Celebrities are known for having interesting, sometimes weird, diet and exercise routines. With so much Black Excellence on screen lately, it’s hard not to admire the hard work these stars have put into their wellness journeys. So, if you’re looking to get those Angela Bassett’s arms, or Michael B. Jordan’s abs, it takes an impressive will power. To give you a headstart on your own fitness goals, there are Black stars’ most memorable diet and exercise routines.
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Michael B. Jordan
Michael B. Jordan’s “Creed III” personal trainer told The Root that they had to change up the normal routine because he was directing the film. This time around they stuck to smaller workouts throughout the day so the actor could be more present mentally and physically.
Angela Bassett
The Queen of Wakanda likes to keep her diet tight by eating clean 85 percent of the time. She rotates her week between carbs and vegetables, skips fat for the first four days, then floods her diet with good fat for the other three. She also doesn’t do dairy or bread flour.
Usher
The singer told the Wall Street Journal he starts his day with celery juice, but likes to get in a walk or yoga before he has breakfast. He also fasts on Wednesdays, sticking with water all day.
“I fast on Wednesdays. I typically try to start around 11 p.m. the previous day, then go the entire day on Wednesday just drinking water,” he said.
Clearly this is all working for the 45 year-old.
Viola Davis
To become General Nanisca for “The Woman King,” the EGOT winner did an hour and a half of weight training every day, along with three hours of martial arts and extensive weapons training, She told Jimmy Fallon that doing all this—including 10.0 on the treadmill—at 56 nearly killed her. Considering how unforgettable and spectacular the film is, it was totally worth it, as the Agojie warriors gave us our whole life in that movie.
Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s workouts are legendary. However, it’s his cheat meals that we need to give him props for. The movie star allows himself to indulge on Sundays, becoming famous for his “Rock Toast.” It’s an over the top french toast recipe that features three four-inch thick slices of fried brioche topped with peanut butter, whipped cream and maple syrup. And did we mention the whipped cream and syrup is sometimes infused with his Teremana tequila. If you’ve seen his workouts, you know The Rock deserves these treats.
Naomi Campbell
You don’t get to be 54-years-old and flawless without taking excellent care of yourself. According to Life & Style, the supermodel has a very strict diet where she generally only eats once a day. She’s also reportedly cut out gluten and dairy.
Halle Berry
Back in 2020, the Oscar winner described her Keto diet to Women’s Health, telling the outlet that she cut out processed carbs and sugar to help her manage her diabetes. She also revealed that she doesn’t eat a “traditional breakfast” and keeps it simple for lunch with a vegetable soup or big salad.
Megan Thee Stallion
Like the rest of us, Meg doesn’t always want to get our of bed, but she knows the difference between being “a stallion and not a pony” is getting her workout in. According to Women’s Health, she balances Pilates with cardio, and also rotates in hip thrusts; goblet squats; leg extensions; weighted sit ups; lat pulldowns; lat flies; and renegade rows.
Jennifer Hudson
J-Hud famously used Weight Watchers tose a significant amount of weight. Nowadays, eats healthy and does interval training to stay in shape.
Gabrielle Union
In an Instagram post showing off her workout, the actress/producer explained that to help her regulate her hormones as she goes through perimenopause she gave up “gluten, dairy, alcohol and caffeine.”
Tracee Ellis Ross
The “American Fiction” actress swears by—or should we say sweats by—the Tracy Anderson Method, which features “30 minutes of muscular structure work and an additional 30 minutes of cardio.”
Kerry Washington
The “UnPrisoned” star is a longtime fan of Pilates, which could definitely be the reason for her always graceful appearance. It’s definitely working for her, because she looks like she hasn’t aged in decades.
50 Cent
Ahead of his Final Lap tour, the rapper/TV producer needed to get himself back to “In Da Club” shape. He did two-a-days leading up to the global tour.
Will Smith
After putting on weight for “King Richard,” then losing a lot of it for “Emancipation,” Will focused on getting fit in his 50s. He wanted to lose 20 pounds in 20 weeks, dropping the “Big Willie Challenge.”
Beyoncé
After seeing how physically taxing her “Renaissance” tour was, it’s no surprise that Queen Bey works her legs, stretches for greater flexibility, cardio and core strength.
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