Taraji P. Henson, an Academy Award-winning actress, has shared insights into her approach to weight loss and overall wellness. Her journey involves a combination of fitness, diet, and mental well-being. She emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach, addressing not just the physical aspects but also mental and emotional health.
Taraji's Fitness Journey
After experiencing a health scare, Taraji P. Henson realized the importance of taking care of her body. She embarked on a fitness journey, working with her trainer, Mike T, to achieve her goals. She also explained to fans why being sore post-workout is a good thing. “I see results, I get fired up. Cause I know things are working. When you’re sore, don’t be discouraged. Sore means something is happening. Sore means things are happening. Fat is burning. Muscles are building. So you should want to be sore. You should hunger for that sore. “
Force Fitness 30-Day Fitness Challenge
Taraji P. Henson launched the Force Fitness 30-Day Fitness Challenge with her trainer, Mike T. The program includes full-body exercises and a nutrition plan designed to build Taraji’s trademark figure. Daily workouts are designed by Mike T himself and users get exclusive access to exercise videos and content, all modifiable for use at the gym or from home.
Workout Routine
Taraji's workout routine is diverse, incorporating various exercises:
- Cardio: She starts her workouts with 20 minutes of cardio, usually on the elliptical or treadmill. If she’s feeling really adventurous, she’ll do a 20-minute stint on her Peloton bike.
- Boxing: Taraji credits her assistant for getting her into boxing amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. She uses a boxing machine, Nexersys, regularly. After I do my 20-minute warm-up, I get to boxing," she explained. "And I love it, because it’s got a trainer on there. Not personal, but you can go on-demand and you can do cool work, and it’s just you and the [video] trainer."
- Battle Ropes: She incorporates battle ropes into her routine, which are great for improving upper body and core strength, plus they really rev your heart rate making them a cardio exercise, too.
- Lower Body Sculpting: Taraji focuses on sculpting and strengthening her lower body with exercises like leg raises, squat walks, and kettlebell deadlifts. “She definitely loves squats. It’s one of her favorites. She’s pretty much known for her derriere and we make sure that we maximize our workouts for that,” T told InStyle.
- Cable Machines: She utilizes cable machines for side leg raises, targeting her lower body and core strength.
- Intense Cardio: Taraji isn't afraid to push herself with intense cardio sessions. "My body's going to be amaze-balls," Taraji sings in this video clip to get her through 76 minutes of cardio work (sheesh!). "She’s a warrior in the gym. I’ve never had anything that she’s backed down from-she’s a dream client,” T told InStyle.
Accountability
The actress took to Instagram in July to get vulnerable with her followers and let them know that she'd been slipping on her fitness goals during quarantine, but was determined to get back on track. She noted that both she her trainer would be documenting their progress and sessions, and that this would be a way to hold herself accountable. "I'm hoping that we can motivate each other, because all we got is time and if anything I can use this time to be my best self," she said.
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Dietary Changes and Nutrition
Taraji P. Henson's health scare led her to modify her diet. She scheduled the appointment to address her troubling, painful stomach aches. “It took a doctor in Macon, Georgia, to say, ‘If you don’t change what you’re doing, you’re going to get stomach cancer,’” she said. “I said, ‘Say no more.’ So I switched everything up out of necessity. I want to live.
Plant-Based Diet
Following a diagnosis of SIBO, Taraji adopted a plant-based diet rich in papaya, avocado, and fermented vegetables. She ate mostly vegan for more than a year, save for the occasional exception she made for her grandmother’s cooking. “Everything in moderation,” she says. Last year, filmmaker Kevin Smith decided to go vegan after suffering a major heart attack. “She’s been my role model for my plant-based lifestyle,” Smith said in an Instagram post.
Dietary Choices
Taraji shared some of her dietary choices:
- Proteins: She focuses on incorporating proteins into her meals.
- Salt Cravings: When she wants a salt taste, she’ll do boiled eggs with her fermented vegetables.
- Sweet Cravings: When she wants a sweet taste, she’ll grab a Special K protein bar or protein shake.
- Healthy Fats: She uses ghee butter instead of dairy butter and incorporates coconut oil into her cooking and tea.
Intermittent Fasting
Besides boxing, she’s into intermittent fasting. And, it’s because of this that she doesn’t eat until 11. At that point, she’ll have a protein shake, she told WSJ Magazine. As for what goes into that shake: "I take vitamin C, I take iron. I put elderberry powder, spirulina and collagen in my shake," Taraji said.
Mental and Emotional Well-being
Taraji emphasizes the importance of mental and emotional well-being as part of her overall health.
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Meditation
The first thing I do when I wake is meditate. I try to set my mind right. I try to tell myself that no matter what, today is going to be a good day, so when those curve balls come, I’m not taken by surprise. I can tell the days I don’t meditate, because I pop off. When you say “meditate,” people think that you’ve got to be like: ‘oooohm oooohm.’ Meditation is just peace. You’re sitting with your thoughts and letting them play out in your mind until there’s total quiet. You can do that in the house. I find myself being in a meditative state all the time. I’ll be in my house doing things in total silence, but even though I’m doing things, my thoughts aren’t running through my mind. Sometimes I sit and burn my incense, but I try to let my mind settle its own voice. I have meditation apps where they have Tibetan-singing mode, but then I started getting into making my own bowls sing. That high pitch is actually very calming.
Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation
In 2018, Taraji, who has a history of depression and anxiety, founded the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, named for her father, a Vietnam vet who suffered from PTSD and bipolar disorder. During the pandemic, the foundation provided mental health services, free of charge, to hundreds of people. And Taraji reaches millions more through her Emmy-nominated Peace of Mind. Along with cohost Tracie Jade, Taraji delivers riveting interviews with celebrity friends and regular folks alike, on topics ranging from suicide and sexual trauma to eating disorders. The show also features mental health experts offering guidance and support. Taraji wants to help people heal.
Self-Care Rituals
For me, much of my self-care starts in the bathroom and Sunday is my self-care day-it’s my wash day and my me day. I don’t take calls or texts on Sunday. I firmly believe in practicing the act of self-care anytime, anywhere. My rituals range in simplicity: from enjoying a cup of tea and a few minutes of solitude to creating a full at-home spa moment on a Sunday to pamper myself from scalp to toe. I learned how to do my own nails and even taught myself how to make wigs during the lockdown and I love playing around in my home salon.
Henson's Beauty Routine
Taraji P. Henson is acutely aware of her strengths: a leading actress, an advocate for mental health, an entertainment executive, a singer. The list goes on. You can't mention Henson without thinking of her stunning performance as Cookie Lyon in Empire; if you’re a millennial, her comedic timing and authenticity of her character Yvette in Baby Boy are forever imprinted in your mind. But everything she attaches to her name to turns to gold, which is the primary reason she feels so blessed.
In addition to acting, the 51-year-old also has a deep love for all things beauty. In fact, she launched a haircare line TPH by Taraji (in January 2020) and recently introduced Body by TPH, a scalp-centered line promoting optimal skin health for all bodies, skin tones, and skin types. She’s also laser focused on sharing things that bring her peace. “I’m transforming my bathroom into the ultimate self-care sanctuary,” the Minons: The Rise of Gru star tells Marie Claire. “This whole process is what inspired BODY by TPH, and I wanted to give others the same [sense of peace] with products that have spa-like textures and scents.”
Read also: Inspiring Health Transformation
Signature Look
I love a good face beat, but my signature look is all about less is more. Fresh skin, a defined brow, and some lashes-a little makeup goes a long way, and don’t forget to blend, blend, blend! I learned how to highlight and contour in a makeup class when I attended Howard University to study theater. Once you get that down, you’re set! For fun, I’ll add a pop of color to my eyes or lips.
I also love all things Rihanna and Fenty Beauty. The Killawatt highlighter is everything. I’ll even take the Stunna lip paint and use that on my eyelids or cheeks for an extra pop of color.
Because I’m known for my expressive eyebrows, and I only trust Damone Roberts to keep them in line. When I can’t see Damone, I use an angled eyebrow brush with a spoolie and a bit of eyebrow pencil to perk them up.
Hair Help
I am a total #HairChameleon-if I don’t switch it up, I get bored! I love trying new styles, colors, products, all of it. My all-time favorite trend is healthy hair. Learn to properly care for your scalp, and your hair will love you for it. The style I’m currently into is a sleek, long bob…but ask me again tomorrow and that may change.