How to get in shape like Jennifer Aniston as Friends star, 55, shows off enviable figure in plunging bodysuit
SHE’s got sculpted arms, washboard abs and a killer set of pins.
But how does Jennifer Aniston achieve her enviable physique?
Well, according to the film and TV star herself, it’s all thanks to low-impact workouts, staying hydrated, and eating very little sugar.
She’s also a fan of the 16:8 Diet, which involves limiting your food intake to just eight hours a day.
The 55-year-old showed off the results of such a strict regime in a photoshoot to promote the brand Pvolve.
Incredible photos showcase her slim legs, cinched waist and muscular arms.
In an interview with CR Fashion Book last year, Jen said: “I drink a lot of water, move my body daily, try to eat whole, fresh foods, and get as much sleep as I can.”
She has also previously spoken about her love of boxing, how she prioritises rest, and the fact she can squeeze an hour-long workout into just 20 minutes.
Here, we take a look at Jen’s diet, exercise routine, and general lifestyle which helps to keep her in tip-top shape.
Stay regular but don’t slog
Whether she’s hiking outdoors, lifting heavy weights in the gym, or holding a half-moon pose during a yoga class, Jennifer likes to stay active.
The most important thing? Getting at least four solid workouts in every week, as well as a day of walking.
But the sessions don’t all need to be hours and hours long. In fact, the Friends legend thinks short bursts can be even more effective.
“I can do 20 minutes and get as good of a workout as if I work for an entire hour,” she told Women’s Health.
“I’ve stopped doing 45 minutes to an hour of just constant cardio, running, and boot camp because my knees can’t take it anymore, and it’s just not efficient.”
Speaking to British Vogue, she added: “Not only do you stress your body, you burn out – who wants to do that at all?”
So what kinds of sessions does Jen go for?
Variety is the spice of life
Unlike many fitness fanatics, the actress doesn’t subscribe to the idea you should focus on different body parts on specific days.
Instead, she wants a head-to-toe workout every time.
“I rarely walk in and think, ‘I’m just going to hit the abs today’; I really would like to get a full-body workout every time,” she said.
According to Jen, a combination of Pilates, yoga, barre, boxing, hiking, and a relatively new concept called Pvolve achieve this.
“I always like to mix things up because it keeps things very interesting,” she said.
Pvolve fuses low-impact functional fitness (think pushing, pulling and squatting) with resistance-based equipment (like bands and gliders).
“It’s exercise that mimics everyday movement and works with the body’s biomechanics,” the website adds.
“By training muscles to work together, it can sculpt, strengthen, and restore.”
Jen, who has starred in Murder Mystery, Horrible Bosses, Marley & Me, and The Morning Show, told journalist Natalie Shukur: “I love it so much.
“I leave every workout feeling energised and strong, but not beat up.
“I look forward to the challenging classes and I feel stronger and more comfortable in my body when I’m doing it.
“It’s different every time, I don’t think I’ve had the same class twice.”
Move with purpose
With regards to specific moves, Jen is a fan of pounding a punchbag, the elliptical machine, and balancing poses.
Her yoga instructor Mandy Ingber revealed she loves tree, half-moon and warrior III, and is also great at holding a plank.
After doing these regularly, Jen said: “I noticed many things – my legs getting leaner, my arms getting stronger and most importantly, I noticed an inner strength.”
Speaking to InStyle about boxing, she added: “There’s something about the mental aspect of the drills.
“It’s a great way to get aggression out.”
And on the elliptical, she raises the incline then alternates between two minutes of running and one minute of walking for 20 minutes straight.
With pals and good tunes
But she doesn’t do it alone.
Speaking to InStyle, the star said: “I much prefer working out with friends.
“Doing your own workout by yourself, meh.
“If you get some good music going you can have fun, but I like to be guided.
“It’s too easy for me to do things less correctly than I should.”
To keep her motivated, she listens to upbeat pop and hip hop.
“It’s hard for me to choose favourites,” she added. “There are so many.
“I’m really into Lizzo right now, I love Rihanna, of course, and I love old-school ’90s hip-hop.”
Eat well, at the correct time
Jen has tested many diets, including eating five small meals a day and 16:8 intermittent fasting, meaning she eats during an eight-hour window and sticks to just water, black coffee, juice, and herbal teas the rest of the time.
But she tries to be flexible. Her morning routine now looks a little something like this:
- 9am: wake up
- 9.15am: green juice or warm lemon water
- 9.30am: workout then coffee
- 10am: high-protein breakfast (e.g. avocado and eggs)
For the rest of the day, she focuses on non-processed foods, cutting down on sugar, and plenty of healthy fats.
That means lunch and dinner is usually “some form of vegetables or salad with protein”.
For snacks, she can be found munching on an apple and almond butter, frozen yoghurt, popcorn, a protein bar, or a handful of nuts, according to ELLE and PEOPLE.
Yogi Mandy said during an interview: “A healthy fit body, like Jennifer Aniston’s, or even like mine, is based on healthy choices which are absolutely attainable – a wholesome diet with low sugar and minimal processed food.”
While another one of Jen’s trainers, Leyon Azubuike, told Women’s Health: “I love avocados, coconut oil, salmon, fish oil. Anything that’s a good form of fat is great.”
Jen lets go at the weekend though, enjoying pasta, a burger, pizza or something else “extra special” as a treat.
The right kind of additives
While Jen steers clear of foods with too many ingredients, she does love a supplement.
She takes collagen from the brand Vital Proteins every day, usually in her morning coffee and smoothie.
Her go-to recipe is the following, whizzed up in a blender:
- 1 cup of chocolate almond milk
- 2 scoops of Vital Proteins Chocolate Collagen Peptides
- a handful of banana and cherries
- a few drops of Stevia
- antioxidants
- 1 cup of ice
- spinach
- a pinch of cinnamon
- matcha powder
- a spoonful of almond butter
Glug that H20
Unsurprisingly, as well as eating well, Jen drinks a lot of water.
“I usually drink so much that it’s comical,” she said.
Personal trainer Leyon said he urges his clients, including the Rachel Green actress, to ensure they are so hydrated that they never actually feel thirsty.
The rest is history
Last but certainly not least, Jen needs her beauty sleep.
She said that while getting enough is “challenging”, it’s “so important” – for both her physical and mental health.
“I feel it when I don’t get enough rest,” she added.