by Jennifer Lopez is renowned for her age-defying physique and incredible dance moves. At 50 years old, she has the body of someone half her age! Her secret? A rigorous fitness routine and impeccable diet. Lopez takes health and wellness very seriously, and she underwent intense training to get into stripper-shape for her acclaimed role in 2019’s Hustlers.
To morph into her character Ramona, Lopez had to sport a super lean, ultra-toned physique. She worked closely with celebrity trainer Dodd Romero to whip her into shape. Romero revealed Lopez followed a strict “no-carb, no-sugar” diet for 10 days before filming commenced, to help her lose those final few pounds and look her absolute best on screen.
“We had to get her really lean,” Romero explained to Us Weekly. “She was already in great shape, but we had to take it to the next level.”
In addition to cutting out all carbs and sugar, Lopez put in two grueling hours at the gym six days a week. Her workouts focused on dance, cardio and strength training to sculpt and define her enviable abs, arms, legs and booty. With laser-focus and sheer determination, she completely transformed her physique in just over a week.
“She was working out six days a week, two hours a day,” Romero revealed. “It was a lot of work, but she was dedicated to getting the results she wanted.”
And her results were absolutely jaw-dropping. Lopez looked fierce and phenomenal in her nude bodysuit alongside co-stars Constance Wu, Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart and Cardi B. Her flawless physique was reminiscent of her early days as a Fly Girl dancer on In Living Color. Age has certainly not slowed down this quintessential triple threat.
At 50, Lopez could easily pass for a woman half her age. So what’s her fountain of youth secret? Discipline, hard work, and dedication. She stays active with dance, Pilates, circuit training, cardio, yoga and strength training. She emphasizes the importance of variety to shock the muscles and avoid plateaus. Lopez switches up her workouts to keep challenging her body.
According to her trainers, some of Lopez’s go-to moves include plank variations, bear crawls, crab walks, sled pushes and pull ups to target her core, glutes, back and arms. She incorporates a lot of plyometric exercises like burpees, jump squats and lateral bounds to boost her cardio, agility and endurance. Lopez maintains her flexibility through routines focused on Pilates and yoga.
While she amped up her workout regimen before filming Hustlers, Lopez stays active year-round. She trains almost every day when she’s not on set. Even on vacation she squeezes in exercise by taking beach runs or hitting the hotel gym.
“I don’t like to take a lot of time off from exercising because my body goes soft and I don’t like that feeling,” Lopez confessed to Hello! magazine. “I like to keep my muscle tone up.”
When getting in shape for a role, Lopez works closely with trainers to design targeted programs. “When I’m preparing for a movie, I work out three to four hours a day because if I’m going to be naked on screen, I want to look my best,” she revealed to Cosmopolitan.
Romero noted that Lopez was already very fit before undergoing her 10-day shred for Hustlers. But they wanted to take her physique to an extremely defined level befitting of a stripper. Hence the no-carb, no-sugar nutrition plan.
Restricting carbohydrates and sugar forces your body to burn fat for fuel. Glycogen (carb) stores get depleted, and the body turns to using stored fat for energy. This metabolic state is called ketosis. It causes rapid weight loss, especially in the first week or two of very low carb intake.
Does this mean Lopez cut out ALL carbs and sugar for 10 days straight? Not exactly. An extreme carb restriction would make training intensely very difficult. Romero likely adjusted Lopez’s regular diet by limiting carb and sugar intake to under 50 grams per day. This would allow her to maintain energy for demanding workouts while still burning fat.
A sample day of Lopez’s diet may have looked like:
Breakfast: 3 eggs, 1/4 avocado, salsa Lunch: 4-6 oz grilled chicken, veggies, olive oil, vinegar Dinner: 6 oz salmon, spinach salad, balsamic dressing Snacks: 1-2 oz nuts, Greek yogurt
As her body adjusted, Lopez likely began following a cyclic ketogenic diet. This allowed her to refuel with carbs around more strenuous training sessions. Then she would return to the 50 gram carb limit on non-workout days.
Following a keto diet jumpstarts fat burning while preserving lean muscle mass. It puts the body into an optimal state for getting shredded. Some athletes use keto dieting to drop weight before competitions. By showtime, they are super defined after shedding water and fat weight.
But keto diets must be followed carefully to avoid side effects like fatigue. Lopez likely worked with nutritionists to create a customized plan that allowed her to stay energized. Still, restricting carbs and sugar for over a week required major willpower.
Lopez has said she avoids sugars and fills up on healthy fats like avocado to regulate her blood sugar and stay satisfied. But preparing for Hustlers required extra discipline and meal prep.
“For Hustlers, it was all about getting lean,” shared Romero. “We stuck to lighter weights and did a lot of band work because we didn’t bulk up – it was about tightening.”
Romero incorporated resistance bands into Lopez’s workouts to target smaller supporting muscles for definition. He gave her lighter dumbbells for higher rep sets to sculpt without bulking up. Lopez focused on high-rep dance cardio routines set to music to enhance her endurance.
The result was shredded, long and lean muscles perfect for a stripper character. Lopez wowed audiences with her physical transformation for the role. At 50, her body rivaled co-star Cardi B’s at just 27 years old!
After filming wrapped, Lopez likely returned to a more balanced diet with healthy carbs and treats here and there. While she doesn’t restrict sugars and carbs long-term, Lopez emphasizes whole foods and nutrient density to nourish her body.
So what are Lopez’s dietary staples when she’s not prepping for nude scenes? Along with protein and veggies, she loads up on healthy fats.
“I like pork chops with cilantro-lime sauce, or a cheeseburger every now and then,” she told Hello! “I’m a very social eater. If I’m going to sit, have a drink and chat, I want some crispy, salty chips and guacamole.”
Lopez confessed she also has a weakness for chocolate chip cookies: “My guilty pleasure is chocolate chip cookies. That’s my ice cream.”
Other diet secrets? Starting the day right with a nutritious breakfast. Lopez often has egg whites with veggies for a protein-packed start. She also emphasizes hydration: “Drinking plenty of water, especially before a workout, can help you push harder and get more out of your exercise routine,” she advised Cosmo.
Lopez enjoys treats in moderation and balances indulgences with nutrient-dense whole foods. Her diet contains plenty of quality proteins, healthy fats and colorful veggies. She credits portion control and regular workouts for allowing her to stay fit in her 50s.
Of course, Lopez’s age-reversing regimen goes beyond just fitness and nutrition. The star also prioritizes self-care through adequate sleep, stress management and beauty treatments.
“Sleep to me is so important,” she told People. “I think sometimes we underestimate how important a good night’s rest is and how that can affect how you look and feel, your attitude.”
Lopez aims for 8-10 hours per night. She decompresses through activities like meditation, aromatherapy and yoga. She cares for her skin with masks and moisturizers. Lopez even avoids direct sunlight to maintain her youthful glow.
By making health and wellness a top priority, Jennifer Lopez continues to shine in her 50s. She blew audiences away with her ripped physique in Hustlers through strict diet and exercise. Her commitment to fitness and clean eating keeps her looking and feeling decades younger. Lopez is an inspiration to us all!
At 50 years old, she exemplifies that age is just a number. With dedication and self-care, women can achieve a fit, fabulous physique at any age. Lopez’s motivation and work ethic are unmatched. She earned her Hustlers stripper bod through sheer determination and laser focus.
Lopez is proof that a rockin’ revenge body has no expiration date! She shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The dynamic diva continues to wow onscreen, onstage and on the red carpet. With her flawless looks and boundless energy, Lopez appears primed for another 50 years in the spotlight.
