“I never feel better than after a workout,” says Mark Steines, now in his 12th year as co-host of Entertainment Tonight.

At 42, Steines says he’s more committed to fitness than ever – though truth be told, as a former college football player and lifelong jock, he has never been far from the gym.

He filled Muscle & Fitness magazine on his workout regimen, diet and, oh, yeah, what it’s like being married to Miss America.

How important is fitness to you?

Extremely. It’s the first thing I do every day. I’ve been a gym rat my entire life. As a kid, I would unscrew the broom handle and put bricks on the ends to make a barbell.

I played football in college, so I had a good foundation. And then I came out to L.A. and started working out at Gold’s.

A trainer there helped me make minor adjustments, and I realized there’s a whole art to bodybuilding. Now I do 45-90 minutes of cardio and weight training when I wake up, 5-7 days a week.

I have a small gym at home with an elliptical trainer, free weights, a bench and an exercise ball. I hooked up a PlayStation and a flat screen and play Madden or watch shows I’ve TiVo’d while working out.

What kind of diet do you follow?

A I eat every four hours. After my workout I eat breakfast at 8:00 a.m., no more than 650 calories – a small carton of egg whites, a slice of toast and two pieces of bacon or some cottage cheese, an apple and a multi-vitamin.

At noon I’ll have some soup and at 4:00 p.m. I’ll have a protein bar or 6 ounces of turkey breast and a slice of cheese on wheat. I eat for fuel, not necessarily for flavor.

I’m putting just enough fuel in the engine to get me four hours down the track. Dinner is the meal where I get the volume, and I don’t deny myself. I don’t want to walk around being pissed off because I can’t have that bowl of ice cream.

You married Miss America 1993, Leanza Cornett. How’d you swing that?

I introduced her at a silent auction for Children’s Hospital. My pickup line to her was, “Wow, you’re short for Miss America.”

Does she work out, too?

She works out with a trainer. She’s also a great cook, so we’re always balancing.

I tell her, “I’m going upstairs to make a better body for you to have sex with. I’ll work on mine, you work on yours, and later we’ll take measurements!”