Ernie Hudson, the acclaimed actor best known for his role in the Ghostbusters franchise, has been turning heads not only for his enduring talent but also for his remarkably youthful appearance and impressive physique at the age of 78. Forty years after he starred in the first Ghostbusters movie, he walked the red carpet at the premiere of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the internet could not get over how buff he looked, and had all kinds of questions about how he maintains such a fit and youthful appearance at the age of 78. In an industry where celebrity fitness often revolves around aesthetics and endurance, Hudson seems to have found a sustainable balance. This article delves into the diet and workout regimen that keeps Ernie Hudson feeling good and looking great.
A Holistic Approach to Fitness
For Ernie Hudson, fitness is more than just physical appearance; it's about maintaining a healthy and functional body. Gifted with an athletic physique, Hudson’s priority is to keep his body safe and healthy. Previously, he survived life-threatening diseases twice - prostate cancer in 1998 and rectal cancer in 2011. He emphasizes the importance of listening to his body and avoiding overexertion. "You only get one body, so it's very important for me to keep it as functional as possible." This approach is particularly crucial as he navigates his seventies, focusing on mobility, balance, and overall well-being. Also, I've been married close to 50 years, and I don't want my wife pretending that I'm attractive. I want at least to have a smile when I take off my shirt!"
The Ernie Hudson Workout
Hudson's workout routine is a blend of strength training, mobility exercises, and balance work. He recognizes the importance of professional guidance, working with a trainer at Studio G Fitness for the last 25 years. "I'm not the kind of guy who can get motivated to work out," he explains. "I need someone else to tell me what to do."
Key elements of his workout include:
- Gym Sessions: Hudson hits the gym three times a week for sessions lasting an hour or less. These sessions incorporate strength, mobility, and balance exercises.
- Push-Ups: Push-ups are a staple in Hudson's routine. He aims for "at least 100 to 150" pushups across three sets on days he doesn't go to the gym.
- Squats: On some days, Hudson focuses on squats as a primary exercise.
- Travel Workouts: When traveling, Hudson adapts his routine, incorporating jump rope, crunches, and planks in his hotel room.
- Walking: While filming APB, and all his other shows and movies, Hudson can be found walking around the set in between takes. He also walks around all the airport terminals rather than indulge in the free snacks at the first-class lounges.
Hudson avoids long-distance running to prevent excessive heart rate spikes, a sensible precaution for someone in their seventies. He also includes balance and mind-body coordination as a crucial part of his workout since that’s one of the main causes of serious injuries in people his age.
Ernie Hudson's Diet: Moderation and Mindfulness
Hudson's dietary philosophy centers on moderation and mindful eating. He avoids strict rules, preferring to make conscious choices about what he consumes. "I don't have any rules of 'I don't eat.' When I make a rule, every part of me wants to break it, so I don't make rules," he says. "There's a price to pay for everything, and unless I really want to pay that price, it's best to just leave it alone… The problem with diets is, as soon as you get off them, the weight starts to come back."
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Key aspects of his diet include:
- Intermittent Fasting: Hudson practices intermittent fasting, typically not eating before noon.
- First Meal: His first meal of the day often consists of oatmeal, or smoked salmon and eggs.
- Salmon Staple: Salmon is a near-daily staple in his diet.
- Avoiding Extremes: Hudson avoids fad diets and focuses on making "a little bit better" choices. The toughest diet I ever tried was called the Beverly Hills diet; grapefruit, cottage cheese. It was stupid!'"I think as I've gotten older, you realize that you're never going to do the things you know you should do," he continues. "You're never going to eat the way you should. I've done every diet you can imagine. At some point you have to just try to be a little bit better."
- Limiting Unhealthy Choices: Ernie Hudson doesn’t restrict himself but generally practices good eating habits, which include cutting out fast food, alcohol, recreational drugs, and so on.
- Supplements: On top of it, his well-stocked supplement cabinet includes collagens, peptides, vitamins, and fish oil to add some extra benefits to a healthy diet.
While he doesn't completely exclude any food groups, Hudson is mindful of his shellfish allergy, a lesson learned during his time in the Marine Corps. "My drill instructor made me eat a piece of shrimp. I kept saying, I'm allergic! He couldn't believe that little piece of shrimp would be a problem," he says. "I ate it, and I had an awful asthma attack, and I was eventually discharged from the military."
Ernie Hudson's Perspective on Aging and Fitness
Hudson acknowledges the challenges of maintaining fitness as he ages. “I used to be able to jump, like, five feet. Now my legs only come off the ground about a foot. I see it in my friends." He also admits that it’s difficult to fend off Father Time. Hudson’s midsection does have some paunch, but struggling to keep the weight off comes with age-he’s currently 222 pounds and would like to get down to 210. In 2016, the 71-year-old-who looks 20 years younger-was on the road for 50 out of 52 weeks to film three TV shows in New Mexico (Graves), Los Angeles (Grace and Frankie), and Chicago (APB), as well as traversing the country for speaking engagements and visiting his family in New York and Minneapolis. Still, the lack of consistency poses no challenge for the former Marine, who pumps out “at least 100 to 150” pushups across three sets. On the other days, Hudson squats. While traveling, Hudson jumps rope and fits in crunches or planks in his hotel room. He’s tightened up his diet, eating more whole foods like vegetables and lean proteins and avoiding processed foods like refined breads and pasta.
Despite these challenges, he remains committed to staying active and healthy. His focus is on maintaining functionality and enjoying life to the fullest.
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