Jane Fonda is not just one of the most successful Hollywood stars. She has also managed to maintain a body shape and fitness level that people in their 30s would be proud of, let alone their 80s.
Fortunately for us, Jane has taken things into her own hands to educate the public with the help of fitness books and videos on how to build a great workout routine and diet plan.
And having researched her exercise routine, I can say that it’s not one that just women will benefit from.
Quick Summary
- Jane Fonda's diet includes fresh fruits, eggs, whole grain bread, unsalted nuts, lean meat, salad, salmon, and vegetables.
- The best Jane Fonda workout routines comprise aerobics, dance classes like Zumba, hiking, walking, fast walking, and elliptical machines.
- Fonda's flexibility despite her age is attributed to her daily stretches.
- Jane Fonda takes the following supplements; Vitamin D, multivitamins, and magnesium.
Her Stats
Born: December 21, 1937
Height: 5’7”
Weight: 130 lbs
As the daughter of Henry Fonda, it didn’t take a huge leap to start a career as an actress in Hollywood.
But she didn’t just focus on making movies and winning Academy Awards.
Her life became controversial when she joined activists to openly oppose and protest the Vietnam war, and she went through many of her own health issues that she kept secret for a long time.
Despite her age (now in her 80s), Jane has dedicated her time to helping people of all ages to focus more on healthy living.
- Her workout book, fitness videos, and online presence have been hot topics here at Total Shape, and even a team of personal trainers were able to learn a thing or two from Jane Fonda.
Jane Fonda’s Workout Routine
What you won’t find here is the typical celebrity exercise routine with long lists of isolation exercises.
That’s not what keeps Jane fit at her age.
Instead, she focuses on remaining active and limber, both in body and brain.
1. Daily Stretching
Jane is convinced that she can still move her body like a 30-year-old because she stretches her muscles on a daily basis. It’s one of the best ways to make sure that your muscles don’t cramp or that your ligaments and tendons become stiff.
This is an unfortunate reality that comes with age, but a simple stretching routine and a variety of yoga poses can work a miracle on your body.
2. Aerobic Exercises
Fonda says that she does aerobic exercise every single day, and that would explain why she’s still such a young-looking actress.
And we’re not talking about spending hours on a treadmill.
She recommend [1]:
- fast walking or hiking,
- elliptical machines,
- aerobics, and
- dance classes like Zumba.
Yes, get those leg warmers on and learn to dance to electronic music with a deep base.
Not only are these great for your heart and weight, but they can rejuvenate your brain.
3. Outdoor Activities
Jane loves being out in nature, and if there’s any way she can find an activity to do outside, she’ll jump on the opportunity.
And she doesn’t just recommend constantly doing the same walk in your neighborhood.
Instead, think of it as a challenge to go skiing and snowshoeing or find some tougher hiking trails.
It’s practical and fun advice like this that explains how she has managed to sell millions of copies of her workout books.
You can also make this exercise approach as tough or easy going as you want, as it’s only one part of the way Jane has kept fit throughout life.
Not surprisingly, food is the more important part for her.
Her Diet Plan
Jane is very open about her past eating disorder, and it ultimately forced her to become as educated about dieting as most dietitians are.
“To overcome bulimia, I had to teach myself to eat all over again, like a child.”
- Jane Fonda
Here are the main areas she focuses on.
1. Avoid The Junk
This isn’t just about avoiding the burgers and pizza that have become daily habits.
It’s about checking the shelf life of food when you’re grocery shopping, and if it will last for months or even years, then it’s probably not all that good for your health.
Instead, only buy fresh produce with a limited shelf life. The best place to find these is the farmers' market, so visit the nearest one to get preservative-free food products.
2. Fresh Fruits And Vegetables
Jane is all about making her breakfast, lunch, and dinner colorful. That means a long list of fruits and vegetables.
And the more colors you choose in fruits and veggies, the better it is for your wellbeing.
3. Intermittent Fasting
She doesn’t call it out as fasting in her books, but she generally takes the approach to avoid eating between certain times of day, which is the main concept of fasting [2].
Jane also recommends keeping a food diary, and that’s a lot easier these days with apps like Noom. This will also help you to stay on top of your macros and salt intake, which Fonda says you should keep to a minimum to avoid the risk of blood pressure issues.
Sample Meal Plan
Breakfast:
- Bowl of fresh fruit with yogurt
- Eggs and whole grain bread
Snack:
- Unsalted nuts
- Handful of fresh berries
Lunch:
- Large bowl of salad
- Small portion of salmon
Dinner:
- Lean meat, chicken, or fish
- Brown rice
- Mixed steamed vegetables
Jane Fonda Supplements
There are a couple of supplements that Jane relies on to maintain her health and amazing appearance.
1. Multivitamin
A high-quality multivitamin supplement for women should give you most of what you need to maintain a healthy immune system, metabolism, and digestion. It’s the easiest way to boost multiple body functions with one pill.
2. Vitamin D
Looking at Jane’s skin should give you an idea of how much she takes care of it. And I imagine that she’s not a woman that doesn’t use UV protection. And anyone that is careful with sun exposure should take a vitamin D boost daily.
3. Magnesium
With all the activity she does on a daily basis, her muscles will crave certain nutrients. Protein is the obvious one, but minerals like magnesium may help to improve muscle function and relaxation at night time.
Would You Follow Jane Fonda's Routine?
If you want to look as great as Jane in your 80s, you need to make it a point to prepare long before you clock up the years.
Adjust your foods, limit your calories, and become as active as you can.
It’s definitely worth checking out some of Jane Fonda’s book titles as well, especially one of the latest ones called Prime Time.
And if you’ve managed to change your life with Jane’s approach, then why not share it with us on social media.
References:
- https://www.zumba.com/en-US
- https://jamesclear.com/the-beginners-guide-to-intermittent-fastin
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