Sarah Jessica Parker, the iconic actress best known for her role as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, has captivated audiences for decades. Beyond her acting prowess and impeccable style, SJP has also garnered attention for her seemingly ageless physique and dedication to health and fitness. At 59, she continues to inspire with her radiant appearance and active lifestyle. This article delves into Sarah Jessica Parker's workout and diet routine, exploring the key elements that contribute to her overall well-being.
Diet
SJP's approach to diet isn't about strict restrictions or fad diets. Instead, she embraces a balanced and flexible approach that allows her to enjoy her favorite foods while maintaining a healthy weight. She has mentioned following the Hamptons Diet, which is known as being a combination of the Mediterranean Diet, the Atkins Diet, and the South Beach Diet.
A Hybrid Approach: The Hamptons Diet
The Hamptons Diet, created by former Atkins Center director Dr. Fred Pescatore, draws inspiration from several popular diets. It emphasizes lean proteins, healthy fats, and a moderate intake of complex carbohydrates. Like the Mediterranean diet, it is rich in fish, low-carb veggies, and organic whole foods. A key component of the diet is macadamia nut oil, thought to boost metabolism and support long-term weight loss.
Flexible Eating Habits
Sarah Jessica Parker is fairly lax about her diet, but she usually adheres to the Hamptons Diet. Sarah Jessica eats a lot of fish and low-carb vegetables, lean meats, plus healthy fats and carbohydrates in moderation. SJP does not hide the fact that she loves food, and counts pasta, bacon, and cheese as some of her favorite indulgences. She understands the importance of balance and doesn't deny herself the pleasure of enjoying her favorite foods. In Vogue’s 73 Questions with Sarah Jessica Parker, it’s clear within the first few minutes that SJP knows how to enjoy her favorite things, especially when it comes to food. “What’s your favorite food?” “Barbuto’s Roast Chicken,” she says. “What do you love on your pizza?” “Sausage, peppers, onions,” she replies. “One-hundred percent, eating food I love feels like a luxury. In our house, we’re constantly paying attention to the level of enjoyment at the table,” she says.
Sample Meal Structure
While SJP's diet is flexible, she generally follows a pattern of healthy eating throughout the day.
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- Breakfast: Breakfast can vary wildly for Sarah Jessica, she told Grub Street in 2021. "I don't usually eat breakfast unless I'm shooting, and when I'm shooting, I have a full, massive, crazy breakfast,” she said. “When I'm home and going to work on my own, I'll get up really early and just have coffee.” If she does grab breakfast, it might be a bagel from her favorite local shop, paired with Kerrygold butter, mustard, and salami. Or, she might reach for a soft-boiled egg with salt and pepper, along with some mango, avocado, and cottage cheese.
- Lunch: When lunchtime rolls around, Sarah Jessica is partial to a spicy tuna sandwich, featuring tuna, jalapenos, hot sauce, pesto, and bread, she told Grub Street. She'll eat her meal with a power shake of banana, strawberries, vanilla milk, and ice. Sarah Jessica also likes to have leftovers, like soup or stir-fry, per the piece.
- Dinner: Dinner is a big thing in the Parker-Broderick household. The family eats together "every night," Sarah Jessica shared on the Ruthie’s Table 4 podcast. “If I’m shooting or he’s doing a play, obviously that shifts around," she explained. "We always have dinner Sunday night, but one of us-if we’re home-cooks every single day, and we love to cook.” Dinner might be something like matzo ball soup or Matthew’s Bolognese. "Everybody goes crazy for it. In the last 10 months, I would say he's done four or five different versions,” Sarah Jessica said. "He's done Rachael Ray's, he's done Ina Garten's, and he's been doing a good old-fashioned Bon Appétit recipe, which is the one that cooks for three and a half hours. For some reason, we all love this one. It's a little heavier-it's more old school. It cooks and cooks and cooks and just haunts you all day.” The couple also makes their own chicken stock “all the time,” Sarah Jessica added.
- Snacks: Snacks are something SJP indulges in throughout the day, especially when she’s working out.
Home Cooking and Family Meals
Parker also mentions that she and her husband like to save food and use it to cook a lot of things from scratch. “We make chicken stock all the time here. We freeze it, and we like to use it in our rice,” she tells Grub Street. “We save everything here. Matthew saves every Parmesan rind. If we have shrimp, we always try to make a stock with the shells, because it’s so good and smells incredible. We always save the bacon grease. In an Instagram post from November 2021, SJP shares how much she loves cooking with a video of some sort of tomato concoction simmering on the stove. She says in the caption, “A short break from shooting, the rare opportunity when my husband isn’t using every burner, my daughters aren’t baking and I have it all to myself! We all want our hands on the Thermador.
Indulgences and a Healthy Relationship with Food
Sarah Jessica does not restrict her children from having certain foods. “In our house, we have cookies, we have cake, we have everything, and I think as a result, you kind of have a healthier relationship,” she said. “And my daughters will have the figures they have, and hopefully they’ll be healthy. They’re athletes, and they enjoy food, and they have different palates.”"I didn’t want them to have a relationship with food that was antagonistic, or they felt like it was their enemy and that they were going to have to, like, stake out a position with food," she continued.
Favorite Drinks
“I drank Invivo X, SJP Sauvignon blanc, my own wine. We drink wine, but I still love a cocktail,” SJP tells Grub Street. “To be honest, I really do love a Cosmopolitan. With someone as busy as Sarah Jessica Parker, it comes as no surprise that she’s a coffee drinker. She tells Grub Street, “I drink Nespresso pods or - are you ready for this? - Nescafé instant coffee. It’s like being in Greece. If I was in Miami, I could go to Little Havana for Cuban coffee. Sometimes I make Cuban coffee. Although she’s a coffee lover, SJP always limits herself to just one cup a day.
Workout Routine
Sarah Jessica Parker's workout routine is centered around incorporating physical activity into her daily life.
Prioritizing Daily Movement
Unlike traditional gym-goers aiming for mass, Sarah focuses on staying lean, healthy, and mobile. She prioritizes daily movement, often opting for walks over structured workouts. Consistent low-intensity activity keeps her metabolism high and habits strong.
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Walking and Active Lifestyle
SJP maintains an active lifestyle in her native New York, taking the stairs everywhere and walking when possible. She tries to walk everywhere she can. If she has the choice between stairs and an elevator, she’ll take the stairs. If she’s offered a cab ride, she usually chooses to walk. As well as regular running, Pilates and yoga workouts, SJP maintains an active lifestyle in her native New York, taking the stairs everywhere and walking when possible. Whether she is picking up the kids from school or running errands, she prefers to hit the pavement rather than rely on a car to get her everywhere. And when distances are too far, she’s also been known to hop on a bike to get her where she needs to go.
Aiming for 10,000 Steps a Day
One goal that ensures Sara Jessica Parker works out daily is she insists on hitting 10,000 steps a day. While the 10,000 steps goal may seem anecdotal, it's a significant factor in successful weight loss. Our experience has shown that achieving this step count is a major determinant of weight loss success, providing a tangible goal for those on a fitness journey. Researchers have found that persons engaged in at least 10,000 steps daily, with at least 3,500 done at moderate-vigorous activity in bouts of 10+ minutes, were significantly more successful in weight loss at the 6-month and 18-month mark. While this may not be relevant to everyone, she has also mentioned in several interviews that her mansion has 3 to 4 flights of stairs. When her schedule is really busy, she walks some flights.
Varied Workouts
Sarah Jessica Parker still loves to get a good, long run in every now and then, but she also likes to vary things up. SJP mixes it up to avoid boredom. While she doesn’t stick to rigid strength workouts, she does prioritize short, effective sessions (~20 minutes). A standard cardio workout for SJP, led by Anna, involves a hybrid of dance workouts, plyometrics, and strength training. That said, her workouts are usually short. Those short workouts can still be incredibly effective and they’re an easy way to make sure you’re hitting your goals. The shorter they are, the easier it is to fit them into your busy schedule.
Strength Training
SJP’s strength training involves mostly bodyweight exercises. To do this exercise, put yourself into a downward V on the floor. This should look similar to the downward dog position in yoga except you’re able to rest on the balls of your feet or toes. Once you’re in this position, bend your elbows and bring the top of your head all the way to the mat. For her legs, her favourite exercise starts with a standing squat position. Once in the squat, she then jumps and taps her heels together.
Key Takeaways
Sarah Jessica Parker's approach to fitness and diet is simple, yet effective:
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- Consistency is key: SJP prioritizes daily movement and healthy eating habits.
- Balance and flexibility: She allows herself to enjoy her favorite foods in moderation.
- Enjoyable activities: She finds physical activities that she enjoys, making it easier to stay consistent.
- Listen to your body: SJP adjusts her routine based on her schedule and energy levels.