Charlize Theron, a South African-born actress, has captivated audiences for over two decades with her performances in a variety of films, ranging from dramas to action-packed thrillers. Her ability to maintain a stunning physique and a positive attitude has made her an inspiration to many. In interviews with publications like Harper's Bazaar Australia, Red Magazine, and ELLE UK, Theron has shared insights into her diet, exercise routine, and overall approach to well-being.
Fitness Philosophy: Balancing Activity and Indulgence
Theron emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between physical activity and mindful eating. She told Harper's Bazaar that she is "always calculating my activity." She explained, "If I haven’t been moving a lot, I can’t eat a lot. Or maybe it’s a cheat day." This approach highlights her awareness of her body's needs and her commitment to making conscious choices.
Pilates: A Body Transformer
Pilates is a cornerstone of Theron's fitness regimen. She told Harper's Bazaar Australia that Pilates has "totally changed my body." Pilates offers numerous benefits, including improved core strength, flexibility, and posture.
Yoga and Spin: Calorie-Burning Disciplines
In addition to Pilates, Theron incorporates power yoga and spin classes into her routine. She enjoys two 90-minute power yoga sessions per week, a discipline known for its fast-moving poses that induce sweat. She also takes up to four spin classes a week. Both activities are effective for burning calories and improving cardiovascular health.
Tennis: A Full-Body Workout
Theron has also embraced tennis, thanks to her mother's encouragement. "My mum recently got me to play tennis, which I wasn’t good at but really enjoyed," she said. Tennis is an excellent choice for a full-body workout, providing both aerobic and anaerobic exercise. It burns fat, strengthens bones, increases flexibility and balance, and is beneficial for the heart.
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High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): Efficient Workouts
Theron's trainer, Fedele De Santis, incorporates high-intensity interval training (HIIT) into her routine. "We did 25-minute high-intensity workouts three times a week," she said. HIIT workouts are short, intense bursts of exercise followed by brief recovery periods, making them an efficient way to burn calories and improve fitness.
A Badass Bodyweight Workout
Theron's training also includes a bodyweight workout that targets various muscle groups. Here's a glimpse into her routine:
- Alternating Lunge Jumps: Lunge forward with one leg, forming a right angle, and drop the other knee close to the floor. Jump up and switch legs, holding for three seconds before each jump.
- Banded Glute Bridges: Place a resistance band below your knees and perform glute bridges, squeezing your glutes at the top.
- Alphabet Leg Lifts: Lie on your back with palms under your glutes and spell out the alphabet with your legs in the air, keeping your lower back on the floor.
- Hip Dips: Start in a plank position and rotate your hips to one side, dipping your body towards the floor.
- Kick and Punch: Kick one leg out in front of you four times, then perform star jumps while punching one arm to the side four times.
- Sumo Squat with Leg Kick: Stand with feet wide apart and toes turned out, then squat down and kick one leg out to the side.
- Curtsy Lunge with Side Kick: Step one foot behind you in a curtsy lunge and kick the same leg up to the side.
- Burpees: Perform burpees as quickly as possible.
Diet: Plant-Based and Protein-Focused
Theron prioritizes a healthy diet, focusing on plant-based raw foods. She told Red Magazine, "I have juices and kale and green salads every day. When I’m eating healthily, getting enough sleep and not drinking alcohol, that’s when I look my best."
Six Small Meals: Grazing for Weight Management
Theron follows a grazing approach, eating "six small meals per day." Eating smaller meals helps with weight loss since the body doesn’t go into “famine” mode, which increases fat storage.
Occasional Indulgences: Maintaining Sanity
Even with her dedication to healthy eating, Theron allows herself occasional indulgences. The psychology of a little indulgence can be beneficial too, since it tends to make you less cranky.
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Avoiding Processed Foods: A Conscious Choice
Theron avoids oily, processed foods, such as chips, French fries, and pizza.
Beauty Routine: Simplicity and Self-Care
Theron's beauty routine is both high- and low-maintenance. She emphasizes the importance of self-care, especially as a busy mother.
Nighttime Ritual: A Sacred Routine
"Now that my kids go to sleep at a certain time every night, I make a real point to take care of my face," she said. Her nighttime regimen includes serum, eye cream, and a really good moisturizer. "My evening routine is sacred to me, and then in the morning, it's really just about rinsing all of the products off and applying a lot of sunscreen."
Morning Routine: Sunscreen is Key
In the morning, Theron focuses on rinsing off the products from the night before and applying sunscreen.
Skincare as Mindfulness: Investing in Yourself
"I never really truly understood the word self-care until I had kids, and it's just so unbelievably important," she said. Even if I'm tired or I've been out, there's always a part of that routine I do because it's just something that makes me feel like I'm investing time and energy into myself; it's time for me that I don't necessarily get during the rest of my day."
Read also: Weight Loss with Low-FODMAP
Go-To Products: SPF, Moisturizer, and Lip Balm
Theron's desert island beauty products include SPF, a really good moisturizer, and good lip balm.
Eyelash Curlers: A Game Changer
"I didn’t even know about eyelash curlers until 15 years ago. Now I never leave the house without one," she said.
Hair Care: Castor Oil for Thickness
Theron credits castor oil as the simple secret to her voluminous strands. "Someone told me about [castor oil]. I put it on my brows once or twice a week," she said. "It’s definitely made my hair thicker.”
Mental Well-being: Embracing Stillness and Simplicity
For someone who has fronted major beauty campaigns, played villains and superheroes in some of the biggest hits and who, today, straddles the varying and demanding roles of mother, philanthropist, dance studio owner, model and actor, Charlize Theron isn't exactly slowing down. But - contrary to an ever-expanding CV - embracing stillness and simplicity are still paramount to the star.
Prioritizing Family: Juggling a Busy Life
Theron has a busy life, however, she doesn’t let it overwhelm her. She revealed her secret to Red. “Once you know what your priorities are, you can juggle the rest of it,” she says. “It’s crystal clear to me that my family comes first.
Learning from the Past: Slowing Down and Being Kind
In her Red interview, Theron opened up about her mental health and wellbeing. She says that she is a lot more comfortable with herself now, and is working on her anxiety. “Not that my twenties were terrible, but I think I would have been happier if I just took a breath and slowed down a bit,” she said. “I didn’t know how to be good to myself. I was in such a rush, it put me in a constant state of anxiety.
On her approach to beauty over the years…
'Beauty is internal for me. In the last decade, I have really responded to how I feel about myself through my eyes versus the eyes of other people. It's been so empowering for me, and I hope that young girls can live with that mantra too. Beauty was something that hindered me when I wanted to become an actor; I think I was always fighting with how I looked. And now I just really love embracing who I am on an internal level. It's on my terms - it's not about what people are thinking or what they're saying. For me, this is the true freedom of beauty.