Zac Efron and His Sobriety

For many Hollywood actors, getting out of the roles they have been stereotyped in is a challenge. How many times can an actor play the boy next door? Repeating the same roles under different names and directors can seem to limit in the end, and Zac Efron certainly was not about that. However, he was all about partying and drinking alcohol. My, how times have changed. Efron is embracing his sobriety as well as his buff new physique.

There are two sides to Zac Efron. First is the Disney star who was popular for his basketball-player-turned-singer character Troy Bolton in the High School Musical series. Even after the last installment, he was simply known as his co-star Vanessa Hudgens’ boyfriend. His second side is newly emerged, complete with the body that brings about good dreams. Efron is now a Baywatch hottie, and it’s a feat that has him in league with the best of Hollywood’s stars. But in the middle of those two versions of Zac Efron is 2013’s alcohol abuser. Efron quietly checked himself into rehab, with the reason initially unknown.

Crashing from the Disney High

In 2014, it was revealed that he was going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. It’s easy to assume that the work caught up with Efron, but according to the actor, it’s the “in-between work” that was the real challenge, eventually earning him two rehab stints.

Efron mentioned needing a “social lubricant” to get through the social aspect of the job. The pressure was undeniable, and everywhere he went, people, talked and snapped photos. It got to the point that the actor was disinterested in work and was just looking forward to having fun on the weekends.

It was normal for him then to feel unprepared for the following week, finding himself having a hard time dealing with Mondays. That’s when he knew he had to turn things around.

Living Under a Microscope

Though Efron’s alcohol abuse did not ruin his budding career, thanks to him taking the initiative to check himself into rehab early on, it had left him with a lot of realizations. First and foremost: he needed to stop checking himself out on social media.

Efron himself confessed that his mornings used to involved getting up and Googling himself–as what other celebrities probably do, as well. In a job that leaves room for a lot of critiquing, from what he wore to how he spoke and who he was dating, it was inevitable to notice bad things.

It’s almost like putting your life under a microscope–people will see cracks that would not have been visible if they weren’t looking too hard, determined to find something.

Efron realized that checking himself through other people’s photos was not living at all. Hollywood was the land of stereotypes, and his looks certainly fit the bill of a jock who is up to no good. It’s a mold he did not want to live in forever, but it’s what would often be written about him.

He decided it was time to change how everyone saw him, and he did a good job at reinventing himself.

An Active Change

Now, Efron is as active as can be, even if others cannot see it on social media. Instead of relying on the temporary and dangerous high of substance abuse, he lives for the thrill of living in the moment, even having his fair share of adventures with Bear Grylls.

The sober actor also recalled an encounter with a shark, which was, for him, the defining moment of “crossing the line of fear.” Efron considers this the path to greatness–and who are we to disagree with someone who had been face-to-face with a shark in Hawaii and actually rode it for 10-15 seconds? That’s the new Efron: fearless in life and fearless in his roles. And most importantly of all, he is living life sober.

Now, Zac Efron is the man of the hour, already past working on shedding the last ounce of fat in his toned body. He may still be that Disney star trying to get his head in the game for those who have known him in his younger years. But those who know him now will agree that he has a lot going for him.

He’s the Baywatch hunk to watch out for, and he’s also the star fraternity member in Neighbours 2: Sorority Rising. His fearlessness is not tested just by sharks, either. According to him, he is not opposed to anything, and would gladly bare it all for an Academy Award-winning role.

Exercise Replaced Substances

His mantra is also easy to see in his extreme lifestyle, from surfing to working out six days a week–often twice a day. He wakes up early and always keeps his goal in mind. For Efron, balancing work with sobriety is the key to keeping up an active lifestyle.

A lot of work goes into the toned body we see today, but it all pays well for the actor. He’s now past feeling self-conscious. How hard is his diet, you ask? It takes dedication and reliving lessons from his dad about being driven.

It’s impossible to picture Efron as the shortest in his class or the worst in his team, but that’s how he described himself as a child. And he had his father to help him beat the odds. Now, he’s proven to be a tough one, ready to take on more mature roles. To get to those roles, he needed to care for his body better and to follow a strict diet that he surprisingly loves.

Zac Efron’s Healthy Lifestyle

For actors and regular people alike, the first three weeks of changing to a healthier diet are the most challenging ones. The same is true for people who are trying to beat an addiction.

However, as Efron explains, after a while, the body switches from burning carbohydrates to burning fat, and your cravings change. At this point, you will notice yourself not craving for the unhealthy snacks you used to love. Rather, you look forward to a healthy serving of greens or fruits and protein after a tough workout.

According to Efron, his new lifestyle is the product of a balance of opposites. In other words, you get out what you put in. And all the hard work he put in can surely be seen in his rise as a star. It is definitely apparent in his healthy physique.

These days, Zac Efron is a testament that you can fall once or twice but still emerge victorious if you have the motivation to improve yourself. Don’t let substance abuse stop you from becoming a better version of yourself.

Your life will change after treatment, and definitely for the better. If you are struggling with addiction, contact us today for immediate help.