Carla Gugino, a Hollywood mainstay since her teenage years, continues to captivate audiences with her talent and timeless beauty. At 52, she maintains a stunning physique and vibrant energy, prompting curiosity about her diet and workout regimen. From her early start in the industry to her current role in Netflix's "The Fall of the House of Usher," Gugino has prioritized her health and well-being, adapting her lifestyle to meet the demands of her diverse roles.
A Holistic Approach to Wellness
Gugino's approach to fitness is deeply rooted in a holistic philosophy that encompasses physical activity, mindful eating, and mental well-being. She emphasizes the importance of stress management and finding joy in movement, rather than adhering to rigid or restrictive practices.
Yoga and Meditation: Cornerstones of Gugino's Routine
Since the age of 13, Carla has been practicing Yoga. Yoga and meditation have been a constant part of Carla Gurgino’s life and it shows in her ageless appearance. Yoga has been proven to have anti-aging benefits, along with a range of other health benefits. It’s one of the best things you can do to protect your vital organs from the effects of aging. It’s great for bone health, digestion and improves posture. She credits yoga and meditation as essential tools for managing stress, enhancing creativity, and promoting overall happiness. Meditation helps her manage stress, reduces anxiety, boosts creativity, and makes her generally a happier person. She integrates breathing exercises into her routine, further enhancing the calming and centering effects of her practice.
Embracing Variety in Workouts
Carla doesn’t like boring stuff. She keeps diversity in her workout routine. Gugino avoids monotony by incorporating a variety of activities into her fitness routine. She enjoys swimming, which she finds calming and beneficial for both mental and physical health. Swimming is known to boost mental health along with having extensive health benefits. It builds muscles, improves bone density, and builds agility. She also engages in other exercises like running, hiking, biking, and SoulCycle. She also loves being around nature, so, her vacations usually have lots of hiking and mountain climbing adventures, to give her a boost of dopamine. This approach keeps her workouts engaging and prevents her from getting bored, ensuring long-term adherence.
High-Altitude Training
We shot The Space Between Us in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Most of the training that went into it was zero-gravity, where mine and Asa Butterfield’s character are floating around in the spaceship. It’s a contrast between the fact that she is a gazelle who moves freely through space and on Mars-that’s weirdly her element-but on Earth, it’s much more difficult, which is reflective of her emotional state regarding Earth and Mars as well. The altitude really helps in an interesting way-half of the out-of-breathness was acting on and half of it was just altitude. There’s a scene in the film where I’m running after a plane and we must have done that for eight hours. By the next day-and it takes a lot for me to get sore-I couldn’t believe how sore I was, and I realized it must have been because of the altitude.”
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The workouts she turns to in New York:
“I’ve been doing yoga since I was 13. It’s great because I can do it in a hotel room anywhere I am. I’m really into Barre3 in the West Village, it’s such a kick-ass class. If I’m in New York I'm doing Barre3 and SoulCycle. If I’m in L.A., I’m hiking and swimming.”
Strength Training and Cardio
For her role in Gerald Game, Carla quickly underwent weight loss and weight gain processes to fit into her role. Since then, strength training and cardio workouts have been her savior when she intends to lose weight. In an interview, Carla revealed that she wants to stay strong and healthy, rather than being just thin.
Core Work
There was a lot of wire work while filming and in order to do those kind of moves-turning sideways and moving forward, and slowly spinning-is that all of it is in your core. Pilates has nothing on that, because if you let yourself go, you’ll just spin really fast. I’m a fairly physical person anyway. In Albuquerque, I would go to the gym near my hotel every morning, I would do core and step machines. I really needed to have my cardiovascular in the right zone and as an astronaut you have to be slim. So it was about doing strength training and trying to keep my cardio up.”
Diet and Nutrition: Fresh, Organic, and Balanced
Carla loves cooking. So, she is very particular about what goes into her plate. Mostly her diet consists of organic, fresh, and seasonal vegetables and fruits, stir-fried or raw. Since she is a good cook, experimentation never leaves her kitchen. Gugino prioritizes whole, unprocessed foods in her diet. She focuses on incorporating organic, fresh, and seasonal fruits and vegetables, prepared in simple ways like stir-frying or enjoying them raw. She also allows her body to rest deeply and consistently. She avoids processed foods and refined sugar, opting for natural and nutrient-rich options.
Indulging in Moderation
When it comes to diet too, Carla isn’t a bore. She permits herself to enjoy her favorite things from time to time without feeling guilty. She loves Chocolates too. Gugino believes in balance and moderation, allowing herself to enjoy her favorite treats without guilt. This approach helps her maintain a healthy relationship with food and prevents feelings of deprivation.
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The Importance of Sleep
The actress also emphasizes regular sleep schedules and allows her body to rest deeply and consistently. Gugino recognizes the crucial role of sleep in maintaining overall health and well-being. She prioritizes a regular sleep schedule to allow her body to rest and recover, enhancing both physical and mental performance.
Mental Well-being: Managing Stress and Staying Grounded
In an interview, about how she has managed to remain healthy and looks fabulous beyond her age, Carla gave the credit to the art of managing stress. Gugino emphasizes the importance of managing stress as a key factor in maintaining her health and youthful appearance. She incorporates practices like meditation and yoga to promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and enhance her overall sense of well-being.
The Power of Connection
I am much more interested in connecting with those I love and focusing on creating opportunities to do what I love more now than ever. The work itself centers me. That’s the saving grace. I also have a boyfriend who is very grounding and a family of friends, many of whom are also in this business, that I am so grateful to share this life with. Great friends always give me insight and inspiration. Gugino values her relationships with loved ones and finds strength and support in her connections with friends and family. She also finds that the work itself centers her. She surrounds herself with positive influences and seeks inspiration from her peers, fostering a sense of community and belonging.
Embracing the Present
It definitely allowed me to embrace what it is to pause. To step off the train for a moment and see where the day takes me. Having started acting at 13, and supporting myself since then, I never really felt like I could do that. I stopped and smelled the roses, so to speak. That’s been silver lining of this time for sure. I also realized how much of my identity is identified with my work. So that’s been interesting to unpack as well. Gugino emphasizes the importance of being present and mindful, taking time to appreciate the simple things in life. She avoids multitasking and focuses on one task at a time, allowing her to be more fully engaged and less stressed.
Gugino's Beauty Routine: Skincare and Self-Expression
As she told us two years back, beauty has a lot to do with getting into character. “I often discover key elements of the characters I play through makeup, hair and wardrobe fittings,” Gugino shared for her Summer 2021 NewBeauty cover feature. “I always ask myself, ‘Are they the kind of person who thinks about beauty or not?’ Most ‘real’ people have morning rituals, they repeat them every day and those rituals are important. So, I take some time to consider if this is the type of person who has a five-minute morning regime before walking out of the house-the woman who puts on her black eyeliner and some lip balm and that’s it.” She also proved she has a pretty good memory when it comes to the exact products she relied on for certain roles: “For JETT, my fantastic makeup artist, Julie Hewitt, and I wanted a strong, but not precious smoky eye. We used Guerlain’s Kohl Powder Liner. It was the ticket for Jett’s signature eye. Another example that comes to mind is when I was playing Ingrid Cortez in Spy Kids. We felt her hair should be red since her son, Juni, had this vibrant red hair and it probably didn’t come from Antonio Banderas! So, my makeup artist, Ermahn Ospina, whom I have collaborated with on many projects, set out to create the perfect red for Ingrid. The second we found it, I felt like her.” In her real life, Gugino is steadfast with her skin care-and sunscreen!-and has been loyal to some specific brands for years. “I love Biologique Recherche products and have used them for years. Lait U cleanser and P50 V toner are my go-tos daily. I also love Joanna Vargas’ Daily Hydrating Cream. The smell is divine. For body lotion, Weleda’s Skin Food is a fave. I love Julie Hewitt’s lipsticks, too. They come in beautiful gold bullet-like containers and the pigments are fantastic. I’ve never found any blush that beats NARS Orgasm blush. Suntegrity Impeccable Skin Tinted Sunscreen Moisturizer is perfect for evening skin tone, protecting from the sun and moisturizing every day. If I’m going to splurge on the most decadent bath, I go for Nature of Things Restorative Floral Bath.”
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Lessons for a Healthy and Fulfilling Life
Carla Gugino's approach to health and fitness offers valuable lessons for anyone seeking a balanced and fulfilling life. Her emphasis on holistic well-being, mindful practices, and joyful movement inspires us to prioritize our physical, mental, and emotional health. By embracing variety, finding joy in movement, and nurturing meaningful connections, we can all strive to live our best lives, regardless of age.