Halle Berry

As huge a part of my life as fitness is, I really believe that what we put in our mouths has the biggest impact on our health of any aspect of our lifestyle.

I've seen the profound power of food firsthandand throughout my life, I've made significant changes to my diet in order to support my health and well-being. Ever since being <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/a22000172/halle-berry-keto-diet/" id="3dddfb71-ca3d-38e6-a314-9a597c54cb80"> diagnosed with diabetes at 22 </a> , there are certain foods I just won't touch anymore.

People often ask me if it's hard to avoid certain foods and if I miss themand my answer? Not at ALL.

I'll admit, it's true that changing the way you eat is often incredibly difficult at first. (Believe me, I remember the mood swings and the cravings!) But after some timefor me, it was about three weeksthose cravings disappear and taste buds change. Honestly, I feel infinitely healthier and more vibrant after giving a few specific foods the bootand I wouldn't go back for the world.

Of course, everyone's journey towards their optimal health looks a little different, but saying goodbye to the following foods has made all of the difference for me (particularly in regards to managing my diabetes).

When I was 19 or 20 years old, right before I was diagnosed with diabetes, I was a complete sugar addict. I started the day with some sort of sugary cereal like Lucky Charms or Cocoa Puffs and I always, always had a candy bar or some sort of hard candy (Jolly Ranchers and Hot Tamales were my go-to's) on me. I was sugared-up all the time.

After my diagnosis, though, it was like a switch flipped. My health was on the line, so I went cold turkey on my sugar-filled ways. Out the window went the candy, the desserts, and even super-sweet fruit. At first, it was hard. I'd relied so much on sugar my entire life that I had headaches and terrible mood swings when I quit.

Within a few weeks, though, I started to feel better. Eventually, my desire to eat sugar completely disappeared. I didn't even like the flavor anymore. Now, even if you put a giant plate of dessert in front of me, I am zero percent interested. The only time I eat sweets these days is on my kid's birthdaysand that's for them, not me! I'll snack on <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/a21946394/best-low-sugar-fruits/" id="8b65ca9e-7f60-3e50-a9bb-50acef895d03"> low-sugar fruits </a> like blackberries and raspberries, but that's about it.

After giving sugar the boot, I quickly learned that the body breaks down <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/g19038514/carbs-to-avoid/" id="4d9e3d00-079d-32e6-a144-8a673e296d2b"> refined carbs </a> straight into sugar, so I swore off those in order to better manage my diabetes, too. I ditched rice (yes, even brown rice), pasta, and breadand never looked back.

I know some of you are wondering, how could you ever swear off bread? But just like with sugar, when you give your body enough time without it, your palette changes and it loses its appeal. (Bonus perk: I no longer miss out on a beautiful meal out at a restaurant because I've filled up on the bread basket.)

As I cut these white carbs out of my diet and learned more about a <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/a19434332/what-is-the-keto-diet/" id="bd76c7bd-0451-3848-a106-17f6bb1dce42"> keto lifestyle </a> , I began to cut back on high-carb foods further and swap in low-carb alternatives and plenty of healthy fats.

So, instead of having mashed potatoes, I make cauliflower mash with butter and salt. It's so delicious and creamy, my kids don't even know the difference. Or, when my kids eat pasta, I opt for zucchini noodles. These simple swaps make it easy for me to enjoy a meal with my kids and still nourish my body in the way that works for me.

For me, the final piece of the puzzle was wine. I have always loved wine, but as I upgraded the rest of my lifestyle to manage my diabetes and feel as healthy as possible, I wondered if there was <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/g29475222/low-carb-wine/" id="5e4ef8f1-36a8-364a-a8ab-2da5d7c20dac"> a better way to enjoy my wine </a> .

When I discovered <a href="https://www.dryfarmwines.com/" id="1ce3714e-1ad9-3ccb-a7ee-7b92430badfa"> Dry Farm Wines </a> a few years ago, I was intrigued. Their natural, organic, and biodynamic wines don't contain any added sugars or chemicals, so they're low-sugar enough to be keto-friendly and don't have as much alcohol as the average bottle.

The earthier, hearty flavor of these wines took some getting used to at first, but now I'd rather drink them than anything. While conventional wines often got me buzzed fast and left me with a headache, these did not. Yet again, I wouldn't go back to the old stuff for a second.

Halle Berry is a producer, director, and actress. Now known as one of the fittest women in Hollywood, Halle recently launched <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=74968X1576255&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Frespin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com%2Fcollections&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.womenshealthmag.com%2Ffitness%2Fa32236595%2Fhalle-berry-abs-transformation%2F%3Fpre%3Dfitness%252F%26prefix%3Da%26id%3D32236595%26del%3D%26variantId%3D%26post%3D%252Fhalle-berry-abs-transformation" id="9a6cf669-5989-3cb2-a4a5-8137fff78fed"> rspin </a> , a community for stories, conversations, and products for health and wellness seekers. In her weekly WH column and #FitnessFriday Instagram posts, she shares a personal look into her own health and fitnessalong with the tips, tricks, and advice behind her famously fit physique.

Halle Berry Cut These Foods Out Of Her Diet Years Ago⁠—And Doesn't Miss Them One Bit

Today, I've had the honor to train with some of the best stunt performers in the game. Back in my 20s (and 30s), though, I mostly worked out in order to look a certain way . I was young and appearance was a big part of my early acting career.

Back then, my workouts focused on weights. I was always in the gym, either sitting at a weight machine or with a barbell in my hands. It was all about sculpting ; I worked my butt off isolating muscle groups and lifting as heavy as I could. It was a little boring (I knew every Monday would be exactly the same as the Monday before), but I looked fit and that was enough for me at the time.

After I found out I had diabetes at 22, though, things started t change and I began to see fitness as a way to care for my health and my body . As a result, throughout the next few decades, my perspective (and my workouts!) shifted. I began to focus on feeling fit more than looking fit and my workouts became acts of self-care.

Then, from the moment I became a mother onward, I wanted to be strong and healthy for my kids . I wanted to be around for them for as long as possible. I wanted to be able to carry them out of a burning house if I needed to.

\"I walk through the world with more confidence than ever before.\"

Now, whether I'm exercising alone or training with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/peterleethomas/" id="bc2b7401-9308-35db-ae64-1483d61050be"> Peter Lee Thomas </a> , my fitness routine feels so freeand my workouts have really transformed. These days, I do yoga and stretch, I sprint fast, I work with my own bodyweight, weights, and <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections/re-spin-products/products/resistance-strap-set" id="62fff042-7664-3764-a8f5-24020584fee8"> resistance bands </a> , and I practice martial arts.

I don't think Peter and I have ever done the exact same workout twiceand I always end up sore in places I didn't even realize I had muscles !

Today, instead of doing round after round of biceps curls, I'm churning through full-body movements like cleans and presses or thrusters. Today, I can do pullups like an athlete and run far. Not to mention, my <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a32236595/halle-berry-abs-transformation/" id="2062b141-3caa-340e-ae9e-4a7208dc35ac"> core has been loving this 360-degree workout approach </a> !

With this approach to fitness, my mind is never bored, my body continues to reap the benefits, and I walk through the world with more confidence than ever before. The icing on the cake, though: In focusing more on my health performance, I enjoy exercise more than ever and look just as fit as ever, too .

Why Halle Berry Is Fitter Than Ever At 53

At 53, Halle Berry Is Fitter Than Ever—And She Credits This One Major Mindset Shift

Thanks to plenty of personal experience, I believe that if we allow negative energy and stress to fester within us, they profoundly influence our health and well-being. In fact, when I've allowed this energy to house itself in my body, I've felt it affect everything from my mood to my blood sugar to my digestion.

That's why, throughout my life, I've developed a few simple practices that help me work through and release stress, fear, and negativity so that I can better manage my health (particularly my diabetes), be a better parent to my kids, and show up in the world from a grounded, balanced place.

\"It\'s absolutely essential that we find ways to establish calm within ourselves amidst uncertainty.\"

Though I've been working with my energy for years, this work feels especially relevant and important right now. The current state of our countryand the worldmakes it very easy to feel afraid, lost, and depressed.

However, I think it's absolutely essential that we all find ways to establish calm within ourselves amidst the uncertainty, so that we can come together as Americans and fellow humans, to really listen to each other, to speak up, and to find the compassion for each other that will be necessary for us to finally achieve unity.

One of the most helpful stress-releasing practices for me is yoga. To me, it's a physical form of meditation that allows me to move negative energy out of my body. Whatever type of yoga I practice, focusing on my breath and really feeling my body as I flow through and hold poses really centers me. It's like the stress just lifts right out of me.

I try to do yoga at least three times a weekeven if just for 15 minutes or so.

Something that goes hand-in-hand with yoga for me is stretching, so it's another big part of how I release bad energy. Sometimes I just hang out in downward-facing dog pose for a few minutes to stretch out my legs (my hamstrings tend to be tight from fight training). Or, if I need something relaxing, I'll sit in child's pose with my kids for a while. It's such a comforting position, but you feel a nice stretch in your hips, along your sides, and in your back and shoulders.

I also use my <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections/re-spin-products/products/yoga-wheel" id="2af2ed9b-98f1-3046-ab51-7e635496ed8c"> yoga wheel </a> to stretch my back and legs when I really need to sink deep into my body and let go. It's such a simple tool, but it helps me to connect with myself and help my body release.

In addition to making these practices a regular part of my routine, I also turn to them in the moments when stress threatens to seriously throw me off or consume me. The other night, for example, I found myself stretching in my bedroom at 3 o'clock in the morning because the sound of helicopters outside was making me anxious. (I'm honestly a big fan of punching a pillow or kicking a heavy bag in these moments. Sometimes you just have to fight that unhelpful energy right out of your body.)

Whatever you're working through right now, I hope that these simple rituals will help you let go of stress and heaviness so that you can find the balance we all need to be our best, healthiest selves and come together.

Halle Berry is a producer, director, and actress. Now known as one of the fittest women in Hollywood, Berry recently launched <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=74968X1576255&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Frespin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com%2Fcollections&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.womenshealthmag.com%2Ffitness%2Fa32378775%2Fhalle-berry-20-minute-workout%2F%3Fpre%3Dfitness%252F%26prefix%3Da%26id%3D32378775%26del%3D%26variantId%3D%26post%3D%252Fhalle-berry-20-minute-workout" id="10521dda-d997-3f18-aa28-5d3fbb7f4374"> rspin </a> , a community for stories, conversations, and products for health and wellness seekers. In her weekly WH column and #FitnessFriday Instagram posts, she shares a personal look into her own health and fitnessalong with the tips, tricks, and advice behind her famously fit physique.

How Halle Berry Lets Go Of Negative Energy

How Halle Berry Uses Yoga And Stretching To Let Go Of Negative Energy

Though I'll admit my practice ebbs and flows depending on what's going on in my life, I've been meditating for almost 20 years now. I typically like to do it first thing in the morningsometimes for 10 minutes, sometimes for an hourso that I can start my day from a really grounded place (and because that's my alone time now that I have kids).

I've always found peace, healing, and solace in <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/g25178771/best-meditation-apps/" id="a7850d29-57f4-321c-a23e-f2e6a8de74fb"> meditation </a> and that's especially true (and important) right now when we're amidst so much unrest and it's so easy to operate out of fear.

In times like these, I also think that children need their parents to set the tone. If I'm frightened and frazzled, my kids absorb it all like sponges. Meditation helps me stay calm and balanced, so that I can show up for my kids and help them to feel more at peace and less afraid.

I believe meditation can have a profound impact on a much larger scale, too. Our thoughts are so powerful; they literally create our reality. Meditation can truly help all of us change the collective energy of our world and transform our reality into a more positive one.

I know what you're thinking: Meditation seems so difficult. You have to be good at meditation for it to make a difference. You have to meditate for hours on end.

Not true! Every minute is valuableand you can make meditation incredibly simple.

See for yourself. Here's my routine:

<ol><li> Find a quiet spot (I like to be outside) and sit however you feel comfortable (perhaps cross-legged or with your feet planted on the ground). Sit straight up, keep your back tall, and rest your hands wherever feels good. </li><li> Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Don't try to change anything about it; just pay attention to it; be conscious of it. If you have a thought, don't sweat it. Just come back to your breath. </li><li> After about five minutes (or however long you have available to you) of focusing on your breath, start to think about the intention of your meditation. What questions or worries do you have? What changes do you want to see? What can you do to make those changes? </li><li> For the next few minutes, see what answers flow in and out naturally and spend as much time on them as you feel you need. </li><li> Finally, open your eyes. I like to write down what thoughts and answers popped up for me so that I really absorb them, and invite you to try that, too. </li></ol>

Hopefully you'll have discovered how you can be a part of the solution right now, or gained clarity on something that had been weighing on your heart. From here, it's up to you to put your thoughts, intentions, and insights into action.

Wherever your meditation takes you, I believe it gives you a chance to connect to your true self, and that's a really powerful thingespecially right now.

Halle Berry’s Easy 10 Minute Meditation Practice

Halle Berry's Easy Meditation Practice Takes Just 10 Minutes—Here's Exactly How To Do It

For a long time, I thought I had to do crunches or situps to work my abs. I didn't enjoy them so much, but they did help me keep my core looking defined.

When I started training with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/peterleethomas/" id="bc2b7401-9308-35db-ae64-1483d61050be"> Peter Lee Thomas </a> about five years ago, though, I realized that the idea that you have to lots of exercises that just work your abs was a total misconception.

Actually, my average workout these days doesn't involve a single situp or crunch . (The only exception: If I'm training for a super-specific look for a film. I did <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a32236595/halle-berry-abs-transformation/" id="507bf03e-80e0-36d2-a872-baae49a3cabe"> a lot of weighted abs exercises </a> when prepping for Bruised last year in order to get my abs muscles to pop on a whole new level.)

\"My core is just as toned and strong as ever.\"

The workouts I do with Peter are all about full-body movementslike squatsso I'm hitting all of my muscles at once, abs included. And guess what? My core is just as toned and strong as ever.

For me, hitting my abs with full-body workouts is also infinitely more fun than cranking out 100 crunches . Every training session is differentand I walk away satisfied, knowing that I not only worked my core hard, but the rest of my muscles, too. Time is preciousand I want the most bang for my workout buck possible.

One abs move I do incorporate into my workouts pretty often is planks . I never did planks back in the day, but they've made a huge difference for my core strength and definition.

Sometimes, I'll just hold a plank for as long as I can. My abs start to ache first, but pretty soon my entire body feels like it's on fire.

Usually, though, we level up planks into exercises like <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a20697219/renegade-row/" id="6eb5631b-4e2e-3d6a-ab04-50f3d11445b7"> renegade rows </a> with dumbbells. Once, Peter even had me do resistance band rows in a plank position, with <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a28713948/how-to-do-mountain-climbers/" id="d49f9e73-f3c3-3ce6-a629-962958a3e8c8"> mountain-climbers </a> between sets of 10 or 20 reps on each arm. My abs and entire upper body were sore for days after that workout.

Another full-body workout I did recently also left my core (and the rest of my body) crazy soreand it was only two moves!

<ul><li> 40 lunges with biceps curls, wearing <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections/re-spin-products/products/ankle-weights">ankle weights</a> and <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections/re-spin-products/products/wrist-weights">wrist weights</a> , and holding my <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections/re-spin-products/products/foam-dumbbells">foam dumbbells</a> </li><li> 20 squats to overhead presses, wearing a <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections/re-spin-products/products/premium-booty-band">booty band</a> and holding my <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections/re-spin-products/products/foam-dumbbells">foam dumbbells</a> </li><li> 38 lunges with biceps curls </li><li> 19 squats to overhead presses </li><li> 36 lunges with biceps curls </li><li> 18 squats to overhead presses </li><li> etc. </li></ul>

Yep, I just kept working my way down, alternating between the lunges and squats. I thought only my legs (and maybe my arms) would be sore, but it hurt to laugh afterwards because my abs were engaged the whole time.

Don't believe me? Try it for yourself! Start off using just the booty band and dumbbells, and add the wrist and ankle weights if you're ready for an extra challenge. I promise you'll never force yourself to do crunches again.

Halle Berry Says She Never Does Situps Or Crunches

How Halle Berry Keeps Her Abs Super Strong Without Situps (Or Crunches)

Over the years, I've worked incredibly hard to keep my body toned from head to toe. And though I've talked a lot about <a href="http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a32236595/halle-berry-abs-transformation/" id="83c44c26-6d0b-367c-a11a-d386e22f12ac"> transforming my abs </a> and <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a32449475/hall-berry-cardio-jump-rope/" id="4cd040d4-3880-3a6c-aaf4-39fa62c4efa9"> keeping my cardio on-point </a> , I'm also really damn proud of my back.

It's the result of years of work, and honestly, I think it being strong and defined is really beautiful (and sexy!)but it's also super functional, too. I love that I can now haul my 6-year-old up a long flight of stairs to put him to bed when he falls asleep on the couch.

Though I've always given my back workout love, I really started to lean into strengthening it a few years ago. I was training to film John Wick 3 and then my upcoming movie, Bruised, and I needed to look and perform like a fighter. So, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/peterleethomas/" id="994eb8be-9f52-371b-a534-2e2c26273e8e"> my trainer Peter </a> and I started dedicating two workouts per week to my back and it made a massive difference in getting it to look really ripped.

\"Having defined, sexy back muscles feels so good (my posture is better than ever!).\"

Over the course of the first three months, I went from not being able to do a single pullup to being able to crank out a handful without any assistance. (Now I can do 10, 12, or 15 at a time.)

Pullups aren't the only star of the back workout show, though.

Peter and I also work on dumbbell flies and tons of different row variations , which never fail to set my back muscles on fire. We've relied on my <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections/re-spin-products/products/full-body-resistance-loop" id="a2480c01-33fd-3563-a30c-300581089e58"> full-body resistance loop </a> a lot throughout the process, since the different rings on the band make it easy to adjust the difficulty of your rows.

A lot of times, I'll do a set of standing roughs at a really intense resistance, and then adjust the loop and do another set. I'll keep repeating that process until I've worked my way down from the toughest resistance to the easiest one, and by the end of it all, my entire back burns like you wouldn't believe.

To this day, I still try to focus on my back twice a week and I rely on my resistance loop even more now, since it's so easy to use at home.

Sometimes, to spice things up, Peter will have my switch up my grip on my resistance loop rows, so that instead of rowing with my palm facing in, I'll do the move with my palm facing up or down. Though it doesn't seem like much of a change, you really feel the difference after a few sets.

I also use my loop to work on bent-over rows and love, love, love to do TRX rows, when I can, too.

Having defined, sexy back muscles feels so good (my posture is better than ever!), but it's also incredibly empowering to have strength that carries over into the rest of my life, allowing me kick butt on screen and as a mother.

Halle Berry is a producer, director, and actress. Now known as one of the fittest women in Hollywood, Halle recently launched <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections" id="9dab4d53-7945-3e2a-a4e5-80e6a4edc144"> rspin </a> , a community for stories, conversations, and products for health and wellness seekers. In her weekly WH column and #FitnessFriday Instagram posts, she shares a personal look into her own health and fitnessalong with the tips, tricks, and advice behind her famously fit physique.

Exactly How Halle Berry Got Her Crazy-Toned Back

How Halle Berry Got Her Insanely Toned Back

Before I started <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a32172511/halle-berry-quarantine-workout-routine/" id="fc9d6bd6-537f-33e5-a34d-71b47f5e3674"> working with my trainer Peter </a> about five years ago, I didn't even own a jump ropeit just wasn't how I did my cardio! But counting rotations quickly became a natural part of my fitness routine because it helps with footwork, which is essential for my go-tos like boxing and martial arts. Oh, and it gets your heart pumping.

Now, I am totally obsessed with jumping rope . Once I find my rhythm, I go into this Zen place. I just tune out the world and keep jumping until Peter tells me to stop.

\"If you challenge me with something, my ego and my pride kick in and I have. to. win.\"

Usually, we incorporate 500 skips or so into my warmups . It prepares me for whatever workout's to come because I'm using my entire body in a coordinated way with every swing of the rope and hop off the ground.

Jumping rope also <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a19942935/best-calorie-burning-exercises/" id="44250243-5418-3522-a7a5-5278f3325ab6"> expends a lot of energy </a> . If you really get after it, you can burn almost 1,000 calories per hour .

Recently, Peter and I took the intensity of my <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a32378775/halle-berry-20-minute-workout/" id="70df2f29-bd8e-3fab-a626-efee00c8ecd1"> 20-minute workouts </a> up a notch by making jumping rope the main event. (Peter is always saying that switching things up and challenging your body in new ways is key if you want to keep seeing results and getting fitter.) So, after seeing the <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a32158605/halle-berry-pillow-challenge-instagram/" id="b3628c1c-be75-3339-a4d4-74564618b650"> "pillow challenge" post I shared on Instagram </a> , he dared me to do a jump-rope challenge. My goal: 1,500 skips . Yes, 1,500.

Now, I'm incredibly competitive. If you challenge me with something, my ego and my pride kick in and I have. to. win. It's not even a question; I get tunnel vision-level focus and I just do it.

I broke the challenge up into three sets of 500 skips. Once I found my groove, I could do 100 skips without missing a beat. In all, it took me about 15 minutes to get to 1,500. ( I burned 250-plus calories in the process , Peter estimated). By the end, my calves were on fire and my arms and legs burned like you wouldn't believe.

In the end, I was surprised at how funand difficultit wound up being! I really pushed myself and it was probably one of the most strenuous cardiovascular workouts I've ever done . For two (maybe even three) days afterwards, you couldn't even touch my calves, <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a32005309/why-do-muscles-get-sore/" id="96549a86-bf12-3ccd-a918-8e4475bcb1af"> they were SO sore </a> but I loved it because I knew I'd given my body a good jolt!

I want to know what your favorite cardio workout is! Share how you rspin your workout with Peter and me for a chance to win some goodies from my rspin fitness collection. Download the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/r%C4%93-spin/id1478870172" id="5468ab8b-d014-3503-ab11-20cd85333ae6"> rspin app </a> to learn more about the #rspinYourBurn Sweepstakes!

Halle Berry is a producer, director, and actress. Now known as one of the fittest women in Hollywood, Berry recently launched <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=74968X1576255&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Frespin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com%2Fcollections&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.womenshealthmag.com%2Ffitness%2Fa32172511%2Fhalle-berry-quarantine-workout-routine%2F%3Fpre%3Dfitness%252F%26prefix%3Da%26id%3D32172511%26del%3D%26variantId%3D%26post%3D%252Fhalle-berry-quarantine-workout-routine" id="4c66a3f7-ae59-3c1c-aac0-ccc53c1ed82f"> rspin </a> , a community for stories, conversations, and products for health and wellness seekers. In her weekly WH column and #FitnessFriday Instagram posts, she shares a personal look into her own health and fitnessalong with the tips, tricks, and advice behind her famously fit physique.

How Halle Berry Burns 250 Calories In 15 Minutes

Halle Berry Burns 250 Calories In Just 15 Minutes By Jumping Rope

<a href="http://b.xfreeservice.com/redir/clickGate.php?u=8otB939m&amp;m=12&amp;p=3b121G4eNI&amp;t=33&amp;splash=0&amp;s=&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.womenshealthmag.com%2Ffitness%2Fa32172511%2Fhalle-berry-quarantine-workout-routine%2F" id="d6eb6b51-88a9-3f91-a387-4a8f1077d3e9"> Before quarantine </a> turned my day to day upside down, I worked out with my trainer, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/peterleethomas/?hl=en" id="38f12b0a-5d12-3a1f-a4d2-492df292f7f8"> Peter Lee Thomas </a> , at least four times per week.

How long we got our sweat on, though, varied based on my schedule. Some days, we trained together for close to 90 minutes. (Full disclosure: We chit chat a lot during breaks and between moves). But half the time our sweat sessions were just 20 minutes long .

\"A 20-minute workout can totally knock you on your butt.\"

Sure, it doesn't seem like a lot, but every minute I can put into being healthy is 100 percent worth it to meno matter how packed my calendar becomes.

If anything, I've learned that a 20-minute workout can totally knock you on your butt. In fact, they're often even harder than longer ones. I know that when Peter creates quick programs for me, I'm going to have to get in the zone and pushthese short sessions are truly fast and dirty.

Usually, I'll do circuits of five or six exercises and churn through one after another, going as hard as I can for a set amount of time so I don't have to count reps. Sometimes we use all <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/g30272452/exercises-at-home/" id="e0f63ea8-6f56-3ea6-ad5c-9da3065b845c"> bodyweight moves </a> ; other times I'm upping the intensity with equipment like my ankle weights .

The following quick-but-deadly workout Peter created for us whoops me every time.

<h1> The 20-Minute All-Out Circuit Workout </h1>

Perform the five exercises in this circuit back-to-back for one minute each. Repeat and complete as many rounds as possible in 20 minutes, resting only as needed.

To increase the challenge, wear <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections/re-spin-products/products/ankle-weights" id="bbf69f8d-e442-3c6b-ac08-8b6730866bbf"> rspin ankle weights </a> and <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections/re-spin-products/products/wrist-weights" id="28f7c3f4-a6f5-3daa-a3bf-ea6afd548c2d"> rspin wrist weights </a> .

How to: Grab a jump rope and hop or skip at as fast a pace as you can maintain.

<h1> 2. Squats + Standing Oblique Crunches </h1>

How to: Start standing with feet hips-distance apart and hands interlaced behind head. Bend knees to sink hips back and down as if sitting into a chair. When thighs are parallel to floor, push through feet to return to standing. Once legs are fully extended, drive left knee up towards chest and twist torso to crunch right elbow towards knee. Then, return to standing. Repeat squat, then crunch opposite elbow and knee together.

<h1> 3. Reverse Lunges + Punches </h1>

How to: Start standing with feet shoulder-width apart and hands in ready position in front of face. Take a big step back with right foot and bend legs to lower down until both knees form 90-degree angles, while simultaneously punching right hand straight forward. Then, step right foot back in and return hand to ready position, and repeat on other side.

How to: Stand with feet wider than hips and toes pointed out slightly. Bend knees to sink hips back and down into a squat, as if sitting into a chair. When thighs are parallel to floor, push through feet to return to standing. Once legs are fully extended, press through balls of feet to lift heels. Lower heels to the floor to return to start.

<h1> 5. 4 Mountain-Climbers + 2 Sit-Outs </h1>

How to: Start in a high plank with shoulders over wrists, pelvis tucked, and ribs drawn toward hips. Quickly drive right knee towards chest, then reverse the movement while simultaneously driving left knee towards chest. Repeat at a quick pace to complete four knee drives. Then, extend right leg beneath torso and to left of body while releasing left hand from floor and twisting so torso turns up to face ceiling. Return to plank position, then repeat on other side.

By the time I've finished, I'm dripping, I'm breathing crazy heavy, and I feel like I've not only worked all of my different muscles, but like I've also just done some serious cardio.

I really love these hardcore, speedy workouts because I always come out of them feeling excited (and a little exhausted). They also remind me that I always have time to do something for myselfand so do you. Even if it's two 10-minute sweats throughout your day; if you use the time wisely, you can still have a helluva workout.

Halle Berry is a producer, director, and actress. Now known as one of the fittest women in Hollywood, Berry recently launched <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections" id="9dab4d53-7945-3e2a-a4e5-80e6a4edc144"> rspin </a> , a community for stories, conversations, and products for health and wellness seekers. In her weekly WH column and #FitnessFriday Instagram posts, she shares a personal look into her own health and fitnessalong with the tips, tricks, and advice behind her famously fit physique.

This 20-Minute Workout Is Halle Berry's Go-To

Halle Berry Is Insanely Fit—And 20-Minute Workouts Are A Regular Part Of Her Routine

After being diagnosed with diabetes at 22, I adopted what I now know was basically a <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/a19434332/what-is-the-keto-diet/" id="8008f788-2050-3669-aa9f-3144a77780dc"> keto diet </a> . My doctors told me I'd have to keep an eye on how I ate to stay healthy, and I took it to heart. I wanted to get off of insulin, so I decided to say goodbye to processed carbs and sugar like baked goods and white breadand it has seriously paid off.

For more than 15 years, eating this way has helped me manage my diabetesbut it's also given me a ton of energy and helped me <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/g28834358/halle-berry-health-fitness-tips/" id="06572729-f3da-3fd3-a2d4-6731be5f79f4"> maintain my weight and stay in shape </a> .

When <a href="https://www.instagram.com/peterleethomas/" id="994eb8be-9f52-371b-a534-2e2c26273e8e"> my trainer Peter </a> formally introduced me to the ketogenic lifestyle a few years ago, I realized all I had to do to feel even better was give my body more healthy fats (like avocado, coconut oil, and butter) so it had more of that fuel to burn.

Today, eating keto is second nature to me. I feel incredible on the high-fat, moderate-protein, and very-low-carb plan (seriously, I couldn't tell you the last time I even craved sweets) and wouldn't go back to the sugar-eating ways of before my diabetes diagnosis for anything in the world.

Here's what a typical day of the keto diet looks like for me these days.

Since getting into keto, I don't usually eat a traditional breakfast. I'm a huge fan of bulletproof coffee, so I typically brew myself a nice coffee and blend it with butter, MCT oil, and collagen; sometimes a bit of cream.

I sip on my frothy drink throughout the morning and love that the fat in it fuels my body and that it gives me a steady stream of caffeine and energy to start the day with.

If I do feel like cooking up a morning meal, though, I keep it simple with scrambled eggs, peppers, and onion with a side of avocado.

If I exercise in the morning, I sometimes need a little something to tide me over until my first full meal of the dayespecially if I work out really hard.

Usually, in this case, I'll have an electrolyte drink or a bit of a keto-friendly bar (I love the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/TRUWOMEN-Protein-Non-GMO-Healthy-Ingredients/dp/B078WDX46J/y&amp;sr=8-1-spons&amp;psc=1&amp;spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzME5ERFYwUlpCWFRYJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzU5MDY1MlFBWUpPU1BMMkhPUyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzI5Nzc4MjdKOFhEMzREQlRJQSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=?tag=womenshealth-auto-20&amp;ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C2140.g.28834358%5Bsrc%7C%5Bch%7C%5Blt%7C&amp;th=1" id="a8313f66-534a-3dbe-ae57-696d7770c318"> TRUWOMEN plant protein bars </a> ).

If I just do something light, though, that bulletproof coffee usually keeps me going until lunchtime.

Around two o'clock or so, I'll make myself lunch. If I'm craving something cozy, I'll make a simple soup loaded with different vegetables and a protein, and top it with some cheese.

Otherwise, I go for a big salad. I always start with lots of greens, then add veggies like tomatoes, olives, and green and red peppers. From there, avocado and some sort of vinaigrette dressing made with olive oil and spices add healthy fats. I top it all off with some sort of protein, like shrimp, chicken, beef, lamb, or fish.

When in doubt, though, I whip out my favorite cookbook, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Keto-Comfort-Foods-Favorite-Low-Carb/dp/1628602570" id="1a2389f6-b46c-3bed-a116-43457968ea6b"> Keto Comfort Foods </a> , and make a recipe from there.

Though I don't usually snack a lot (I feel very satisfied on keto), I do enjoy munching on something in the afternoon every once in a while.

Since I usually have lots of vegetables lying around, a quick DIY veggie platter does the job in a pinch.

I really enjoy savory flavors, though, so I love snacking on chips. Give me a bowl of salt and vinegar chips and I'm happy. I've also been enjoying seeds lately, because they're salty and crunch and easy to grab when you just want a little something.

If I have time, though, perhaps my favorite snack is homemade kale chips. They're so easy to make (I just dress kale with olive oil and a little salt and toss it in the oven) and taste way better when you bake them yourself.

Around six o'clock, I sit down with my kids to have dinner. I usually don't need much at this point, so I often go for some grilled vegetables with a plant-based protein like chickpeas.

I also love cauliflower mash (or even a bit of sweet potato mash) at dinner.

When in doubt, though, I go for the same veggie-protein-fat combo I have at lunchtime.

I don't really have a sweet tooth at all anymore (really, you could put cake in front of me and I wouldn't want it), but I do really enjoy a glass of red wine after dinner.

I order my wine from <a href="https://www.dryfarmwines.com/" id="1ce3714e-1ad9-3ccb-a7ee-7b92430badfa"> Dry Farm Wines </a> , which delivers these great, super-natural wines that don't contain any preservatives and are a lot lower in sugar and alcohol than your standard bottles.

I still want to do my body good when I treat myself, and a nice, clean glass of wine helps me do just that.

Halle Berry Swears By The Keto Diet—Here's What She Eats In A Typical Day

I grew up doing gymnastics, so core training has always been a big part of my workout routine. But since having children, I've had to work harder to keep up my abs flat and toned than ever before.

If there's one thing I've learned throughout the years, it's that you have to constantly switch things upotherwise you don't see change or definition. It's a never-ending process, but my trainer, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/peterleethomas/" id="bc2b7401-9308-35db-ae64-1483d61050be"> Peter Lee Thomas </a> , is always challenging me with new core exercises.

Over the years, I've done my fair share of crunches and situps, but o ne of the biggest game-changers for my abs over the years has been martial arts . Depending on the week, between 30 to 50 percent of my workouts focus on mixed martial arts (MMA) like jiu jitsu, Muay Thai, and capoeria. When you're practicing MMA, you're using your core the whole damn time. You're constantly bracing, twisting, and ducking. It's a recipe for really strong abs.

It wasn't until last fall, though, when I was preparing for my film Bruised, that I set the goal to build really visible, muscular abs.

\"We added weight to everything. As a result, my abs muscles really started popping.\"

I had to look (and perform) like a professional MMA fighter, so, in addition to practicing MMA for four hours every day, I was also doing about 45 minutes of general strength training and 15 minutes of work just on my abs . We threw the kitchen sink at my core and, let me tell you, it took serious dedication.

What really made a difference, too, was that instead of doing bodyweight abs exercises, we added weight to everything. As a result, <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a29740823/halle-berry-abs-instagram/" id="a17391cc-0b4a-39ac-a5b4-3c7fcf8554e2"> my abs muscles really started popping </a> .

During my daily 15 minutes of core work, I did situps holding a medicine ball or dumbbell, leg raises wearing <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections/re-spin-products/products/ankle-weights" id="77ae40cd-e22a-3e49-a338-5786269cf11b"> ankle weights </a> , and <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a30188743/hollow-hold-form-how-to/" id="68510f25-e7a8-32a7-a54f-aac85af67cb5"> hollow holds </a> with <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections/re-spin-products/products/foam-dumbbells" id="8f973e86-e47c-39cd-a6a6-ad717ed0cc0d"> dumbbells </a> or <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections/re-spin-products/products/wrist-weights" id="2f29124b-f7f5-3a43-a36b-093df01eb97c"> wrist weights </a> and ankle weights. The extra resistance made all of my already-hard workouts even tougher, and, little by little, I developed more defined, hardcore abs than I'd ever had before.

After wrapping up Bruised, my workout regimen calmed down a bit. I settled into a routine of four hour-long workouts per weekand about 50 to 70 percent strength training .

I no longer had to look like a pro fighter, so my number-one goal was to focus on full-body training and to maintain optimum health and overall fitness. I wasn't too worried about keeping my abs as ripped as they were last fall. (This is especially true <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a32172511/halle-berry-quarantine-workout-routine/" id="ffe06e32-152e-3fd5-a958-66f4e3eb1d4b"> now that I'm exercising from home </a> .)

These days, my midsection may not have as much visible muscle as it did during filmingand I don't need it to! However, a lot of the general strength moves I still do (like <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a19982843/best-leg-exercises/" id="7d42e08b-5ebf-3261-af4e-a6879315feb6"> weighted step-ups </a> with <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections/re-spin-products/products/foam-dumbbells" id="8f973e86-e47c-39cd-a6a6-ad717ed0cc0d"> dumbbells </a> , <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections/re-spin-products/products/wrist-weights" id="2f29124b-f7f5-3a43-a36b-093df01eb97c"> wrist weights </a> , or <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections/re-spin-products/products/ankle-weights" id="77ae40cd-e22a-3e49-a338-5786269cf11b"> ankle weights </a> ) work my core enough to keep it strong and flat.

Plus, I still sprinkle in martial arts whenever I can (once you try it, it's like you get bitten by a bug; you can't stop!) and incorporate a dedicated abs move or two (like planks or lying leg raises with ankle weights) into every workout.

Exactly How Halle Berry Got Her Super-Ripped Abs

This Is Exactly How Halle Berry Got Her Super-Ripped Abs

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