Celebrity Fitness

Written by Libby Norris

We hear about celebrity workout programs and can often assume that "it must be nice" to have the luxury of a full time personal trainer and/or chef to help you achieve your fitness goals. And yes, having the resources and support can certainly make it easier to stay red carpet ready. On the flip side however, celebrities also have their weight and workout programs on public display which can't always be easy.

What we can learn from hearing about various celebrities and their fitness programs is finding out what's hot, what's new and what works for various personalities and body types. So what are some of the tips and tools that celebrities use that may help us to get or stay in shape?



Getting on the ball. Jessica Simpson uses the stability ball for a variety of things in her workout, from squats to posture.

Stability balls are a great inclusion in any fitness program, but are particularly a great choice if you workout at home. A stability ball is inexpensive, easy to use and incredibly versatile. You very often see stability balls used for ab work, but you can also use the ball as a bench. With some light dumbbells, you've got yourself a portable home gym. Stability balls can also be used for cardio work and there are some great videos out there you can pick up.

Fit celebrity moms. There have been so many celebrities lately who are featured before and after giving birth. Can you imagine how tough it must be after having a baby to be in the public eye? So how do they do it?

Jennifer Garner got moving with her baby. There are lots of pictures with Jennifer taking every opportunity to lift and use her daughter as part of her program to lift weights and work on her upper body. Playing in the park is also a great way to work your lower body and fit more cardio in. This is a great example of a multi-tasking mom, spending great quality play time while using that as an opportunity to burn some calories as well.

You can incorporate this quite easily into your day as a new mom. Imagine how many times you lift a child. Now just make it more intentional. When you go to pick up your baby, assume a squat position and then lift up and down 3-5 times before you move on to the task at hand. You end up working your whole body, burn calories and you also end up lifting in a strong and safe posture.



Swing in to action. Many celebrities are now hitting the links as part of their fitness program. Catherine Zeta-Jones, Celine Dion and Anne Murray are just a few of the female celebrities who have joined their male counterparts on the greens. Very often people don't look at golf as a workout, but if you carry your own clubs, which many of them do for the workout value, you can burn over 300 calories/hour.₁ Given you can be out on the course for over 3 hours, golf can end up being a significant calorie-burner.

Carrying or pulling your clubs will obviously burn more calories than riding in a cart. If you do carry your clubs, try to choose a bag that has a double shoulder strap like a knapsack. Slinging your clubs over one shoulder using a traditional strap can be excessively tough on your shoulders and back. If you choose to pull your clubs, alternate between dragging them behind and pushing them in front and try to change hands from time to time. This will help to reduce the strain on the shoulders.

Fitness on-line. You can now share the same workout outlines and advice as J.Lo, Jennifer Aniston and many other celebrities. There are on-line programs you can download that include gym workouts, home workouts and weight management. Many also have blogs or communities you can join to add for value and motivation.

Fitness downloads can be particularly motivating for your cardiovascular training. Whether you're on a treadmill or outdoors, these programs will cue you to change your pace, intensity and add hills or resistance. It's like having a personal trainer with you on your mp3 and will help you to burn more calories in the same amount of time.

Shake it up. Kate Hudson and Laila Ali are just two top celebrities who use dance as a regular part of their fitness programs. We've seen many celebrities shed pounds through the Dancing with the Stars series. There are styles for absolutely everyone including pole dancing, hip hop, ballet workouts, belly dancing and more.

There are as many workout options as there are celebrities. As we so often say, finding something you enjoy is one of the most important points of success. Choose an activity that fits your preferences and your schedule but hearing what some of the celebrities do for their workouts can give you some great ideas and motivation.

1. Mayo Clinic Caloric Expenditure Chart