True Blood hunk Joe Manganiello: My diet and workout secrets (photos)

Joe Manganiello, who plays werewolf Alcide in True Blood, works out twice a day, six days a week to maintain his ripped physique. (Photos/Muscle & Body, HBO)

Twilight sensation Taylor Lautner isn't the only werewolf with a rippling 8-pack. True Blood's new werewolf, Alcide (played by Joe Manganiello) has a physique to rival any professional bodybuilder.

Not surprisingly, Manganiello has to work out intensely and follow an austere diet to look good naked on-camera. Like Alexander Skarsgard, Manganiello, 33, has lots of sizzling nude scenes, and there's more to come, he promises.

"I'm never going to stop shape-shifting," Joe told People Aug. 13, 2010. "So I'm sure there will be more [nudity] in the future. I would bet money on that."

'I WORK OUT TWICE A DAY, SIX DAYS A WEEK'

So how does the strapping 6'5" Manganiello maintain his buff body? “During the season I work out twice a day, six days a week,” he says. “And it’s protein from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed. It’s just protein and vegetables every day. But I get one cheat meal a week.”

His favorite places to indulge? Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles in L.A. and Umami Burger.

The entire cast of True Blood has to work out daily and watch their diets religiously, thanks to the series' racy sex scenes. Kristen Bauer, 36, who plays vampire Pam, confessed she has gotten used to being hungry all the time and revealed that all her co-stars exercise constantly.

But Joe's taking his True Blood stardom in stride. "In 15 years, I won't be able to look like this, so I might as well do it while I can," he says.

When asked whether his height hurts him from getting acting roles, Manganiello is pragmatic. "Back in the day, all the Academy Awards winners during the 40’s, 50’s 60’s…they were all super tall," says Joe. "For whatever reason, we live in an era right now where leading men are short, so I have run into difficulty at times because with the leading men on projects, my height is a concern."

'MY MOM HAS ARMS LIKE MADONNA'

Fortunately, having an equally tall male lead to work off of on True Blood has been a blessing, since the hunky Skarsgard is 6'4" and doesn't get dwarfed on-screen by Manganiello.

"Luckily, on this show, the role calls for a big guy," says Joe. "It’s kind of one of those tough things where I’ve kind of had to make my living as a character actor — a lot of the parts I’ve played have been “romantic interest of blah blah blah,” or “big crazy best friend of blah blah blah,” or one of the bad guys. It has been kind of a tough nut to crack, but luckily on [True Blood], they wanted someone who could match up physically with Alex Skarsgard."

In addition to a high-protein diet and weight-lifting, Manganiello also credits good genes for his incredible bod.

“My mom  is half-Austrian, and comes from a long line of giant athletes," he laughs. "I remember my mom doing double bicep flexes and her arms were just ripped. She had like Madonna arms. She would flex and say, “that’s where you get it kid.” So I have my mother to thank.”

See more on True Blood and Alexander Skarsgard:

• Alexander Skarsgard: I can be self-destructive and intense
• Alexander Skarsgard works out 'all the time,' says co-star (photos)
• Cops restrain furious Alexander Skarsgard at Coachella Festival 
• Alexander Skarsgard: I'm a huge soccer fan (video interview)
• Alexander Skarsgard smoulders on May cover of Details (photos)
• Stellan Skarsgard on son Alexander: 'He's wiser, prettier and better'
• Alexander Skarsgard: 'Nudity is great' (video)
• Alexander Skarsgard: 'I am not a Hollywood guy' (video) 
• Alexander Skarsgard: I'm attracted to dark, sad characters as an actor
  
• Alexander Skarsgard: I was an anti-terrorist soldier in Swedish army