Fit After 40: Over 40 Stars' Stay-Slim Secrets

Posted on Jun 18th 2010 12:00PM by Holly St. Lifer

Filed Under: Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Fit After 40

Steve Granitz, WireImage.com

If you read this column, it's likely you have a lot in common with Julia Roberts. She's over 40 (42), she's incredibly busy, and she's got a bunch of kids. Her metabolism is slowing just like the rest of ours, and after two pregnancies, her shape doesn't bounce back as fast as it might have a decade ago. Still, she's got a body a 30-year-old would kill for.

To find out how she does it, I spoke with her trainer, Kathy Kaehler. "Julia likes step aerobics so to modify her workout in her 40s, I ramped up the intensity by adding two-pound dumbbells," she said. "The extra weight pushes her heart to work harder so she burns more calories in the same amount of time -- and the resistance helps maintain muscle in her upper body. It also helps that for all the years I have known Julia, whether I am working with her or not, she finds the time to make exercise a priority."

Upping the sweat factor without adding time, along with a serious commitment to hoisting weights, are Kaehler's two defenses against aging. As soon as 50-year-old Kris Jenner entered menopause, she started gaining belly fat. To slim down the Kardashian sisters' mom, Kaehler switched Jenner's emphasis on cardio to a focus on total body strength training. "At this age, it's not about losing fat as much as rebuilding muscle and bone loss," said the former Today Show fitness correspondent. "Cardio is still important -- think 20 minutes of high intensity bouts almost every day. But strength training three times a week is the real priority as you age."

Kaehler also works with 57-year-old eternal bombshell Kim Basinger. "Her challenge is a little different -- sometimes she can overdo her commitment to exercise, and that's not always a good thing," said Kaehler. "She's determined to stick to her routine and she can be too hard on herself, both of which can lead to burnout and the risk of overuse injury. She needs to be reminded that a rest and recovery day is actually part of the process. She's the same with her nutrition plan. I often tell her it's okay to indulge, it's not going to derail you!" (The trainer's favorite indulgence: The new low-cal Breyers Smooth & Dreamy bars and sandwiches.)

Looking for more over-40 stay slim secrets? See what you think of 46-year-old Marisa Tomei's latest fitness DVD.

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Tags: celebrity fitness, fit-after-40, healthy aging, julia roberts, Kathy Kaehler, Kim Basinger, kris jenner, marisa tomei, over 40

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

RM 6-20-2010 @ 9:11PM

SHE MIGHT BE BEAUTIFUL ON THE OUT SIDE, BUT SHE'S UGLY ON THE IN SIDE SHE HAS A VOCABULARY TO MATCH IT TO0!

Derick Sapien 6-20-2010 @ 9:25PM

What a Friggin bitchy thing to say. Talk about ugly on the inside....

whynotmehere 7-04-2010 @ 11:00PM

dfgdgdf

lisajayne 7-14-2010 @ 12:27PM

I think Julia is an outstanding actress, I admire the fact that after 40 and after children she still takes the time to take care of herself.

SuckBalls 6-20-2010 @ 8:52PM

How does Julia Roberts stay slim at 42.....its real easy SHES A FRICKIN MILLIONAIRE!!!!!!!! For all us working fools we dont have the time or energy to work out, why? because were working

ljsurf322 6-20-2010 @ 11:38PM

So you think that everyone who works must be fat, eh? If you are really serious about being fit, it doesn't matter - you MAKE time to work out, you do the research, and you eat the right things. Excuses never got anyone anywhere!

Randall 6-20-2010 @ 9:41PM

If Julia's 42, I'm the king of Siam... add 10 years to that and you'll be close

Abbie 6-20-2010 @ 9:49PM

She's a freakin druggy - that's probably why she's a rail - all night raves. Also, she was 42 about 5 years ago - when will she quit lying and fess up to the true age??

Hugh Jassol 6-20-2010 @ 10:38PM

How does Julia stay so slim at 42? Let's see: What did you have for breakfast, Julia? Some Evian water. What did you have for lunch Julia? Some Evian water. What did you have for dinner, Julia? Some Evian water and a cracker. When are you going to die, Julia? Pretty soon, I guess. But I'll make a good looking corpse.

W. Cuff 6-20-2010 @ 10:42PM

That's nothing my wife is about to be fifty three and she looks a lot better than Julia Roberts, no brag, just fact.

Joanne Leon 7-14-2010 @ 1:53PM

I'm 52 and would like to lose weight. Of course there are several ways to do that but just wanted to know what method being exercise and diet did your wife use to slim down. Thank you.

Lisa 6-20-2010 @ 11:04PM

Whenever an article starts out with what someone's trainer says, I stop reading. Not everyone can afford a gym membership, never mind a trainer! We all know how the rich and famous stay thin -- they pay for it!

ljsurf322 6-20-2010 @ 11:32PM

You and everyone else like you who spew excuses for their fat laziness are absolutely ridiculous. So how much do you have to pay to get your ass outside and go for a run down the street?!? How about to do a little research if you are truly serious about losing weight? You don't NEED a gym, and you don't NEED a trainer! If you don't have the motivation, don't bash those that do!

upurs 6-20-2010 @ 11:17PM

gimme a break at 8 million dollars a movie...staying slim is like changing your mind..!

vicki 6-21-2010 @ 12:00AM

OMG I can't believe how cruel some of you peeps are! Julia is beautiful, talented, caring and very lucky to be in the position she is in due to her constant charity work and donations. Her age, it's NONE of your business. As Thumpers Mother said in Disney's Bambi..."If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all." If she chooses to have a personal trainer to guide and motivate her towards her personal health goals, cudos for her.

rows 6-21-2010 @ 12:32AM

Julia is not lying about her age. I remember her being interviewed by Barbara Walters when she was engaged to Kiefer Sutherland. At the time she said she was 23. I just looked it up. She was scheduled to marry Kiefer in June 1991. Do the math. She is 42.

Dan 6-21-2010 @ 12:33AM

I perfectly agree with the above. All you need is a little discipline, get educated, make exercise a priority and eat healthy (vegetables, fruits, grains, lean meat, low fat milk, the occasional chocolate etc.) It truly does not require much effort or money, just commitment and respect for yourself. I am 44 years old, a very busy physician and a father of three. I do not pay trainers, do not have memberships, and I work longer hours than the average person. And I have maintained the same body weight I had when was in was 18. Remember: all you need is a little knowledge, commitment and discipline. It is not that complicated! Peace!

Patricia 6-21-2010 @ 12:43AM

Vicki, I agree with you. Julia Roberts is a great person, and yes, she is only 42 I have been following her career for a long time.

Don't be so caddy, how many of you look as good as you proclaim to be.

Stop knocking someone you don't even know.

Julie, you are A OK.

lin 6-21-2010 @ 1:01AM

Sure, if I could afford a personal trainer, I could look that good too. Not to mention that she's been doing it for years and was thin to begin with.

nancy rivera 6-21-2010 @ 1:36AM

I read somewhere a description of Julia. It said she was as skinny as a snake. This is good? Look at her and tell me she is slim. No she is skinny, and you have to figure the camera puts on a good 20 pounds.

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