Image: Instagram
A common belief is that men and women peak physically in their 20s, achieving their best bodies ever. However, with hard work and dedication, staying in shape while aging is completely possible. There is no expiration date on having the figure of your dreams, and no one proves that better than Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.
When the two iconic pop stars took the stage at the Super Bowl LIV earlier this month, fans all around the world were mesmerized by their toned bodies and athleticism as they danced on poles, performing flawlessly choreographed routines, and proved that age is just a number! J.Lo may be 50 and Shakira may be 43, but the legendary singers still move to the beat like the best of them.
So how do these ladies stay looking their best? Shakira’s trainer, Anna Kaiser, previously told Glamour t hat the songstress is committed to her health and wellness regimen. “Shakira works really hard. She’s really changed her nutrition over time and learned to enjoy eating pure, live food,” Anna explained. “She works out five or six days a week and wears a heart monitor to make sure that she’s working out optimally. This isn’t something that she’s achieved in two or three weeks.”
Image: Instagram
While Shakira loves sweating it out through all things cardio, such as dance-based treadmill works and interval training, J. Lo is all about the weights. The “Hustlers” star loves toning and focuses on a wide range of movements in increments of 90-minute sweat sessions. “Her overall body has just shrunk and tightened and her strength has actually doubled,” J. Lo’s trainer, Dodd Romero, recently told Us Weekly of her fit physique, which she also maintains with an ultra-clean diet and staying “away from processed foods and get[ting] her nutrients from whole sources.”
To get Super Bowl ready, J. Lo worked with celebrity trainer David Kirsch, owner of Core Club, to prepare her body for the rigorous task. “There’s no quit in Jennifer, she’s hardcore,” Kirsch told The New York Post. “She was very hyper-focused and very disciplined. At 50, she has better muscle tone than some of my clients who are 25.”
Here is how to do it!
If you’re motivated to make 2020, the year to get your best body ever, look no further! J. Lo and Shakira set a great example for people everywhere to get in shape, no matter your age, and although these women hustle hard at the gym, they also value their nutrition.
In order to develop a healthy, balanced and realistically maintainable diet, I recommend being very thoughtful and conscious about everything you put into your body. Mixing lean proteins with vegetables will help secure toned muscles, speed up recovery, and enhance the benefits of exercise.
When it comes to carbohydrates and fats, it’s important to eat the likes of avocado and whole grains, rather than processed foods. Another key element is ensuring you stay hydrated. Drinking tons of water will help define your body, flush out your system, and keep your skin staying smooth and youthful.
Image: Instagram
Shakira also abides by an important fitness tip that I always recommend to my clients as well - rather than eating three large meals and various snacks throughout the day, prepare ahead of time. Meal prep snacks and meals, and stay satiated throughout the day to avoid overindulging.
Have nuts and fruit on hand, eat proteins like egg whites and lean meats, snack on veggies like cucumbers and celery that amp weight loss, and never let your body go into starvation mode. Just like overeating, under-eating can have detrimental effects and health ramifications as well by slowing down your metabolism.
So, there you have it - there’s no magic pill or crash-diet solution. Rather, it’s all about balance, nourishing your body, and staying active! Do as Shakira and J. Lo do and commit to looking and feeling your best because at the end of the day, age is but a number.
Got a fitness question? Email Sebastien at [email protected] for his expert opinion!
