Drive and dedication fuel Terrell Owens’ fitness regime

Cincinnati Bengals player Terrell Owens’ life hasn’t exactly been private over the last few years.

But those who’ve followed his personal ups and downs might be less familiar with the athlete’s unwavering dedication to his sport, his fitness and his physical health.

“I’ve been in the game for 15 years now,” he said, speaking at “Conversations on Beauty, Health & Wellness,” Saturday’s daylong event sponsored by LA, Los Angeles Times Magazine. “I have to motivate and push myself at all times.”

To that end, the wide receiver relies on his personal trainer to challenge him and change up his workouts. “To keep from being bored, he’ll mix it up,” Owens said. “I always encourage him to push me more.”

Owens’ dedication and competitive streak date to well before his days in the NFL.

“I was skinny as a kid,” he said. As a 180-pound high school player, Owens had to spend extra time in the weight room to be competitive with the older teammates he looked up to.

Things have changed for the NFL veteran, who now doles out advice to the rookies. “It’s all about dedication and discipline,” he said. “I treat my body like a bank -- you’re only going to get out of it what you put into it.”

And Owens shared a few other words of wisdom -- this time to TV viewers.

“Don’t you think you’re more interesting than [Bengals teammate] Chad Ochocinco?” joked emcee Samantha Dunn, author and frequent contributor to LA magazine, in reference to the duo’s competing reality shows on VH1.

“Yes,” said Owens, nevertheless conceding that “his mouth is a little bigger than mine.”

-- Jessica Pauline Ogilvie / Special to the Los Angeles Times