Reese Witherspoon, the Academy Award-winning actress who captured hearts in The Man in the Moon, has maintained a youthful appearance and vibrant energy as she approaches her 50s. At 48, she slows down the aging process, looking a fraction of her years. Her approach to diet and exercise is balanced and consistent, focusing on long-term health rather than quick fixes. This article explores the diet and fitness habits that contribute to her ageless beauty.
Embracing Body Positivity and a Balanced Lifestyle
Reese has learned to accept her body. “In my 30s, I learned to accept my body for what it is. This is what looks good on it. It will never look good in that thing over there with all the fabric and the bows and the ruffles." Reese likes to take a practical and simple approach to her diet. She’s never been one to follow strict diets or get in on trends like Keto or Paleo protocols. She does what she can to keep her body healthy and fit. And as a mom of three, it’s not always easy. Rather than resorting to crash diets or extreme measures, she emphasizes a balanced approach to eating and exercise, making it a sustainable part of her daily life.
Hydration and Morning Rituals
Reese starts her day with a big glass of water. Hydration is important for a variety of reasons. She typically sticks with liquids like green smoothies and juices, and of course, coffee in the morning. In one of her Instagram Reels, Reese revealed that she starts the morning off on a hydrating note. “Start the day with a big glass of water,” she wrote. The Mayo Clinic explains that hydration is important for a variety of reasons. This simple act kick-starts her metabolism and supports overall health. In addition to water, Reese enjoys a green juice and coffee in the morning.
The Glowing Green Smoothie
Her favourite way to start the morning is with a green smoothie she makes at home. This smoothie packs a major nutrient-dense punch, giving Reese tons of beneficial vitamins, fiber, and nutrients to start her day off. Reese loves nutritionist Kim Snyder’s Glowing Green Smoothie, which consists of spinach, romaine lettuce, celery, apple, pear, banana, and lemon juice. She credits Kerry Washington for introducing her to the recipe, which she says has improved her skin, hair, and nails. She added in coconut water for the base. Reese previously shared the same recipe five years earlier on her official Hello Sunshine YouTube page. Discussing the green juice, she said: 'I have this instead of breakfast. I have it around 10 or 11 o'clock in the morning and then I'm not hungry at all until 1 o'clock.'
A Flexible and Mindful Diet
Reese tries to eat healthy but doesn’t go to extreme measures. “I don’t believe in crash dieting or anything like that,” Reese told Us Weekly. Reese likes to take a practical and simple approach to her diet. She’s never been one to follow strict diets or get in on trends like Keto or Paleo protocols. She does what she can to keep her body healthy and fit. And as a mom of three, it’s not always easy. Reese is a HUGE fan of eating things in moderation. Sometimes, her go-to lunch is a large salad. Her standard is a kale salad, but she’ll change up the toppings based on what’s in season. When she’s on-set in a cooler climate or enjoying one of the rare cold days in LA, she’s happy to indulge in some super-healthy kale and lentil soup. As with any soup, I strongly recommend looking for options that are low in sodium. However, being a mom of three, she doesn’t always stick to what some might say is the healthiest option. She’ll have chicken fingers with her kids, and one of her favourite dishes is actually her grandmother’s fried chicken which she loves to spice up with some Cholula. When she’s being healthy and doing what she can to keep her body running in top condition, Reese tries to keep dinners simple. That said, Reese also indulges in some homemade southern-style comfort food. When she’s not cooking, she and her family routinely enjoy eating pasta at Italian restaurants or ordering Italian-style pizzas. Her favourite pizza topping is pepperoni, which is a classic choice. Reese believes in enjoying everything in moderation. She’s been known to bake cookies at home with her kids, eat ice cream when she’s craving it, and indulge in chocolate when the mood strikes. She also tries to cut back on alcohol consumption, sticking to just one or two drinks a week if she has any at all. Apart from her green smoothie, Reese's diet includes a variety of healthy choices, but she also allows herself to enjoy her favorite foods in moderation.
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Healthy Staples
For snacks, an apple a day keeps the doctor away-especially when it’s topped with a dab of more protein. When it comes to dinnertime-you guessed it!-protein seems to be at the top of the list. Reese sticks to a healthy diet, but that doesn’t mean that she gives up her favorite indulgences. The actress shared some of her favorite foods in an interview with Vanity Fair. ”The best Southern food for me is probably fried chicken. There’s nothing like hot, spicy fried chicken,” she said. “I do like some Cholula. Reese can't live without fresh peaches, real yogurt soft serve, homemade chocolate, and tacos.
Indulgences and Balance
However, Witherspoon did not let her newfound love of wellbeing get in the way of things she enjoys. The 47-year-old says she still loves to eat “pastries and pasta” and will settle in for a “tequila” on bad days. Reese is nothing but disciplined and works out every single day. She added in coconut water for the base. Although Reese Witherspoon has nutritious eating habits now, that was not always the case. “I didn’t always have good eating habits, coming from a little town in Nashville, Tennessee. I didn’t understand health or nutrition, I went completely off the rails. I was lucky enough to have people come in my life and say, ‘look you’re not going to be able to sustain energy for 12, 14, 15-hour days if you don’t start eating right and exercising,’” the celeb shared. Reese Witherspoon has maintained that her diet is 'all about balance'. Among the items included in her list was fresh peaches in the summer, real yogurt soft serve, homemade chocolate, and tacos.
Consistent Exercise Routine
Though Reese Witherspoon’s diet is flexible, her workout routine is anything but. She starts her days early. She exercises ‘every day.’ Fitness is super important to Reese, which is why she does it often. “I exercise every day and eat right every day, no matter what is going on,” she said at the 2023 Australian Real Estate Conference, per Marie Claire Australia. “If I’m working way into the night, I eat with frequency and I take care of my mind and spirit.” She even has a range of fun playlists she uses when she works out, which range in genres from country to pop. Songs include "What A Man Gotta Do" by the Jonas Brothers, "You Need to Calm Down" by Taylor Swift, and "Green Light" by Lorde, per EatingWell. Reese sticks to a daily full-body workout, which includes a run, weights, yoga and breath work. Reese is nothing but disciplined and works out every single day. As for her exercise routine, Reese is nothing but disciplined and ensures she works out every single day.
Cardio and Outdoor Activities
Reese loves cardio. She’s known to go for long runs and frequently does spin classes or runs through spin routines on her own. But she also tries to get outside whenever she can. She goes on hikes as often as she can and isn’t afraid to push herself on those hikes. In December 2020, Reese launched 30-day walk/run challenge, sharing a new workout each day in her Instagram Stories. But at the time, Reese admitted that "some days are just slow," and that on certain days, she “walked more than [she] ran,” per EatingWell. Reese is known for her love of cardio: Her trainer Kirschen Katz says that Reese will often do a three-to-five-mile run as a warm-up before diving into other parts of her workout, he told Popsugar. She does at least 30 minutes of cardio six days a week, according to another trainer, Michael George. Her trainer, Michael George, revealed to Shape that she does cardio for 30 minutes six times per week. One cool thing about Reese, is that she goes on an adventure trip with her son every summer. She said on Ellen that one time they went kayaking in glacier water and she actually managed to roll them into the water that was freezing cold! She says that it was actually really funny and I like that she can find humour in such a situation.
Strength Training and Flexibility
Reese understands the importance of building strength. She does yoga several times each week to maintain her flexibility and range of motion. These classes are HIIT workouts that last up to an hour allow her to combine both strength training and cardio into a single workout. She adds upper-body weights and yoga to her workouts. Remember that three-to-five-mile run? Reese follows that up with upper body strength training like bicep curls and upright rows using lighter dumbbells. "I like to do two sets of about 12 to 15," Kirschen told Popsugar. "We do biceps, we do triceps, we do three or four different shoulder movements." After that, she may spend 30 minutes on yoga, working her way through moves like headstands, handstands, or wall dogs, along with sun salutations, warrior poses, and chest-opening poses, Kirschen added. In January 2023, she proudly displayed her toned tummy in a blue bra top and leggings from her very own clothing brand Draper James as she showed fans some of her yoga positions. Reese was working out on a patio while listening to a song from Lizzo.
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Recovery and Breathwork
She recovers with foam rollers and breathwork. When Reese is done with her workout, she likes to wind down with foam rollers and breathwork. That includes Khumbhaka breath retention: inhaling for four counts, holding for four, then exhaling for four, per Popsugar.
Pickleball
Pickleball is apparently now in the mix, too. Besides yoga, Reese likes to keep fit by playing pickleball and hiking (pictured with her daughter Ava, 25).
The Importance of Sleep
Reese gets a lot of sleep. “In bed by 10pm. *no late night TV binges,” she says in one of her Instagram Reels. “Try to get 8 hours of rest!” What are the health benefits of sleep? According to the Sleep Foundation, getting enough z’s is a mood booster, promotes heart health, regulates blood sugar, improves mental function, restores your immune system, helps relieve stress, and aids in weight loss. Prioritizing sleep is a cornerstone of Reese's wellness routine.
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