Men's Health March 23, 2026 0 Comments

Inside Darren Barnet’s Secret Workout Ritual That Fuels His Unstoppable Mindset on Chicago Med

Ever wonder what it takes to keep those chiseled abs looking sharp not just on screen, but behind the scenes too? Darren Barnet’s no stranger to baring his sculpted physique as Paxton Hall-Yoshida in Never Have I Ever, but it’s his dedication off camera—balancing grueling 12-hour shoot days with workouts—that really caught my attention. Let’s be honest, hitting the gym after a marathon filming session? It’s brutal. Yet, Barnet’s all about consistency and keeping his mental edge razor-sharp, even if it means swapping heavy lifting for calisthenics on the fly. If you’ve ever skipped your session and felt that sinking regret, you’re in good company here. Ready to dive into the full breakdown of his routine and snag some mindset gems to power your own grind? Trust me, you won’t want to miss this. LEARN MORE

2 min read

Ready to get into the best shape of your life? Get free weekly workouts and no-nonsense training insights delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here and let the gains begin.

DARREN BARNET DOESN’T mind taking off his shirt. He’s glad he did when playing Paxton Hall-Yoshida in Never Have I Ever, and his sculpted abs certainly helped his popularity in the show’s shipping wars (Daxton fans were robbed!). Barnet was also eager to pop his top when he took Men’s Health through the workout he did while filming season 11 of NBC’s Chicago Med.

As Dr. John Frost, a pediatric emergency medicine resident at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, Barnet doesn’t have many opportunities to go shirtless; it’s more of a scrubs are mandatory situation. Still, Barnet makes sure to keep up with his workouts, and not just to look good when a role demands he take off his shirt. He’s more invested in the mental health benefits he feels when he gets moving in the midst of a hectic filming schedule.

“A 12-hour shoot day and then going to the gym, it’s not easy,” he tells MH. “But I regret when I don’t and I notice a difference mentally.” His focus is on consistency and regular movement. If Barnet can’t make it to a gym, he’s not opposed to switching up his strength training and adding in calisthenics (bodyweight routines) he can do anywhere.

“Do something. Just get moving,” he says. “But if you can’t make it the whole way through, try but don’t punish yourself for it.”

Check out the full clip for the workout Barnet uses to keep himself mentally sharp—and be ready to go for any future shirtless scene. In the video, he also discusses his PR in pullups and his honest thoughts on ego lifting.

Darren Barnet’s Full Body Workout

Barbell Bench Press

3 sets of 6 to 10 reps

Weighted Pull Ups

3 sets of max reps

Cable Rows

3 sets of 8 to 10 reps

Dumbbell Hammer Curls

3 sets of 8 to 10 reps

Reverse Lunge to Knee Drive

3 sets of 8 to 10 reps per side

Cable Pull Apart

3 sets of 6 to 8 reps

Triceps Extensions

3 sets of 10 to 12 reps

Want more celebrity workout routines? Check out all of our Train Like videos.

Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, MS is the associate health & fitness for Men’s Health and has previously written for CNN, Scientific American, Popular Science, and National Geographic before joining the brand. When she’s not working, she’s doing circus arts or working towards the perfect pull-up.