Jennifer Aniston finally lifts the lid on the 3 ways she looks so good at 55 & the common gym mantra everyone must ditch
JENNIFER Aniston has finally revealed how she looks so good at 55 – and it’s all down to three exercises.
And with the New Year finally here, if you want a killer bod like Jen’s, you’ll need to take notes.
The much-loved Friends star, 55, has also set the record straight on one of the biggest fitness myths out there.
So if you’ve got an exercise session booked in any time soon, you’ll have to follow Jen’s advice and ditch a very common gym mantra.
The actress, known for her iconic role as Rachel Green, is keen to challenge the long-held belief that exercise has to be gruelling to be effective.
She told People: “No pain, no gain. That’s not true at all.
“You can actually have gain with no pain.”
For years, the blonde beauty swore by the idea that pushing her body to the extreme was the only way to stay fit, as she confessed: “I always had the message in my brain.”
But despite this, the Just Go With It star lifted the lid on the three ways she stays fit.
She advised: “You gotta do 45 minutes of cardio, then floor work and then weights.”
Like many of us, Jennifer once followed the mantra that the harder you push, the better your results.
But now, as she’s evolved in her approach to wellness, she’s discovered that this mindset isn’t just unnecessary, but it can be damaging too.
Through her ongoing partnership with Pvolve, a low-impact fitness program, Jennifer has completely transformed the way she thinks about exercise.
She shared: “You can actually enjoy your workout, not break your body, and have an incredible transformation.
How much exercise should you do and when?
There are guidelines issued by the NHS and the Government regarding how much exercise people should do each day.
People should be active daily, and avoid sitting for long periods.
The NHS recommends an adults – those aged 19 to 64 – should aim for 150 minutes of “moderate intensity activity” a week.
This works out to 21 minutes a day, or 30 minutes five days a week.
Or, they could do 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week, which could be less than 11 minutes per day or 25 minutes three days a week.
Adults should also aim to do strength exercises twice a week, at least.
Examples of moderate-intensity activities include brisk walking, water aerobics, riding a bike, dancing, doubles tennis, pushing a lawn mower, hiking or rollerblading.
Examples of vigorous activities include running, swimming, riding a bike fast or on hills, walking up the stairs, sports, like football, rugby, netball and hockey, skipping, aerobics, gymnastics or martial arts.
Things like lifting heavy weights, sprinting up hills, spin classes or circuit training are considered very vigorous.
What time should you exercise?
Getting exercise into your day, no matter what time is a good idea.
But you may want to be more selective depending on your goal.
A 2023 US study on 5,285 middle-aged adults showed exercising between 7 and 9 am was the best time if you’re looking to lose weight.
Researchers found that early-bird gym goers had a lower body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference than those working out later.
A 2022 study led by Prof Paul J Arciero, Skidmore College, New York, found that the optimal time of day to get your kit on might differ according to your gender.
Prof Arciero said women wanting to lose fat around their belly and hips would do better to hit the gym in the morning, but those seeking to gain upper body strength or simply improve their mood might see more results from evening exercise.
The results were the opposite for men.
If you struggle to get to sleep, it’s been found that exercise in the morning may help, but exercise in the evening may help you to stay asleep.
Exercise, generally, can improve sleep quality.
“In all the workouts I’ve tried over the years, this one has transformed my body more than any of the others.”
Looking back, she now wishes she had taken a gentler approach sooner.
She reflected: “Boy, you didn’t have to hurt your body so much back then. You didn’t need to beat yourself up.”
You gotta do 45 minutes of cardio, then floor work and then weights
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer has always been an advocate for health and wellness, but she’s also now known for her refreshingly realistic approach.
Unlike lots of us who kick off a new year with ambitious fitness resolutions, Jennifer has never been one to set strict New Year’s goals, especially ones related to health.
She confessed: “I’m not a good person to ask about that. I don’t make resolutions.
“I really don’t. I don’t want to let myself down. I don’t want to fail at that.”
The 5 best exercises to lose weight
By Lucy Gornall, personal trainer and health journalist
EXERCISE can be intimidating and hard to devote yourself to, particularly at this time of year, when the rain is as relentless as your craving for carbs.
So how do you find the right workout for you?
As a PT and fitness journalist, I’ve tried everything.
I’ve taken part in endless fitness competitions, marathons and I maintain a regime of runs, strength training and Pilates.
Fitness is so entrenched in my life, I stick to it even at Christmas!
The key is finding an activity you love that can become a habit.
My top five forms of exercise, especially if you’re trying to lose weight, are:
- Walking
- Running
- Pilates
- High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
- Strength training
Despite New Year’s resolutions not being part of Jennifer’s life, she previously confirmed that daily exercise is key for her.
During an interview with InStyle, Jennifer shared that she tries to move her body every single day.
She explained: “I had an injury last fall and I was only able to do Pilates, which I absolutely love.
“But I was missing that kind of sweat when you just go for it.
“I’m going back to my 15-15-15, which is a 15-minute spin, elliptical, run. And then just old school: I can chase myself around a gym.
“I need some kind of movement, even if it’s just 10 minutes a day on a trampoline.”
In addition to moving more, she also divulged that she is good at snacking in moderation.
The household name confirmed: “I’m good at that. I can have one M&M, one chip. I know, that’s so annoying.”