Chad Michael Murray Loses 25 Pounds to Play Heroin Addict, Credits "Clean" Eating and "Will Power"

Other People's Children star tells Us Weekly he was "really in a dark place for about a month" during filming

Chad Michael Murray lost some weight!

In fact, the 32-year-old actor shed "25 pounds for his role as "a homeless heroin addict" in Other People's Children, telling Us Weekly he was " really in a dark place for about a month."

"It was taking your work home with you," he said of the role. "It's heavy."

But CMM explained to the mag he wanted to lose the weight "organically in a healthy way," and not "just cut down to water and crackers."

So his plan of action? "Every day I didn't consume anything that wasn't from God's green earth," he said. "Pretty much oatmeal, egg whites, salads, chicken, tuna—that's it pretty much it. You find ways to dress it up and make it wonderful. After a week, you can't tell the difference. You actually look forward to egg whites—can't wait."

Can't wait for egg whites, huh? That attitude merits a shirtless post and fast. Chad even did "an hour and a half of circuit training and weights" each morning followed by "a five-mile jog at night" on his diet.

"If you eat really clean, your calorie intake is only 1,400, 1,500, 1,600 calories. But I was burning 3,000 a day with just the training alone. I did that for three and a half weeks and just dropped right off," he told Us Weekly.

"I just like testing myself," he said. "I like having a test and saying, 'Will power, can you beat this.' It's not forever. I just have to eat that way for three and a half weeks. Film is forever."

Yes, and so is One Tree Hill.