Kristin Chenoweth, the beloved actress and singer known for her roles in Wicked and Glee, has captivated audiences with her talent and infectious energy. Beyond her professional achievements, Chenoweth is also an advocate for health and wellness, emphasizing the importance of a balanced lifestyle that encompasses diet, exercise, and mental well-being. This article delves into Kristin Chenoweth's approach to maintaining her health, drawing from her personal experiences and insights.
Embracing a Balanced Diet
Chenoweth's diet reflects a mindful approach to nutrition, prioritizing wholesome foods while allowing for occasional indulgences. She emphasizes the importance of eating three meals a day, acknowledging that her busy schedule sometimes makes it challenging to maintain regular eating habits. "I get so busy I forget to eat," she admits, highlighting the need for conscious effort to prioritize nutrition amidst a demanding career.
A Focus on Protein and Smart Choices
To combat the challenges of on-the-go eating, Chenoweth focuses on making smart choices when ordering food. She mentions keeping turkey and Swiss cheese on hand for a quick protein boost. For breakfast, she enjoys oatmeal. She admits to a love for chips, including Pirate's Booty and Wheat Thins, but balances these cravings with healthier options.
Coca-Cola: A Vice in Moderation
Chenoweth openly admits her fondness for Coca-Cola, calling it her "vice." However, she practices moderation by opting for smaller cans, allowing her to enjoy the treat without overindulging. This approach reflects a balanced perspective on diet, acknowledging that occasional indulgences can be part of a healthy lifestyle. "I'm a big believer that if you want a Coca-Cola, you should have it," she says.
The Importance of Hydration
Recognizing the significance of hydration, Chenoweth has made a conscious effort to increase her water intake. "I used to live on two Cokes a day, hardly any water," she reflects. "Now I hardly live on Coca-Cola! I live on water!" She now makes sure to refill her Simple Modern tumbler four times a day.
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A Balanced Approach to Meals
Chenoweth believes in eating "breakfast for a king, lunch for a queen and dinner for a pauper." One of her breakfasts consists of egg whites, yogurt, granola, and half a croissant. When eating alone, she opts for a simple salad with chicken for dinner. She also enjoys smoothies made with strawberry, banana, and a little bit of orange juice.
The Role of Exercise in Maintaining Well-being
Chenoweth's fitness routine is varied and adaptable, reflecting her personal preferences and physical needs. She emphasizes the importance of finding activities that she enjoys, making exercise a sustainable part of her lifestyle.
Walking: An Underrated Exercise
Chenoweth considers walking to be an underrated form of exercise, particularly in car-centric cities like Los Angeles. She encourages finding opportunities to walk more, such as parking in the farthest spot. "I like to walk, and walking is very underrated, especially in California. Even just looking for the farthest parking spot -- it's something! Every little bit counts." In New York, she embraces walking as a mode of transportation, putting on a hat and coat and exploring the city on foot.
Gym Workouts: Cardio and Strength Training
Chenoweth incorporates both cardio and weightlifting into her gym workouts, working with a trainer to guide her strength training. While she enjoys going to the gym and doing cardio, she acknowledges that some days she is too tired and needs to forgive herself.
Adapting to Physical Limitations
Due to a neck injury, Chenoweth is unable to run, as the impact is too stressful on her neck. Instead, she opts for the elliptical, which provides a softer landing and engages both her arms and legs. She also focuses on core work at the gym, recognizing the importance of a strong core for supporting her body.
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Hot Yoga: A Recent Discovery
Kristin has recently gotten into hot yoga, which she attends two to three times per week. The actress credits it with easing her chronic pain from a series of injuries sustained over decades on stage. "For some reason, the combination of holding a pose for 60 seconds in a hot room helps my joints," she says, adding that it even helped her release her frozen shoulder.
The Power of Music
Chenoweth recognizes the motivational power of music during workouts. She notes that music can get both your brain and your body moving, whether you're doing rock climbing, tennis, or anything else. Her musical tastes are eclectic, ranging from Adele to Chely Wright, Dolly Parton, and Barbra Streisand.
Early Years: Ballet and Farm Work
Growing up in Oklahoma, Chenoweth's early years involved ballet six days a week. She also participated in pompom, which involved halftime dances at games. Coming from a long line of farmers and ranchers, she also engaged in farm-related activities, such as picking up after cows and horses.
Mental Well-being: Relaxation and Stress Management
Chenoweth recognizes the importance of mental well-being and incorporates relaxation techniques into her routine.
Massages: A Relaxing Treat
Chenoweth enjoys massages as a way to relax and de-stress. She finds that getting a massage at night helps her sleep. "I love massages. If I just give in and give myself that treat, I really do feel relaxed. I try to do it at night because it helps me sleep."
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Spending Time at Home
Chenoweth values spending time at home, finding it to be the perfect night out. She enjoys watching movies and ordering in. Spending time at home allows her to recharge and unwind from her busy schedule. "Spending it at home! Watching a movie and ordering in. Does that tell you anything about my lifestyle? Of course I like a nice restaurant, but it's great to just stay home, too."
Hobbies: Coloring and Drawing
Chenoweth enjoys coloring and drawing as a way to relax and focus her mind. She finds that coloring intricate designs helps her to think and de-stress.
Walks in Nature
Chenoweth finds stress relief in taking walks in nature. Just being in nature, taking a real deep breath, and noticing things that she didn’t notice before getting back on the phone and getting back into rehearsal has changed her life.
Health Challenges and Advocacy
Chenoweth has faced several health challenges, including asthma, Meniere's disease, and chronic migraines. She has become an advocate for self-advocacy in healthcare, encouraging others to take control of their health and seek the care they need.
Chronic Migraines
Chenoweth has been living with chronic migraine for most of her adult life. She experienced her first migraine attack at 25 years old, during a performance with an orchestra. She has learned to manage her triggers, such as stress, flying, working too many hours, and diet. She also uses BOTOX® as a preventive treatment.
Asthma
Chenoweth has also announced that she has asthma. She has partnered with the Asthma [and Allergy] Foundation of America to do a public service announcement at KnowYourCount.com.
Self-Advocacy
Chenoweth emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare. She encourages people to talk to their doctors about their symptoms and to not be afraid to seek help. "You don't have to be in pain," she says. "It can be better."
Beauty and Self-Care
Chenoweth's approach to beauty reflects a focus on simplicity and self-care. She emphasizes the importance of feeling good from the inside out, prioritizing health and well-being over superficial appearances.
Less is More
As she has gotten older, Chenoweth has realized that less is more when it comes to beauty. She prefers a natural look, focusing on evening out her skin with a little powder and chapstick.
Broadway Beauty Tips
Chenoweth has picked up several beauty tips from her time on Broadway, including the use of setting spray and cheek highlighter. She also uses a tiny white line on the inner lash line to pop the eye.
Hair Care
Chenoweth's secret to youthful volume is not washing her hair every day. She finds that the more you wash, the limper it gets.
Passing on Wisdom
Kristin has seen early cuts of the film, which she "can't wait" for the world to see.
"I did cry [watching the trailer]," she says. "There's things that we can't do in Broadway that they can do in a film. I got really, really excited."
Advice to Ariana Grande
Chenoweth has shared her health hacks with Ariana Grande, who will be playing Glinda the Good Witch in the filmed adaptations of Wicked. She has taught Ariana the benefits of drinking a shot of apple cider vinegar a day, which has helped her acid reflux a lot. She also advises young performers to not let the naysayers steal their truth. "Don’t let them steal that. Someone would say joy, but don’t let them steal who you are, your authentic self, your truth. If they’re going to hate or say, “Nah, no good,” don’t let that steal what you are giving the world in your authentic way. And I have to practice that still."