Seth Edeen: The Athlete Behind the Actor
Seth Edeen, ReelShort actor and former college athlete featured in OnFitness Magazine.
How the ReelShort megastar trains, recovers, and stays “in game shape” while leading some of the most-watched digital films on the planet.
Seth Edeen has become one of the most recognized faces of ReelShort’s vertical streaming boom, drawing hundreds of millions of views per project. But behind that peak virality is a lifetime of athletic discipline — from college football to years on the ice — that still shapes the way he trains, performs, and shows up on set today.
In this exclusive Q&A for OnFitness Magazine, Seth opens up about how competitive sports forged his work ethic, how he stays conditioned through intense production cycles, and why he continues to train like an athlete even as his acting career expands into traditional film, TV, and high-fashion modeling.
About Seth Edeen
Seth Edeen is the breakout lead actor of ReelShort, the vertical-streaming platform dubbed the “TikTok of series,” where his projects regularly exceed 300 million views.
A lifelong athlete — from competitive ice hockey to college football with the Wyoming Cowboys — Seth brings a performance-driven training style to every role. With more than 30 titles and a growing presence in film, TV, and fashion, he’s one of the most in-demand stars of the mobile-first entertainment era.
Q&A WITH SETH EDEEN
You come from a competitive athletic background — football at the college level and years of ice hockey. How have those sports shaped your training philosophy and the discipline you bring into your acting career today?
For better or worse, training like an athlete is the only way I know how to train. I started working out when I was 10, and for 11 years everything I did was tied to sports. That mindset still sticks with me. The discipline and consistency I developed as an athlete translate so well to acting. Acting, like a sport, is a learned skill — you have to practice it over and over again to get better.
As a former defensive end for the Wyoming Cowboys, your workouts once focused on explosiveness, power, and toughness. Do elements of that style still show up in your current exercise routine?
Absolutely. When it comes to those explosive, quick-twitch muscle fibers, it’s use it or lose it. I feel my best when I can run fast and jump high. I love feeling not just strong, but explosive.
Hockey demands speed, balance, and endurance. Football requires strength and explosiveness. Which qualities from each sport serve you most on set?
Balance from hockey, for sure. Because of the way we block things for camera, having good balance is huge. And strength from football — I’m always picking up my costar or saving them in scenes, sometimes even having to jump into water and carry them out!
You lead the most-watched vertical films on ReelShort, often filming long hours with heavy emotional and physical demands. How do you stay conditioned for back-to-back shoots?
I’ve always stayed in great shape post-athletics. When I’m shooting, I always work out before set. The days are so long that afterward I just want to go home and rest. The intensity of my workout depends on my call time and what we’re shooting that day, but I feel a huge difference in my energy when I exercise beforehand.
What does your fitness regimen look like during intense production cycles — and how does it shift when you're off-set?
The main change is conditioning. If I’m in a really intense shoot, I’ll usually skip sprints at the end of my workouts and just get a solid lift in, or at minimum walk on the treadmill or ride the bike for 15–20 minutes.
Have any roles required specialized physical training beyond your regular routine?
I’ve done roles that required special training like sword fighting or horseback riding. But because I focus on functional training, I can usually adapt to any physical role pretty seamlessly.
Many athletes struggle with transitioning out of competitive sports. How did fitness help you navigate the shift from athlete to actor?
I struggled for years finding my identity after sports. Working out is the last thing I can do that still makes me feel like a competitive athlete, and I love that feeling. It’s a big part of why I’ve stayed disciplined. Luckily, I’ve found my identity again in acting.
ReelShort star Seth Edeen’s athletic physique reflects his lifelong dedication to training.
With such a demanding schedule and constant filming, how do you maintain muscle mass and energy? Walk us through a typical day of workouts, nutrition, and recovery.
Consistency is everything — I'll never go more than three or four days without going to the gym. I'm not always crushing it — sometimes I'll do yoga or Pilates for a week — but I'm always doing something. I always work out first thing in the morning because I notice a big energy difference when I don't. When I'm shooting, I actually don't eat much because there's no time, and I don't like eating late. To stay lean for my roles, I focus on eating my carbs before and immediately after my workout.
Do you incorporate any “athlete-style” drills into your current routine?
Hell yeah. I start every session with five minutes of jump rope, then some explosive plyometric work, then strength training, and I finish with sprints or interval running. I also train Muay Thai twice a week.
What’s your approach to nutrition while filming? Structured plan or intuitive eating?
I keep it very light. I’ll have something in the morning, and depending on lunch I may eat very little or skip it. It’s not uncommon for me to follow a 20:4 fasting schedule when I’m shooting.
Recovery is crucial for longevity. What are your go-to recovery tools?
The last four or five years, I’ve made stretching and mobility a priority — two to three times a week, usually after a long run, I’ll do 15–20 minutes. As I’ve gotten older, it’s become more important. For supplements, I keep it simple: creatine, Vitamin D3, and a multivitamin. A healthy, balanced diet matters more than supplements.
What role does mental health play in your training?
It’s huge. I end every workout with 3–5 minutes of breathwork to calm my nervous system. If I don’t, I stay in fight-or-flight all day and burn out fast. On set, depending on the scene, I’ll do meditation to re-center myself and stay present — which is essential for a great performance.
You’re now moving into traditional film, TV, and high-fashion modeling. How does your training adapt?
My lifting volume has gone down from five or six days a week to three at most. The key is to look big — not necessarily be big. I incorporate calisthenics alongside weightlifting to maintain a lean, athletic physique.
Gen Z responds to fast, high-energy content. How do you stay mentally and physically ready to deliver that style of performance?
I’m always in “game shape.” Being an athlete my whole life built my mental toughness, so rolling with the chaos of a film set comes naturally. I stay focused on doing my job well and don’t get caught up in the drama.
What’s the biggest misconception about performers who do high-volume digital content?
That we just show up and do it. It’s the same misconception athletes face — people think you just show up and play. Great actors put in a ton of preparation behind the scenes. You almost never see a great actor walk onto set without having spent hours on their script and character.
What advice would you give young athletes or creators who want to stay physically healthy while pursuing entertainment?
Be consistent. The intensity can vary depending on your schedule, but the habit of showing up — and having a goal — is what matters most.
As you continue evolving as a performer, how do you see your fitness journey adapting?
To keep maintaining what I’ve built over the last 21 years, while adapting to what my body needs as I get older.
Seth Edeen’s transition from athlete to leading ReelShort star is powered by the same dedication he brings to his training every day. His workout philosophy, nutrition habits, and mental fitness routine reveal why he remains one of the platform’s top performers.
Read more exclusive fitness interviews and workout features at OnFitness Magazine.