It so hard for almost anyone to wrap their heads around the fact that Jennifer Lopez is almost 50 years old. Seriously, how is this even humanly possible? The woman has the body of a 20-year-old. It's tight, it's toned and it's pretty much perfect. And she carried twins! J.Lo can thank her Latina genes for that flawless, wrinkle-free complexion, but what is this chica's secret for staying so fit? The world needs to know!
Genes can only take you so far though, and Jen has been open with sharing the steps that she has taken throughout her life to ensure that she ages gracefully. And that's exactly what she's doing!
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Remaining youthful doesn't just require the use of expensive creams and countless days at the gym, but the "El Anillo" singer has revealed that her glow also comes from within. She has shared how controlling her negative thoughts about herself has helped her through the years in becoming a more positive and grateful person and that shows in just how radiant she is.
According to Jennifer, it's all due to her "incredible discipline" and her inability to finish a whole tub of Häagen-Dazs ice cream. At least that's what she said in her interview for Glamour magazine's March 2014 issue. "I'm not one to over-indulge," she said. "It doesn't make me feel good. Some find it comforting to sit down and eat a whole pint of Häagen-Dazs*,* but that would make me throw up." But not over-indulging isn't the only thing the actress, singer, and dancer does to stay in shape. She has been open about the importance of drinking water and how she makes sure she always has clean food nearby in order to stay healthy.
The singer's lifestyle keeps her looking good but also ensures that her body, mind and spirit are always in tip-top shape. She began taking care of her skin in her twenties and now she gets to reap the benefits of years of treating her body and her skin with love and care. Now that she has her own makeup line, we hope that a skincare line is in the works–because we'll surely be the first ones in line. Here are a few of her other fit secrets that just about anyone can incorporate into their lives!
–Additional reporting by Johanna Ferreira
She's not afraid to sweat.
She takes her workouts pretty seriously. "[I'm like] a fighter, going into the ring. I do my cardio and I do my workouts with the Tracy Anderson Method," she said in Redbook. She events hits the gym when she doesn't have to. "Sometimes when I get home and I'm not feeling so great, I make myself go the gym. Then I come home and take a shower, put on a great outfit, some makeup, tie my hair up, and I feel pepped up and great about myself."
She doesn't limit herself, she just watches her portions.
"There are a number of weird diets out there, but I don't follow them. I eat almost everything, only in moderation. Maybe I'm lucky; when I overeat I just get seriously sick, the next day is absolutely ruined, and with my busy schedule I just can't afford it." It's like they say, portion control is key!
She stays positive.
It's hard to believe J.Lo ever has an off day, but she claims she does and actually uses those days to stay positive. "You know, just like anybody else, there are days I feel great when I wake up, and then there are days when I feel more tired or not ready to face the day. To be quite honest, on those days, I really try to think positively," she told Elle magazine.
She doesn't smoke OR drink.
During an interview on Good Morning America, Jennifer opened up about her healthy habits. "I never drank or smoked, and it's really paying off now because my skin is still really good with moisturizing and getting good sleep … I've never had Botox or any of those things. But when I need to, maybe I will." No smoking or drinking EVER? She might have a drink or two when she's out on the town but she doesn't go overboard, and that explains why she's Botox-free!
She's comfortable in her skin.
Jennifer is the first to tell you she's "not a size two." In fact, she admits that her weight fluctuates and she has to devote exercise to maintain it. She normally wears anywhere from a size four to an eight, depending on how in shape she is. "I'm comfortable with who I am. I know I'm not perfect, but that's okay."
She cuts carbs.
Like Kim Kardashian, J.Lo is not afraid to cut out the carbs when necessary. "I try to watch what I eat. I know what's good for me, and I know what's bad for me … If I'm trying to lose weight, I just cut carbohydrates from my diet."
She drinks lots of water, obviously.
"Water. Lots of water. It helps keep your weight down. Obviously, it keeps you hydrated," she revealed to Dr. Oz. "For me it just feels good. I don't count it. I just drink it all day, it's the thing I drink." The TV host suggested that in order to determine whether you're drinking enough water, is to make sure the color of your urine is light enough to read through.
She's not lying about her water intake.
A quick look at her Instagram page, and you'll see that a bottle of water is often found near the singer in most of her pics but finding a photo of her with an alcoholic drink in hand is almost impossible.
J. Lo takes sleep seriously.
She opened up to Dr. Oz about the habits she has developed that have helped her skin look young and fresh. "I try to do between seven to nine hours a night, I love 11 if I could ever get it, rarely," she said. "But I love it. Usually, I'm between six and eight."
She also doesn't do drugs because of her upbringing.
"I'm not a drinker, I just never started. It was another one of those things my mom was like, 'Don't drink! Don't do drugs, you're gonna die!'" she revealed to Dr. Oz, and said it has benefited her skin. Alcohol and illegal substances do tend to age you prematurely, so her mom definitely had a point.
She doesn't expose herself to too much sun.
"Staying out of the sun," she said on Dr. Oz. "There was a time when I just didn't take any sun at all. I think through my twenties and thirties and it really saved my skin, I think." Find us under an umbrella from now on.
She meditates daily.
She relies on daily positive affirmations and meditation to keep herself centered, even when she's busy. She said that while it's normal for us to have negative thoughts, it's important to redirect your thoughts to be more positive. "Things like these every day, really help redirect me from the beginning of my day, it's hard to do," she said. "Things like that every single day just help you to start off your mind and your day in the right way."
She dances to stay in shape.
“It’s no secret that I love dancing, so it doesn’t even feel like exercise to me. I freestyle dance with Tracy Anderson five times a week," she told People Style in 2016. "We’ll incorporate light weights (3 lbs) for the arms and moves that focus on the butt and thighs and engage the core.”
She's faithful to her skin care regimen.
She says she keeps her skin looking good with "glycolic acid to get that healthy glow and clear skin."
She removes her makeup no matter how tired she is.
She also always removes her makeup at night! "I never go to bed without taking my makeup off, [and I use] night creams to keep my skin hydrated," she told People.
She's a stickler about SPF.
In the daytime, Jen makes sure she always moisturizes her skin with L’Oréal Paris moisturizers which contain SPF. "Every single day," she shared with People. You have to protect your skin.”
She keeps fruits & veggies close by.
Eating a balanced diet has surely helped her not only keep her figure in check, but her skin as well. "I think drinking lots of water and fresh foods with lots of fruits and vegetables (I keep [them] with me at all time) all play into the quality of skin’s appearance,” she revealed to People.
Jen reminds herself that she's timeless.
She told Harper's Bazaar in 2018 that she repeats the phrase "I am youthful and timeless at every age," throughout the day. "It sounds like clichéd bulls–t," she said. "But it's not: Age is all in your mind. Look at Jane Fonda."
It's also has a lot to do with genetics.
Who are we kidding? J. Lo is Puerto Rican and her genes have a lot to do with how great she's aging. Just look at this selfie alongside her mom. They both look stunning, because their beauty is timeless.
She never skips a workout & it shows.
J. Lo shared that she works out at least five times a week to stay in shape and to be healthy in mind, body and spirit–despite her hectic work schedule. "Sometimes I work too late the night before and I'm like, 'Ugh, I can't do this,'" she said to Us Weekly. "But I tell myself, 'Just do it. It's only an hour.' It's just talking yourself off the ledge of being a lazy bum."
