Six months ago, Jennifer Aniston couldn’t lift a 10-pound weight. Now she’s feeling stronger than ever.
“At the beginning of the year, I had a couple of injuries just due to old stuff that flared up again. So we kind of worked around it,” the actor tells TODAY.com.
With the help of her personal trainer Dani Coleman, Aniston slowly increased the amount of weight she lifted until she was back in fighting shape.
Now, the 55-year-old is encouraging others to tap into their inner strength with her new “Strength Redefined” workout challenge in partnership with Pvolve, a fitness method that combines low-impact exercises with functional movement and resistance equipment.
Pvolve members can try Aniston’s fitness routine, including 24 new workouts, between Jan. 6 — Feb. 17 as part of the workout challenge.
“There’s been more awareness lately around the importance of muscle mass versus just cardio," she says. People, she finds, are taking a closer look at exercise "in terms of the importance of muscle mass, especially as we get older to prevent osteoporosis, to support our bones,” she says.
Zoey Grossman
Aniston's fitness philosophy and workout routine
Fitness is a big part of Aniston’s life. When her work schedule is particularly hectic, the star typically aims to exercise at least three to four times a week. During an ideal week, she'll hit the gym four to five times.
Even though she enjoys the results of her workouts, Aniston admits that she sometimes feels like skipping out on her gym sessions like the rest of us.
“I dread it once in a while,” she says.
Luckily, the unpredictability of her workouts helps keep Aniston motivated since Coleman, who serves as the Pvolve head trainer and director of training, “surprises” Aniston with a new workout every day to keep things “completely interesting.”
Over time, Aniston has learned that less is more when it comes to fitness, so she steers clear of "aggressive" workouts.
“You don’t have to break your body to get strong. Your workouts don’t have to be hours a day," she says. "If I say I only have 30 minutes today, (Dani) will kick my a–."
Of course, Aniston doesn’t always go hard at the gym. On days when her energy levels are dipping, the star isn't afraid to tone down her routine.
"Some days I’ll walk in and I’ll just say, 'Dani, I don’t got it in me. Let’s just do mobility today. Let’s move, let’s stretch. Let’s get our blood pumping but just through mobility because the body is feeling too tired or I didn't sleep.' She's always there. She meets you wherever you're at," she explains.
Injuries are inevitable, especially when you're a self-described "klutz" like Aniston, but Coleman has taught her to adjust her workout routine when aches and pains do occur.
"It's wonderful because you don’t ever have to sit on the bench and wait and be like, 'God, I hope this injury heals up so I can get back to working out.' You are able to continue," she says.
Zoey Grossman
A 'boring' but effective nutritional plan
Diet and exercise go hand in hand to create a healthy lifestyle, so Aniston also prioritizes nutritional eating along with moderation.
“I do 80/20. I give myself days where I can have whatever I want. I don’t deprive myself,” she tells TODAY.com. 80 % of the time, Aniston focuseson nutrient-dense meals and then allows herself a bit more leniency for the other 20% of the time.
Describing her diet as "boring," the actor notes that she loads up on protein, veggies, salads and "tons of water."
“My bigger challenge is sleep. I think that’s all part of our nutritional hygiene — the amount of water we get as well as the amount of sleep we get. It’s the combination of all of those things that make your workouts the most effective," she says.
When it comes to healthy snack options, Aniston's go-tos include popcorn, protein bars and shakes.
At mealtime, Aniston likes to make small but smart tweaks to her food, like skipping extra salt and taking it easy on the salad dressing. She's also learned the "power of seasonings" and vinegar to add flavor to her dishes.
"Stuff like that will create a taste that that is so delicious, where you’re not just dousing everything with salt and butter or olive oil to make it taste good," she says.
Zoey Grossman
Aniston's fans may also be surprised to hear that she does indeed splurge on her favorite foods from time to time (she previously told InStyle she tends to eat only a single chip or M&M when she's stressed out). What are her go-tos when cravings hit?
"It would be a cheeseburger and fries or Mexican food, pasta, pizza — all the stuff that’s savory. I’m not a sweets person. I don’t go for ice cream or cakes I definitely have a savory tooth," she says.
