What’s your first thought when you wake up?

Let’s get to it! I’m not joking. I quit pressing the snooze button a few years ago and it’s taken time to adjust, but I’ve gone from being the habitual night owl who clambered to a greasy breakfast at noon to the guy you don’t want to see in elevator first thing because of his ecstatic morning energy.  

What is the day like for you? 

At the very beginning of the day, before I get out of bed, I slow myself down. It’s tempting when my 4:15am alarm buzzes on my watch to hop out of bed and run to make coffee, pack my gym back, eat a snack and hit the gym. But if I move too quickly, I find myself a maniac mess by noon and often depression settles in from my exhaustion. So, at 4:15 I use the breath app on Apple Watch to calm my breath and it also gives me a moment to check in with my heart rate variability (an indicator for my readiness to train).

I then hand grind a small amount of coffee and make a French press. I like it better than other forms of coffee for two reasons. First, the hand grinding moments allow me to check in with my mind body and olfactory senses and second, when I pour the hot water into the coffee, I enjoy letting the steam warm up my face with a coffee blast. I feel like it jumpstarts my skin, but it’s really just ritual. Then while the coffee settles, I wash my face and get my gym bag ready. There are some days when I feel inspired and I start writing, researching, or working first thing in the morning and don’t make it to the gym until later, but more often than not, the next thing after coffee (and a garden of life protein shake) I head to the gym.

Every day I spend about 4-hours training my body and this can be from 5am – 9am, but most days I have to break this up. Depending on the demands for the day I may do something like 5-7 at the gym and around noon do another hour or more of cardio or strength (depending on what I did in the morning) and then in the evening I’ll do another hour of mobility, core, and flexibility while I roll around on my floor while listening to music or a tv show. I don’t have a couch because I use my living room as a big exercise space. I bring out zero gravity bean bag chairs (Moonpods) when I have guests or there’s the rare chance I’m looking to lounge without moving around.  If, however, I’m training for a big endurance event, then for 4 months prior to the event my schedule looks much differently. 

Coffee or tea?

I love coffee and I love tea, both plain, nothing added! I listen to my body and give it what it needs. Sometimes it seems to be screaming for a day of crisp green tea while others it just needs the warm comfort of a nutty black coffee. On rare occasions I’ll go way out on the limb and even put a dab of little hazelnut in a coffee and if I have to go to Starbucks it’s always a quad shot americano with a tiny splash of almond milk, a dash of nutmeg, and a pinch of cinnamon powder (good for inflammation btw).  

What do you have for breakfast?

I usually have two breakfasts, sometimes even three. First breakfast is a garden of life protein shake, a banana, and a small bowl of Alpen Muesli (no sugar). This gives me ample protein, carbs, and sugars to fuel a hard workout. I try to consume this about an hour before heavy lifting. Post workout I do breakfast number 2 which is typically an unflavored, unsweetened whey isolate (My Protein) and a big bowl of steel cut oats with flax, hempseeds, fruits, and cinnamon. 

My third breakfast usually happens around 10:30 and can end up being left overs from the night before or a protein bar or nuts or if I’m working on content at a coffee shop then it’s often some sort of egg white Sammy. I don’t buy eggs though. I don’t like them to be in my regular diet because they seem to make me lethargic and depreciate my performance and training efficiency. Plus, they are so much better with cheese, butter, and bacon which I just can’t seem to justify on a daily basis. Eggs are like a 2-3 time a month thing for me. 

Do you sing in the shower? 

It depends. My shower experiences range from dancing to Madonna to silent contemplation or crying out to God with tears rolling down my face splashing into the pools under my feet mixing with the water like my dreams becoming lost in the sea as I wave my fist and summon the strength to show up for the next challenge.

How tall are you? 

6’0.

Age?

34.

Boxers or briefs (or something more creative we should be made aware of)?

MR. MARK TURNIPSEED: Today, it’s a thong. Tomorrow, probably briefs. Somedays it’s a jock strap. If there is one thing I love about my coming out it’s my choice in underwear and feeling sexy underneath my clothes. It’s like walking around as an undercover secret agent of sex appeal.  

Do you get bored easily?

Never, there’s too much to do and when there’s nothing to do there’s always dancing. 

A quote that speaks to you?

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And being only for myself, what am I?” -Hillel the Elder

What would be your superpower?

If I had a superpower it would be the ability to move space and time around so I jigsaw the universe up in a way that made it impossible for the villain to do their evil deeds.

As someone who has struggled with addiction, how did fitness play a role in your recovery?

At first it was an escape and a distraction, but that’s also what drugs were, before they became a serious problem. In both cases, what was once an escape became an addiction. I set out determined to solve this problem within myself and that is who I developed the 4-phase MAT System of Recovery Charged Fitness. Ultimately, what I do in this curriculum is to create a system where we don’t run from our addictions and problems, but rather, we run with them so that we can beat them at the finish line. 

How does social media help you meet your exercise goals?

I started my Instagram when I started my fitness program (3 years ago) because I saw it as a way to gain inspiration in my life. I followed people who I wanted to learn from and at the same time I tried to create content that may help others. At first, I was really clumsy with it, but with time the content I created was getting feedback much like the feedback I used to give my role models to their posts. 

In other words, I surrounded myself by the winners and did the things they did until I started winning, too. I believe this is possible for anyone.

What do you think are people’s biggest fitness fears?

Not being able to live up to their expectations and looking like a failure to themselves and others (on a day to day and on a long-term basis). This is why I break things down for clients to success perceived one rep at a time, or better yet, the effort given on that one rep. The culmination of successful reps makes for a successful set, the culmination of successful sets makes for successful workouts and the culmination of successful workouts over time brings successful fitness dreams to fruition.

And what fitness stereotypes do people have?

Stereotypes to me are a symptom of fear that ultimately stems from ignorance or shame. They are also an opportunity to become a better man. For instance,I always thought triathletes were crazy and most likely sick in the head. I saw it as an unhealthy and pathetic thing to do and a desperate attempt at feeling good about themselves, then I did it and became a better man. I learned lessons about integrity, honesty, community, diet, self-esteem, and drawing in deep for one more step a thousand more times when you can’t go any more. Likewise, I saw weightlifting as vain and useless and now I’m a fitness model who uses weightlifting to correct imbalances both in the body and the mind. I use it to humble me, and to help me rise above while using modeling as a form of art and expression. 

What is the link you between sexuality and fitness according to Mr. Mark Turnipseed?

Fitness and sex can both become very healthy or very unhealthy activities. Both could be used for an escape and selfish reasons and can be used over other people thus hurting others or they can be used to bring people to a deeper understand of themselves and how they relate to, empower with, and others. 

How did it feel to like to complete your first triathlon?

This actually quite literally deserves an entire book to answer this question so it may be a good spot for a cliffhanger and reason to read, My Suicide Race: Winning Over the Trauma of Addiction, Recovery and Coming Out.

What music is repeating on your phone right now?

Elton John, Eminem, Korn, Joan Jett.

What beauty products are in your gym bag at the moment?

Two water bottles, a safety razor, and a SPF facial cream because there is nothing more important than water and protection from the sun. But then, at home, I have a bunch of stuff of other product that I just don’t use much. 

How did you get into the modeling, where you scouted by your agency Select Models?

Actually, a fellow gay and sober man reached out to me and said he was interested in my story and wanted to help support my mission. I met him and turned out he was a photographer for a major, MAJOR labels like GQ and Harper’s Bazaar. He was the first person in the gay world (or any world for that matter) who made me feel beautiful in that non-sexual inner beauty sort of way, and this was in November of 2020. He doesn’t shoot men, but he did a shoot with me and made me feel so beautiful it brings tears to my eyes thinking about that day. Danny Cardozo at his D&C studios in Miami, I’ll never forget it. The next day, like a dream, I was signing a contract with a major Agency. I’m still baffled by it all. 

What’s your favorite body part on you? And your least favorite?

This may make me sound like a Freudian nut case, but I think my penis is both my favorite and least favorite at the same time. I think it’s similar and representative to how I can be grandiose and entirely self-defeating at the same time. I can literally be running in a race and experience a moment where I have a thought that I’m the best athlete on the course and on the same breath that I’m not worthy of the title “athlete.” 

How would you describe your personal style?

Focused with a sparkle. 

Which types of people do you admire?

Those that rise up daily and strive for their best while bringing others along with them any way they can.

Is there time for love with your schedule?

I don’t believe it’s a question of time as much a frame of mind. When in the proper state of mind, the deepest expressions and feelings of love can be transferred in a blink of an eye with a stranger across the street and these moments saredivine and satisfying and drive need for more connection. So yes, I always have time, but because I’m imperfect, I don’t always have the mind.  

Do you think it’s important for a man to be sexy?

I believe sexy is a simply a symptom of what’s going on within, not without, so yes, I do believe it’s very important.

What qualities do you seek in your male friends?

Openness. I love boys who are able to express their emotions. I also love non-sexual touch from a kiss to a hug. I love being able to hug or kiss my male friends hello or goodbye. It’s so refreshing to be around guys that don’t flinch back if our legs touch under the table or apologize when their hand hit mine while walking down the road. 

If you had a choice, where would you choose to spend your last day on earth?

Whitefish, Montana with my two sons is where I’d like to lay my head to rest (and the 10-15 years leading up to that.)

What’s your favorite city in the world?

Miami, FL.

What makes a perfect man in 2021?

Three things: 1) A man fortified with gratitude 2) Someone who respects other opinions (even if he disagrees) and uses differences to build stronger communities rather than tear them down. One of my favorite quotes is Abe Lincoln: “If I don’t like a man, I must need to spend more time with him” 3) Someone who can be in the moment despite all the distractions.

What do you sleep in?

Nude sleeping has been linked to higher self-esteem and less depression, so I sleep au natural.

Cat or Dog?

I love cats but I’m dreadfully allergic, so I put up with dogs, but I have neither right now and prefer to keep it that way.

In this Story:

  1. Mark Turnipseed wears hat H&M, shorts PISTOL PETE, shirt ASOS DESIGN, socks ADIDAS, shoes COSTUME NATIONALE  2. Mark wears reversible fur vest DIESEL GOLD, hat ZARA, jeans 7 FOR ALL MANKIND  3. Black jumper BDG at URBAN OUTFITTERS, choker and belt COS, sheer organza over shirt MONKI, hat ZARA, Button down shirt and pants COS  4. Mark wears On skin: Mark wears Bal D’Afrique body lotion BYREDO

Photographs by DANNY CARDOZO, Style by COLLIN RIDGWAY, Model MARK TURNIPSEED at SELECT MODEL MANAGEMENT

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