Barbara Eden, the iconic star of "I Dream of Jeannie," recently celebrated her 93rd birthday, proving that age is just a number. Her secret? A balanced approach to diet and exercise, emphasizing moderation and staying active. Eden's accessible and straightforward approach to health and fitness doesn't require an expensive gym membership or a tricked-out home gym.
Eden's Fitness Routine: Simplicity and Consistency
Eden's workout routine has evolved, especially after the pandemic. While she once enjoyed spinning classes and weight training with a trainer, she now focuses on home workouts.
"I used to work out all the time," she told Fox News. "I used to do spinning classes and then do weights with a trainer… When COVID hit, that ended my heavy workouts. Now I have a stationary bicycle and I lift five pounds."
Her current regimen includes:
- Stationary Bike: A great way to get cardio in at home.
- Lightweight Weights: Eden uses five-pound weights, emphasizing their benefit for bone health. Weightlifting can improve strength, posture, and metabolism. Five-pound weights can be used for multiple kinds of exercises. You can curl them to work your biceps, do tricep extensions to target the backs of your arms, or even set them on top of your pelvis to add some resistance to simple glute bridges.
- Brisk Walks: Eden prefers brisk walks for cardio, noting they are "good for your knees and ankles." "If you can walk briskly, which suits me just fine, that’s good for you," she says.
While she misses the camaraderie and motivation of gym classes, she has adapted her routine to stay fit and strong at home. "I loved the spinning classes. It gets you going," she said. "And I’m not much of a self-starter. I have to remind myself to go to the bicycle."
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Eden's Diet: Moderation and Enjoyment
On the nutrition side, Eden opts for moderation rather than strict dieting, a principle she learned from her parents. "I was lucky to have a mother and father who were conscious of eating well and living," she said. "My mother’s mantra was ‘moderation of all things.’ That’s how they lived, and that’s how I’ve lived."
She enjoys a variety of foods, including Italian, German, and Chinese cuisine. While she watches what she eats, she doesn’t necessarily restrict the food she puts in her mouth. "I’m a carnivore … I like steak."
Eden doesn't deny herself the pleasure of sweets. "We don’t stint ourselves on desserts," she explains, referring to her husband of 30 years, Jon Eicholtz. "I eat a lot. I like dessert. I like gumdrops."
Her favorite sweet treats include:
- Key lime pie
- Angel food cake with lemon icing (she makes her own)
- Chocolates
- Marshmallow circus peanuts
Eden acknowledges her love for sweets, stating, "I’m also a sugar eater. I like sweets. I like key lime pie. My sister brought me one for my birthday. I also like angel food cake. I make my own angel food cake and then put a very sharp, sweet lemon icing on it. And chocolates, of course - I love them. You can’t miss with me, really. You want to give me something?"
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Skincare Routine: Simple and Consistent
Eden keeps her skincare routine simple, focusing on cleansing and moisturizing. She shared her routine:
- Cetaphil Cleanser: She washes her face with Cetaphil every night. "It’s very gentle."
- Estée Lauder Repair Serum: She has used a serum on her face since she was a teenager. "They have [serum] drops [called] line repair. I use that morning and night."
- Sunscreen: An essential for protecting her skin.
- Makeup Removal: She always removes makeup with a gentle facial cleanser before bed. "When I wear makeup, I remove it with a gentle facial cleanser that foams up. I never go to bed without washing my face. I like to moisturize and go to sleep clean."
The Importance of Staying Busy
Beyond diet and exercise, Eden emphasizes the importance of staying busy and engaged. "If you don’t try, you’re not going to be doing anything," she stated. "That’s not good. I say, just be busy. Be productive."
She enjoys working and connecting with her fans, viewing productivity as a key to a fulfilling life. "I don’t think about it," she said. "I would guess that a shrink would say that I want to be productive and not sit on a shelf and do nothing. I think if I wasn’t doing what I’m doing, I would go out and find a job just to keep myself going and be part of civilization…"
Early Insights from Lydia Lane Articles
Over the years, Barbara Eden shared her health and beauty tips in articles by Lydia Lane. These articles provide a glimpse into her evolving approach to wellness:
- 1958: Eden emphasized the importance of consulting a doctor for rapid weight loss and the need to maintain a healthy diet afterward. She admitted to having a sweet tooth and using discipline to avoid overindulging. Her diet included fruit, melba toast, and coffee for breakfast; meat and green vegetables for lunch; and the same as lunch for dinner.
- 1961: Eden discussed her lifelong love for sweets and the challenges of maintaining a healthy weight in Hollywood. She highlighted the importance of willpower and exercise, particularly for problem areas like the hips. Her routine included toe touches, leg swings, hip rolls, and leg kickbacks.
- 1964: Eden shared her "stay-thin" rules, emphasizing honesty about problem foods (sweets), balancing food intake with activity, and avoiding overeating and snacking. She also stressed the importance of cutting down immediately after gaining a pound or two.
- 1966: Five weeks after her son's birth, Eden had to return to filming. She shared her experience with diet pills (prescribed by her doctor), which she did not recommend due to their negative side effects. Her diet consisted of grapefruit, soft-boiled eggs, and tea for breakfast, along with calorie counting and limited carbohydrates. She also exercised twice a day, focusing on post-pregnancy exercises.
- 1968: Eden emphasized the importance of a balanced diet and avoiding crash diets. She highlighted the role of food in maintaining energy levels, especially while working on a television series. She also stressed the importance of contentment and tuning into an unseen universal plan for guidance.
- 1970: Eden shared her formula for staying young, emphasizing direction and contentment. She believed in the importance of tuning into a universal plan and developing one's potential. She also highlighted the connection between physical and mental well-being.
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