How 'Sons of Anarchy' 's Charlie Hunnam Stays Fit – and Why He Left 'Fifty Shades of Grey'

The actor discusses how he stays so disciplined in his career and life

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Published on November 11, 2014 09:15AM EST

Jax is jacked.

Sons of Anarchy‘s Charlie Hunnam, who flashes a big smile and even bigger biceps on the December cover of Men’s Health (on newsstands now), believes in being disciplined in all aspects of life – especially his career.

“I was going to finish playing a psychopath who’d just lost his wife, and five days later I’d be on set playing Christian Grey,” Hunnam, 34, says of why he famously backed out of the Fifty Shades of Grey role that eventually went to Jamie Dornan. “I was like, ‘This is going to be a f—ing disaster.’ ”

He continues: “It was the opposite of how I’ve tried to ground my career, not stretch myself too thin, and always do my homework.”

Although Sons of Anarchy wraps up its seventh and final season on Dec. 9, Hunnam is going to be busier than ever.

The British actor will play King Arthur in a six-movie deal under Sherlock Holmes director Guy Ritchie, will show off more of his body in a Calvin Klein ad campaign, and is set to headline the upcoming films Crimson Peak and The Mountain Between Us.

Luckily, Hunnam says he doesn’t need a lot of time in the gym to stay ripped.

“I go into the gym and do 75 pull-ups, 75 dips, 150 squats, 150 pushups, and then 20 minutes of ab work,” he tells the magazine. “Done. It takes an hour; I’m in and out. I sweat the whole time.”

The actor adds: “I work out more for the mental than the physical aspect. I can get slightly dark when I’m not keeping a routine. It’s all about feeling healthy and energetic.”