11 Insanely Fit Celebrities Over 50
From Halle Berry's washboard abs to Tom Cruise's Internet-breaking butt, here are 10 crazy-fit celebrities over 50. Clearly, age ain't nothing but a number.
Overview
Despite what the beauty industry may want us to believe, getting older does not equate to being out of shape. In fact, many celebrities are in better health and have stronger physiques in their 50s than when they were in their 20s. Sure, they may clock in a few more hours at the gym and be a little more mindful when it comes to the food they eat, but their discipline and hard work is paying big dividends. From Halle Berry's washboard abs at 51 to Tom Cruise's internet-breaking bum at 55, here are 10 health tips from incredibly fit celebs who embody the phrase "age ain't nothing but a number." We'll have what they're having.
1. Madonna
Celebrating her 60th birthday, Madonna looks just as fit as she did years ago, rocking the VMA stage alongside Britney Spears. How does she do it? Personal trainer Craig Smith revealed to Self that the queen of pop worked out six days per week for at least 30 minutes each day. "She does a combination of circuit training, interval training and resistance training," Smith said. "Dance is obviously a huge part of that."
The Material Girl and fitness enthusiast also co-founded Hard Candy Fitness, a chain of fitness clubs with locations in seven major cities, that focus on group fitness programming and personalized fitness training.
2. Sharon Stone
At 59, Sharon Stone looks just as hot as she did 25 years ago when she set pulses racing in "Basic Instinct." Did you see her at the Golden Globes?! The secret behind the actor's incredible figure is mixing it up and staying in motion. Stone, who doesn't get fussy with a private gym (she hits up her local 24-Hour Fitness when she wants to sweat), always keeps her body guessing when it comes to her workouts. "Every time I exercise, I do something different based on which areas need to get in motion," she told Shape. In addition to regularly spicing up her fitness routine, the mother of three never gives herself an excuse to skip a workout — even when she can't get to the gym. "Sometimes I do a series of standing leg lifts and circles in the tub, using the water as resistance!" she revealed.
Read more: 10 Free Workouts to Get You Fitter and Stronger
3. Halle Berry
While there's certainly nothing wrong with looking one's age, we suspect that 51-year-old Halle Berry installed a fountain of youth in her backyard, because she looks decades younger. Apparently, the key to Halle's toned bod lies in keeping it real — with food, that is. In order to manage her diabetes, the mother of two seriously limits her sugar intake and tries to eat four small whole food-based meals per day (think veggies, chicken, fresh fish). When it comes to fitness, Halle is all about the cardio. "I have never worked out with a lot of weights unless I had to for a film role. Left to my own devices, I just do cardio," the actress told the Los Angeles Times in 2015. "I do exercises that involve my own body weight, because I never want to get too muscly. I am diabetic, so exercising has always been a part of managing my disease and keeping my sugars under control."
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4. Nicole Kidman
When it comes to exercising, Nicole Kidman doesn't believe in repetition. And when it comes to her diet, she doesn't believe in deprivation. The actress is all about enjoying things — in moderation, of course. "I'm actually not that strict with my diet. I pretty much eat anything, but in moderation," the 50-year-old told the Los Angeles Times in 2014. "I take a Swisse [Australian brand of multivitamins] multivitamin daily, which helps fill any nutrition gaps I have when I'm on the road." She added that she tries to be healthy "80 percent of the time" and doesn't beat herself up about the other 20. When it comes to working out, the Oscar winner gets creative. "I try and mix it up with sports, running, yoga and even just going for a walk with my husband and the kids," she said. "I also love Spinning. I try to get everyone to Spin."
Read more: 8 Celebrities Share Their Fitness Secrets
5. Julianne Moore
Clearly, 57-year-old Julianne Moore has been blessed with good genes, but the Oscar-winning actress also works (somewhat) hard at staying fit. Moore is a longtime Ashtanga yoga devotee, but she also recognizes the importance of shaking up her fitness regimen. The mom of two told Health magazine, "The main problem is I can't do anything six days straight because I get hurt. That's the thing about old age: Eventually your hip starts to hurt and you have to switch and do something else." When it comes to eating, Moore isn't a fan of diets, but will (begrudgingly) do them on occasion. "I still battle with my deeply boring diet of, essentially, yogurt and breakfast cereal and granola bars," she told Eve magazine. "I hate dieting. I'm hungry all the time. I think I'm a slender person, but the industry apparently doesn't. All actresses are hungry all the time, I think."
Read more: Celebrities' Favorite Foods While Dieting
6. Lenny Kravitz
At 53, Lenny Kravitz is as hunky and rockin' as he's ever been, and there's a reason for that: "Good genes, eating well and working out," he told USA Today. In order to maintain his killer physique, "The Hunger Games" star avoids processed foods and likes to load up on organic, nutrient-packed meals. He's also dabbled in the raw food trend. To make sure he stays moving, the "Let Love Rule" singer always has a jump rope on hand. "And I run," he told BlackDoctor.org. "I like to be outdoors doing things that you can do with your body — pull-ups, sit-ups, push-ups, squats. Gyms are cool, but I find them boring. I prefer to run outside in nature — it's far more inspiring." We can dig it.
Read more: 12 Actors Who Massively Transformed Themselves for a Role
7. Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow is basically the poster child for "fit over 50" celebrities. At 55, the singer has a body most 20-year-olds would kill for — and it's no coincidence. Crow works hard to stay fit. The crooner's former trainer Rich Guzman revealed her workout to Shape magazine, and it definitely isn't for the faint of heart. "A typical workout would start with a brisk 10-minute walk on an elevated treadmill, followed by some core work with a medicine ball, planks in all directions, pull-ups and plyometric work like high-knee bounding, reverse skip runs, slalom hops, clapping push-ups off of a bench and triple sets of dumbbell raises," he said. The mom of two also follows a semi-macrobiotic diet, sticking to whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables and lean protein.
Read more: The 35 Most Memorable Hollywood Bodies
8. Tom Cruise
People may have mixed feelings about him, but there's no denying the fact that, at 55, Tom Cruise is in great shape. In fact, just last year the actor had to defend his assets after being accused of using a fake butt in the 2008 film "Valkyrie" (spoiler alert, he didn't). The secret to Cruise's fitness success? Simple: Hard work. When asked how he stays so youthful-looking, the actor told the Daily Mail, "Sea kayaking, caving, fencing, treadmill, weights, rock climbing, hiking … I jog … I do so many different activities." It has also been reported that the action star sticks to a 1,200-calorie, low-carb (sometimes no-carb) diet that David Beckham swears by. Hey, if you're going to take fitness advice from anyone, Becks wouldn't the worst person to ask.
Read more: 16 Diet-Friendly Healthful Carbs
9. Sandra Bullock
In order to get fit for the movie "Gravity," Sandra Bullock turned to fitness guru Simone De la Rue, the creator of the yoga and Pilates-infused dance workout Body by Simone. "Sandy has completely transformed her body since starting BBS," De La Rue told RadarOnline.com in 2011. "She is extremely motivated and driven." Complementing her dance sessions, Bullock, 53, also sticks to more classic workouts. "I do a lot of Pilates, kickboxing and weight training in L.A., and when I'm in Austin I run or ride a bike," she told InStyle. As far as her diet is concerned, she maintains that she generally eats healthy, but allows herself one cheat day that may or may not involve raw cookie dough and Lucky Charms in bed!
Read more: The Body Audit: Medical Tests Women in Their 50s Should Take
10. Robert Downey Jr.
Fifty-two-year-old Robert Downey Jr., aka Iron Man, is a longtime fan of Bruce Lee's beloved martial arts practice, the Wing Chun technique. However, in addition to his Wing Chun training, the superhero star works with trainer Brad Bose whenever he needs to get in Avengers-style shape. In order to bulk up and put more bulge in his biceps, Downey cuts down on cardio and goes hard with weightlifting. He also eats often, following a 30-30-40 diet: 30 percent protein, 30 percent fat and 40 percent carbohydrates. All of this said, Downey knows his limits. "I'm not a kid," he told Men's Fitness. "And I'm not a professional athlete … but I'm not faking it."
Read more: 3 Ways to Boost Your Ab Workout With a BOSU Ball
11. Cindy Crawford
Take a quick look at Cindy Crawford's Instagram and you'll wonder if you're mistakenly viewing the page of Kaia Gerber, her 16-year-old daughter. Yes, the supermodel is that fit. In order to keep her body runway ready, the 51-year-old simply lives a healthy lifestyle. "The secrets are — there's no secrets," she told Access Hollywood. "I work out, I eat — I always say '80 percent good 80 percent of the time,' 'cause that's achievable." The mother of two makes sure most of her meals contain lean protein and veggies, she works out with her trainer three times per week and she never leaves home without a snack. "I'm obsessed with having food in my bag. I hate the idea that I'll get hungry and there will only be bad options around," she told Allure. "I usually have almonds, San-J Tamari crackers, maybe Urban Remedy [gluten-free] brownies." Sounds good to us.
Read more: 9 Unhealthy, Even Dangerous, Weight-Loss Diets
What Do YOU Think?
How do you stay in shape? Would you try any of these diets? Would you try any of these workouts? Whose fitness regimen is most appealing to you and why? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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