Ex Love Island star Eyal Booker: ‘I haven’t always been where I am’
Francine Wolfisz speaks to Eyal Booker about how his new fitness platform, Empower, helps change bodies and minds
Francine Wolfisz is the Features Editor for Jewish News.
If it’s true that how you look on the outside reflects how you are on the inside, then Eyal Booker certainly has plenty to smile about.
The former Love Island contestant has several enviable assets, from his gym-honed physique to his lush curly brunette locks, but it’s as much for his positive attitude that the 26-year-old has become a go-to man in helping others “be the best version of themselves, physically and mentally”.
His recently-launched subscription fitness platform, Empower, isn’t just about toning up and slimming down – it also takes a more holistic approach in achieving goals for both body and mind, explains the down-to-earth reality star.
Eyal, who grew up in Bushey and now divides his time between Los Angeles and London, says fitness has always been something he’s “super passionate” about, but it was only during the months away from the hubbub of celebrity life during lockdown that he realised how “incredibly empowering it is in all aspects of people’s lives”.
He says: “Empower is a one-to-one online fitness coaching platform that I’ve created where I can talk to people about their goals without physically being there and create a tailor-made workout and nutrition plan.
“I keep in constant contact with my clients and send them daily or weekly motivational videos. I’m not a qualified life coach, but I can talk through things from my perspective, giving my thoughts and feelings on certain situations, fitness-related and life related.
“It’s one of the most fulfilling feelings to be able to really help other people achieve something they’ve always wanted to, but never known how to do it. My clients always want to thank me, but I say, ‘look, you’ve done this yourself. I’ve helped you, facilitated and guided you, but I’m not there doing the workouts or making the recipes – you are doing this for yourself.’”
One of his clients, a 26-year-old woman who “got herself into a really unhealthy cycle of habits”, including excessive eating, alcohol and recreational drugs, has lost 15kg and turned her life around, says Eyal. She’s even pursuing a career in fitness, because “she wants to help other people the way I helped her, which is really inspiring”.
Eyal, who is in a relationship with 22-year-old Delilah Belle Hamlin, daughter of Real Housewives star Lisa Rinna, first came up with the idea of Empower after seeing how the pandemic was impacting people’s mental health.
He says of last year: “I think it was a shock to the system, like it was for everyone to start with, but for me personally [that time out] was quite needed. I came out of Love Island, my life was a million miles an hour and, without realising it, I think I needed that rest time to really reflect on my journey up to that point.
“We live in a world that is extremely fast-paced and don’t really give ourselves time for self-care. The pandemic forced everyone to really look inwards and address other aspects of their life.”
It was during this time that Eyal says he really appreciated the value of working out as a way of both boosting body and mind.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my fair share of down days where I felt less than positive,” he reveals. “So I strive for that feeling of positivity again. Much of it stems from fitness. I’ll wake up at 6am and do a pretty intense workout. The endorphins released from something like that can change a person’s whole mood – you can definitely feel it.”
He mostly trains five or six days a week, but mixes it up with gym workouts, callisthenics, cycling or even skateboarding.
“For me, fitness is about my time for self-care and whatever I feel like doing, now I’ve got to a place where I’m happy and confident,” he says.
Has there ever been a time when he didn’t feel as confident, I ask? “I haven’t always been where I am,” he confesses. “Just because I look a certain way or people see me in a certain light doesn’t necessarily mean I haven’t overcome my own insecurities, struggles and lack of confidence.”
Having gone through that, he says, best places him in helping others living with low self-esteem and confidence issues. He adds: “People who come to me quickly realise there’s no judgement and I’m just trying to help them through their journey. I would like to think that outside of what I look like, people see me for who I am and trust they are in good hands.”
Describing himself as an empath, Eyal credits his family – and especially Israeli mum Michal – with his desire to genuinely help others. “I’m grateful I was brought up in a loving, kind environment and family where they instilled those values,” he says.
As for the future, Eyal seems content with the direction in which his life is heading, as well as his blossoming relationship with model Delilah – and he hints that both London and LA could feature
in his future.
“I love London; it will always be my home. I hold it in such high regard and have built my life here – but Los Angeles is a really exciting new home,” he says. “My girlfriend is there and home is where the heart is, as they say. If I can bridge the gap between the two and spend time in both, that’s the dream.”
To find out more about Empower visit
www.empowerbyeyal.com
NEW YEAR! NEW YOU!
Eyal wants to give back to the Jewish community and is offering
JN readers exclusive access to EMPOWER by Eyal, at a discounted rate .
Reach out to Eyal personally. Email: info@empowerbyeyal.com and quote reference: JN-5782
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