So you're sitting there with your day job and your TV schedule saying that you wish you could get in shape, but you just don't have the time to do it. All of that, while looking at a celebrity on TV who is lean and fit. But did you know that actors, musicians, and other celebrities have more than just day jobs?
Yet, they find the time to get in shape: So what's your excuse again? From the actor who owns companies and raises children to momagers who need to manage their high profile children. Find out what methods A-list celebrities are using to keep in shape while still conquering the world.
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez is often described as a Diva, but she works hard for her body and hits the gym regularly for workouts. This is how, even at 51 years old, she still has a lean, slim, and athletic physique capable of pulling off jaw-dropping Superbowl half-Time shows.
Her history in dance explains her existing athletic figure and her world-famous $27 million derrieres. Lopez didn't let the COVID-19 lockdown get her down despite gyms being closed. She did a quickfire circuit consisting of a 400-meter run, 15 kettlebell swings, 10 pushups, 15 over the shoulders, and 15 bent-rows, all to be done as many times as possible in 20 minutes.
Kelly Ripa
Kelly Ripa by name, Kelly ripped by reputation. The actress and TV presenter became a household name in the American soap All My Children playing Hayley Vaughan. In this period, she also played alongside Meryl Streep and Leonardo Di Caprio in the film Marvin’s Room. This was all before becoming the host of Live! With Kelly and Ryan.
Kelly's always had a lean and strong physique throughout her career, and she maintains it by doing pretty much everything under the sun. From running to Soulcycling and doing AKT method's cardio-strength classes. She has even incorporated ballet. Kelly also follows an Alkaline diet, which removes all acidic food from the menu.
Jaime King
Jaime King is a model turned actress who was discovered by an agent at the age of 14. She was an instant hit making appearances in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, among a host of others. King even delved into acting, starring in movies like Bulletproof Monk, Sin City, and My Bloody Valentine.
Because she still models, maintaining a lean physique is important for her career. To maintain her fitness, she works out with her friend Jessica Alba, saying that it makes her get out of her comfort zone to see Alba work out. King also does a mixture of activities, including cardio, athleticism moves, and even dance.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Tracee Ellis Ross could've gone into the music industry. But she would've had to live up to her mother, Diana Ross's reputation. She went into acting instead and did pretty well for herself with a starring role in the sitcom Girlfriends. Ross also had roles in films like I-See-You.com and Daddy's Little Girls.
She recently gained prominence again as the central cast member on the sitcom Black-Ish alongside Anthony Anderson. Ross is pretty rigorous about her physique and follows a whole diet while also fitting in three to four workouts a week. She does sapping resistance circuit workouts and loves a good deadlift.
Gabrielle Union-Wade
Gabrielle Union's beauty and impressive physique have been crucial to her climb to the top of the Hollywood ladder. This, along with her versatility, has seen her land roles in films like Bad Boys II, the RomComs like Think Like A Man, and biopics like Cadillac Records and The Birth of a Nation.
Union keeps herself in shape by ensuring she does as lease 10-20 minutes of cardio a day. She then mixes in a combination of Pilates and Strength training. She does all of this at her least favorite time of day... morning. But says she has to do it to fit the workout into her day.
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston didn't only gain game playing Rachel Green in friends; she also gained the world's admiration and the title of America's sweetheart. She is also one of the show's most bankable stars, having landed major roles in films like Bruce Almighty, Horrible Bosses, and We're The Millers.
Part of her big appeal is her tiny frame and petite build, which she maintains by working out up to seven days a week. These workouts include anything from boxing to strength training, cardio, and even jumping rope. According to her trainer, Jen loves to do core work and can easily hold a three-minute plank.
Cindy Crawford
Cindy Crawford was one of the original supermodels and was the dream girl of young boys and grown men. She also starred in the film Fair Game and was probably the only reason people went to see the movie at all. The film was a critical box office bomb and was her only top billing Hollywood role.
Crawford retired from modeling on top in 2000. But she still maintains her looks and physique. Crawford doesn't do anything else until she's done at least 20-minutes of cardio. This can be anything from jumping on a trampoline to using a treadmill. She also starts the day with a vitamin-rich smoothie.
Elizabeth Hurley
She initially gained media attention for being the girlfriend of Hollywood actor Hugh Grant. But soon, the British beauty started carving a career of her own, especially when she started attending red carpet events as Grant's Hollywood star started rising.
Elizabeth Hurley soon landed film roles of her own, including her biggest role in Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery. She has also worked as an ad model for brands like Estee Lauder, Jordache, and Patrick Cox. While Hurley remains svelte, she doesn't have a rigorous workout plan, focusing on gardening and walking while practicing yoga and pilates. She also starts her day with two glasses of warm water.
Shakira
From hits like Whenever, Wherever, to Hips Don’t Lie, and Waka Waka, the 2010 Soccer World Cup song, Shakira has been a dominant force in the music industry since the turn of the century. She is also renowned for her high energy live shows that go beyond just choreography.
Of course, Shakira has been performing like this for years and developed her fitness on the job. But she also gives herself a boost by working out regularly. She variates between strength training, high-intensity interval training, and even swimming. Shakira also follows a whole food diet. She will put her fitness through its paces on a massive world tour in 2021.
Jillian Michaels
Jillian Michaels made a name for herself getting other people in shape on the popular reality TV contest The Biggest Loser. She has also made appearances on the show The Doctors and even had her own reality TV show called Just Jillian that aired on E!.
But how does the personal trainer stay in shape? Well, she doesn't really work herself that hard, but she does work smart. Michaels maintains her body by setting aside half an hour, four to five days a week, to train all the major muscle groups: arms, legs, core, and back. She also fits in at least one yoga session a week.
Nicole Kidman
One thing that is impressive about Nicole Kidman is that she hasn't aged a day since she starred in the 1983 Christmas movie Bush Christmas. While we can't speak for her face and whether she's had cosmetic surgery or not, we can attest that her healthy lifestyle is part of the effect.
Kidman attributes her youthful looks to her fitness obsession. She follows an exercise program that involves mostly cardio, running, spinning, and playing sports with her family forming part of it. Kidman also religiously drinks a cup of green tea in the morning and loves eating seafood. She is set to star in an upcoming musical called The Prom.
Jane Seymour
The first major achievement Jane Seymour had was making her name bigger than the monarch she took it from. The other is still looking lean and beautiful, even at the age of 69. The award-winning actress is famous for her role as the Bond girl, Solitaire, in Live and Let Die.
There is no time to mess and fuss at her age, so she follows The Perfect Workout, exercising 20-minutes a day. She also does an hour-long brisk walk three times a week and incorporates pilates, spinning, and Gyrotonic into her workout regimen. She also follows a healthy diet and has a role in the upcoming comedy Friendsgiving.
Tamra Judge
Tamra Judge is one of the stars of the reality show The Real Housewives of Orange County. She is renowned for rubbing her bikini fit body in everyone's faces. But maybe she deserves to be able to brag about it, considering the amount of work she puts into getting it.
Judge works out at the famous Cut Fitness Personal training gym. She's pretty serious too, and has been training as a bodybuilder, shaping her diet and workouts according to the goals she wants to achieve. Judge already won one bodybuilding competition. She also recently decided to return to her career in real estate.
Leslie Mann
Leslie Mann gained recognition for her roles in movies like Big Daddy alongside Adam Sandler, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, This Is 40, and Blockers. She also received a Chicago Film Critics Association award nomination for the best supporting actress for her role in the comedy Knocked Up.
During her career, she has become recognizable by her slim physique, Which she maintains through exercise and healthy eating. But she goes beyond physical exercise, including 21-minute meditation sessions that sometimes turn into a nap because of its length. But it also centers the mind and leaves her focused and able to execute her workout for maximum effect.
Sophia Vergara
Sofia Vergara has a lot going for her. She was named the highest-paid actress in the world in 2019 for her role in Modern Family. She also has several endorsements and recently had a judging role on America’s Got Talent. Vergara is also viewed as one of the most beautiful women globally, much owing to her curvaceous figure.
While some would claim she was born this way, she puts in a lot of work for her body. Vergara works out up to seven days a week, a minimum of 50-minutes a session. Despite her dedication, she hates running and negates it by walking on the treadmill in incline.
Kristin Chenoweth
Kristin Chenoweth is a Tony and Emmy awards winning actress with a role in stage productions like You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and the drama series Pushing Daisies. The former won her the Tony while the latter won her the Emmy.
Chenoweth is renowned for her tiny and lean physique and controls her weight through her diet, and the age-old philosophy of you are what you eat. Her daily meals get progressively smaller, meaning that she eats a big breakfast, medium lunch, and a small dinner. One of her favorite breakfasts is egg whites with yogurt and granola, as well as a half croissant.
Charlize Theron
No matter how tough the characters is she's playing, Oscar-winning South African born actress Charlize Theron is always a beauty. She is also renowned for playing versatile characters, as shown in films like The Devil’s Advocate, Hancock, and her Oscar-winning performance Monster.
There's a sense of naturalness about Theron's physical and facial beauty that could stem from her days living on a farm in South Africa. But she also has a workout regiment that includes pilates and a plant-based diet. Theron grazes, eating six small meals a day, and she also incorporates spinning and power yoga. She also loves playing tennis as a form of cardio.
Christie Brinkley
Christie Brinkley wasn't satisfied with just one Sports Illustrated Swimwear Edition cover, so she worked and landed three of the coveted covers in a row. This also led to her being voted one of the 100 Hottest Woman of the 20th Century.
Do you realize the kind of body you need to make an impression like that on Sports Illustrated? And Brinkley's still maintaining it. She says that she uses a Total Gym 15-minutes a day bodyweight squats, twists, and pull-ups. Brinkley also surfs, rafts, and runs on the beach, and squats while she blowdries her hair.
Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica looks tall as her character Carrie Bradshaw in S*x In The City. But she is short at 5'2" and has spoken about her struggles to maintain a weight suited to her height. This didn't stop her from creating one of the greatest female characters in the history of TV.
To maintain her body, she includes a pragmatic and active exercise routine. Jessica runs, does Pilates, and includes yoga in her workout regiment. But she also adds fitness aspects to her everyday life, like taking the stairs when going into a building in her native New York.
Thandie Newton
Thandie Newton is one of Hollywood's respected actresses, having had starring roles in films like Beloved, Mission Impossible 2, In Pursuit of Happiness, and RockNRolla. But she has also had lots of issues, including suffering from bulimia and having anger issues.
But in solving these problems, Newton also found her trick to fitness and her lean body. Newton follows a vegan lifestyle and started doing Jivamukti yoga, a vigorous yoga style created in 1984 by yogis David Life and Sharon Gannon. She also has a personal trainer who puts her through her paces with methods including self-defense, strength training, and light weights.
Cameron Diaz
Ever since Cameron Diaz retired from acting, she's been able to do a lot of things she didn't before. Like get married and have a baby, even start a little herb garden. The star of films like The Mask and Charlie's Angels can also finally focus on her health and well being.
In terms of maintaining her body, she gets in many outdoor activities with all the spare time she has. But that doesn't mean she doesn't hit the gym. She even has a personal trainer called Teddy Bass, who puts her through her paces in Pilates, cardio, and strength training.
Eva Mendes
Eva Mendes had a pretty prolific acting career in the late '90s and early 2000s. She had roles in movies like Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror, Urban Legends: Final Cut, Hitch alongside Will Smith, and Ghost Rider with Nicolas Cage.
But Mendes has shifted her focus from acting towards her work in the fashion industry, although she still maintains her physique. Unlike most people, she loves squats and lunges and is also a sucker for high-intensity interval training, which she prefers over regular cardio. When she does her intervals, she fits weight lifting in between.
Ellen Degeneres
Ellen Degeneres is renowned for starting her show with her trademark high energy entrance, and her fun dance moves before addressing her audience. It seems simple enough, but it actually takes some fitness to be as energetic as Ellen is during her show.
To remain lean and energetic, she does power yoga, that, instead of being slow and relaxing, is more like a yoga interval workout, moving swiftly and constantly. Besides being destressing, power yoga also helps to build muscle and fitness. It also helps keep weight off and maintain flexibility, perfect for those low down dance moves.
Jada Pinkett Smith
Jada Pinkett Smith may have been in the media for all the wrong reasons recently, but it is worth noting that she is one of the leanest and fittest people in Hollywood. The host of Red Table Talk and star of movies like Menace II Society and The Nutty Professor has a pretty unique method as well.
Pinkett does towel workouts, where you exercise using a towel to slide around on the floor wall. The action of controlling the towel works out certain muscle groups in a unique way. She also does short cardio sessions and practices yoga. As a matter of fact, she is a yogi herself.
Michelle Obama
The former First Lady of the United States was renowned for her upbeat personality and love for physical activity. The lawyer, who met her husband and former US President Barrack Obama while working together at a law firm, has even created a trend called #SelfCareSundays.
As the first lady, one of her main projects was to get Americans to look after themselves and their health. This is why, during this time, she started the Let's Move Program to get Americans on a fitness buzz. She herself is known to share workout pics on Instagram and has hosted Bootcamp weekends for friends. Her impressive plank and powerful arms prove her fitness chops.
Naomi Watts
Naomi Watts is renowned for her roles as beautiful people in films like King Kong, I Heart Huckabees, and Eastern Promises. But she has also been more dramatic and even action films like the Divergent series. But regardless of which role she plays, she needs to be fit and strong to play them.
Luckily, she enjoys being active, so maintaining her fitness is no problem. Watts has a go-to reset diet and workout regimen she follows whenever she needs to kickstart her fitness and health. But during COVID-19 lockdown, she followed an indoor program called The Class that incorporates calisthenics and plyometrics with feel-good music for an hour-long sweat session.
Yolanda Hadid
Yolanda Hadid is the woman responsible for giving us Gigi and Bella Hadid. But she herself was a model and continues to maintain the physique that made her one of the best-paid models in her era. This is also what made her one of the popular cast members on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Her diet is key to her physique, but she eats healthy for more than just her body. Because she suffers from chronic Lyme disease, she's forced to watch what she puts in her body. As such, she eats strictly organic, and, as much as she loves Pizza and wine, she doesn't indulge in it.
Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock is one of the most recognized stars in Hollywood. She is also one of the fittest, as movies like Demolition Man, Speed, and Miss Congeniality would attest. Although she isn't a six-pack clad bodybuilder, she still has a pretty athletic body.
To keep in shape, Bullock follows the Body By Simone workout plan. Created by celebrity trainer and former dancer Simone De La Rue, the workout incorporates dance and jump rope, among other things. It also incorporates strength training targeting specific body parts and high-intensity interval training. Bullock is touted to star in an upcoming, unnamed drama for Netflix.
Kourtney Kardashian
Kourtney Kardashian is the smallest of her sisters. At least the ones who have the Kardashian surname. Of course, that's not a bad thing for the oldest of the three. As a matter of fact, it's pretty impressive that she maintains a weight of 127lbs despite having three children.
Kourtney takes her workouts seriously and even does them when she is on vacation. But she does keep it simple, focusing on key muscle groups and high-intensity interval workouts. She also keeps active in general engaging in hikes and even taking up boxing.
Courteney Cox
Unlike her other Friends castmates, Courteney Cox is famous for playing two characters. She is also famous for playing Gail Weathers in the Scream series, something she will revisit along with her ex-husband David Arquette. Cox is also famous for her roles in movies like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
She is known for her slight physique and tiny build and surprisingly maintains it more with activities that she does with the gym. Some of this includes tennis and basketball and also making Tik Tok dance videos with her daughter. Cox also surfs, cycles and does Pilates, and also does weights at the gym.
Elle Macpherson
Elle Macpherson was such a prolific model that she landed five Sports Illustrated Swimwear Edition covers. More pertinently for this article, she was nicknamed The Body by Time Magazine because of her exploits in the modeling industry. Want to know how you get a name like that?
Well, exercise and eat healthily. For Macpherson, over the years, she has learned to be less finicky about workouts, and hence she mixes and matches between vinyasa yoga, swimming, water skiing, and boxing. She also recently started following an alkaline diet, which has helped her remain lean and glowing since she turned 50.
Viola Davis
If the G in EGOT was for Golden Globe, then Viola Davis would be the first African American with one. As it stands, she is the first African American with an acting triple crown. She doesn't sing, but she could do a stand-up comedy recording and go for that Grammy.
One thing she does do is work out, and she takes it pretty seriously. Davis is pretty dedicated too, and for her next film, Woman King, she got buffed up for her role as an Amazon general. Her workouts for the role included kickboxing style training, heavy weights on legs and arms, and constant core work.
Kris Jenner
It's a tough business being the momager of the biggest social media personalities in the world. But someone's got to do it, and to be honest, Kris Jenner is one of the best in the business at it. But to keep up with the Kardashians, you need to be like the Kardashians.
As such, Jenner is dedicated to her fitness and health. To find the time, she gets up at 4 am, downs a coffee, and works out. Her go-to workout is pilates, and the 63-year-old also has a personal chef that sends her healthy food daily. Jenner is working on the final season of Keeping Up With The Kardashian.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow has been one of Hollywood's most enigmatic stars. She is also one of the most lauded with a string of awards that include a Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, and an Oscar for her role in Shakespeare In Love.
Paltrow is also an activist for natural looks and hosted a makeup-free party in February this year to launch her health and wellness company Goop. She is also an avid exerciser who works out daily and is a sucker for the Tracy Anderson Method. This method kicks off with a dance inspires warm-up; the room literally warms up to 84-degrees. This is followed by some floor work.
Lucy Liu
Lucy Liu is famous for her roles in action movies with roles in films like Charlie's Angels, Kill Bill: Vol 1, and Shanghai Noon. Her other notable action credits include The Man With The Iron Fist, Lucky Number Slevin, and Set It Up.
This means that Liu needs to be in tip-top shape all the time, and she does this in a surprisingly non-tough manner. She regularly hits the Soulcycle bike and also does Pilates on a reformer machine for strength and conditioning. Liu also follows an organic diet.
Bridget Moynahan
Bridget Moynahan is a model and actress who has made waves in films like John Wick, Lord Of War, and Coyote Ugly. She has also modeled for Vogue and Glamour magazine and is currently serving her 1oth season on the popular police drama Blue Bloods.
Moynahan is also dedicated to keeping in shape and sets aside four days a week to workout. She focuses on strength training, resistance training, and aerobics. But she has a special place in her heart for cardio, which she enjoys because it burns calories fast. If Moynahan doesn't have time for a workout, she just picks up her son and carries him around.
Heidi Klum
Heidi Klum is the description of a model. Lean, long-legged, and beautiful. This allowed her to build an impressive modeling career with Sports Illustrated Swimwear issue covers, becoming the first German Victoria’s Secret Angel, hosting Project Runway, and being Barbie's official ambassador.
Plus, her continued success, even at 47 years old, isn't even down to a strenuous exercise regimen or diet. Klum actually plays by ear and focuses on family activities like hikes and bike rides. She even jumps on a trampoline with her kids to keep active. If Klum really feels pressed, she'll run on a treadmill she has in her house.
Kate Hudson
As Goldie Hawn's daughter, Kate Hudson was blessed with good looking genes. She also appears to be getting fitter the older she gets, and at a recent no-makeup party hosted by Gwyneth Paltrow, it was said that she looked younger. So special genes indeed, but when it comes to that bod, do genes help?
Hudson isn't taking any chances in that department and makes sure she has at least four workout days a week, two of which with her long term friend and personal trainer Nicole Stuart. They do a lot of Pilates, which includes strength and cardio work.
Holly Robinson Peete
Holly Robinson Peete has a pretty impressive resume with roles in shows like 21 Jump Street, Hanging With Mr. Cooper, and For Your Love. She was also one of the first hosts of the longstanding daytime talk show The Talk and had her own reality called For Peete's Sake.
Although she is committed to her workout regimen, she prefers working out alone for her busy lifestyle. The busy mother and actress prefer working out at home doing pilates and using her stair climber. Peete also has a gym opposite her school stop that she runs into when she has time.
Kate Beckinsale
Kate Beckinsale is more than just the star of the Underworld Series. Come to think of it; she's a pretty versatile actress. She starred in dramas like Brokedown Palace, comedies like Click, and other action films like Van Helsing.
Besides her versatility, Beckinsale is also one of the most beautiful actresses out there, with a fit body to boot. At 57, that is pretty amazing, and she attributes it all to eating healthy and exercising. She works out six days a week and does cardio every day, although not included in her morning workout. Beckinsale also does yoga and doesn't drink alcohol.