Zac Efron Just Shared This Shirtless Birthday Photo

Actor Zac Efron celebrated his 34th birthday this week, and he celebrated by taking off his shirt. Efron posted a shirtless photo on his Instagram from his stay in Thailand, where he’s working on a project. Efron joked in the caption that he’s “gettin’ old now.” “It’s my bday again? I’m gettin old now- thanks for the bday wishes everyone I love you. I am so lucky to be able to be on this amazingly fun ride with you all. This one feels very special as I get to spend it in Thailand, alongside the most talented and kind cast and crew, making a movie that I think will be awesome… couldn’t be a happier moment in my life. Love you all so much.” Read on to see 5 ways Zac Efron stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

1. He’s Eating Carbs Again

Efron admitted in his Netflix series, Down to Earth, that he didn’t always have the most balanced diet, and obsessively ate healthy. “I’m so happy I’m eating carbs again,” he said. “I went like, years without eating carbs.” Efron said that his diet for the 2017 film, Baywatch was really intense. “When I shot Baywatch, I didn’t have a carb for, like, six months,” he revealed. “I almost lost my mind. You need this. I still can’t get over how this diet of carbs and low protein is the exact opposite of everything any trainer has ever taught me.”

2. He’s No Longer Craving Junk Food

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Efron says that the way he eats allows him to no longer want junk food or indulgences. He explained to Men’s Fitness, ​​“After a while your body stops craving junk food and you look forward to these meals. There’s this trigger that happens after two or three weeks of dieting and eating healthy food, where your body switches its primary energy source from burning mainly carbohydrates to burning fat. And when it switches over, all your cravings change. You go, ‘Holy cow, I want kale and vinaigrette shredded with beets and a little bit of sweet potato!’”

3. He Avoids Processed Food

Efron says that he makes sure to avoid processed foods, and always makes sure he knows where the food he is eating comes from. "I am a firm believer in not eating chemicals and really, really trying to isolate where your food is coming from," he told Men’s Fitness.

4. He’s Sober

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Efron revealed to Elle that he had previously dealt with drug and alcohol problems, and went to rehab. Efron says that he is currently sober, which has helped with his health and wellness. “What I found is structure. That led me to a balance of opposites: You get out of life what you put in. There was a moment when my morning routine was, like, Get up and Google yourself. But that stopped, dramatically and instantly, probably three years ago. I realized that viewing yourself through other people's pictures is not living your own life. I wasn't really being myself. A lot of my hobbies had gone out the window. I couldn't skateboard or surf for fear of being followed. Crossing the line of fear is what leads to greatness.”

5. He’s Spiritual

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Efron told Celebritainment that after playing Ted Bundy in the film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, he had to decompress and find spirituality. He says, "I went and had some friends sage me. You know, do a little spiritual cleansing."