing a workout that cripples them for a week. So if you’re just getting started, I suggest focusing on a lifestyle change and incorporating fitness on a daily basis. Start with walks and work up from there. Realize that it’s a process that’s not going to happen over night too. For the person who’s already pretty fit, I recommend being smart about fitness. Remain ambitious, but be wise about your joints which are the most affected by aging. If you love running, find somewhere else to run other than the pavement. Find a beautiful golf course, trail or beach to enjoy and make sure your shoes provide amazing support. In the off-season when I was training, I never ran on pavement. I called them “treat runs”. Another smart move is to find an impact-free exercise like cycling.
Fitz: How old were you when you won the gold medal in the decathlon?
Bruce: 26
Fitz: What was the best part of that experience?
Bruce: Winning! I kicked their ass! It was a very bitter sweet feeling though. Look, I wasn’t shocked that I won the gold. I had won every meet for three years and was the world record holder. I had a great feeling of satisfaction, not shock. But I was devastated when it was over; I cried. What I’d been training for my whole life was over, I was retiring and the Olympic games were the last meet of my life. But then I moved on to exciting things in the television business and more. I was ready for new challenges … like having TEN children!
Fitz: Back to your crazy family. How exactly do you keep up with the Kardashians?
Bruce: Uh – texting? I’ve had to become a great texter just to communicate with my family. But really, I don’t really try. We’re all very close and they’re all great kids, hard working, and doing well. There’s only one thing better though. Do you know what that is?
Fitz: No – tell me.
Bruce: To watch them out-earn you!. I’ve watched them go out and buy multi-million dollar homes and I don’t even have to put a down payment down or co-sign a loan. That is the definition of success! (Yes, Bruce is giggling his head off at this point.) They work nonstop though, and I’m glad I don’t have to do that anymore. I pick the fun jobs like working with Tropicana and leave the hard stuff for them.
Fitz: What’s next for you?
Bruce: In May, we begin shooting season 5 of “Keeping up with the Kardashians.” It’s the best job in the world, cause on some days I don’t even have to get out of bed or leave my house to go to work!
Fitz: Is having an entire crew in your house weird at all?
Bruce: Nah – I can handle them. In fact, our crew is like family. It’s been the same group since the show began and we even want them here on Christmas! The shows been great. We have such a big family that there is always something going on. Like … Chloe getting married in one month and then Courtney getting pregnant. Our life is chaotic!
Fitz: It looks that way.
Bruce: Want to hear something really scary though? While I’ve been sitting here the my bedroom talking to, my wife Kris has been walking through with a new decorator who’s pointing at everything. I’m getting a little nervous here, because when she gets a decorator … it’s a decorator. It could cost me!
Fitz: Well thank goodness you have this wonderful job working with Tropicana again to help pay for it!
**If you would like to be flown to Los Angeles to have breakfast with Bruce Jenner followed by 9 holes of golf, click here to enter the Tropicana Juicy Rewards sweepstakes. Out of the 150 different celebrities I’ve had the pleasure to work with or interview in the past few years, Bruce is easily one of the most friendly and fun guys I’ve met. I ‘m pretty sure you’re guaranteed to have a great time, so enter!
