Jennifer Aniston can go months without giving any interviews, then suddenly she’ll give three in a week and all of them are about her side-projects and endorsement deals, like Living Proof or Aveeno or SmartWater. This is one of those interviews – she spoke to Well and Good and it’s a “Day In the Life” piece, which… I actually enjoy when celebrities do those kinds of pieces. I want to know when they wake up and how they wash their face and what they eat for breakfast. And this Well and Good piece is only about how Aniston spends her mornings (told in first-person, like they transcribed what she told them):
If I’m working, I’m up at 4:30, 5 a.m. If not, between 8 and 9 a.m., because I’m a late-night person—I putter. But usually when I wake up, I’ll make my standard cup of hot water with a slice of lemon in there.
Then I wash my face—my whole face regime is just soap and water to wake myself up, then some sort of Aveeno daily moisturizer that’s got SPF in it. It’s quick. I never linger too long anywhere, to be honest; things need to be as easy as possible [for me]. And when I’m on a movie I don’t have time to be leisurely, so then my whole routine gets sped up.
There’s usually some sort of meditation at that point. Usually 20 minutes, or 10 if I can’t get the full amount of time in. It’s a set [Transcendental Meditation mantra] that I do every time.
Then we have some breakfast. Usually I’ll have a shake, with some sort of pure protein, then bananas, blueberries, frozen cherries, stevia, a vegetable mix of dynamic greens that goes in there, maca powder, and a little cacao. There’s a collagen peptide that I’ve been loving—I’ve been seeing a difference! My nails are stronger and there’s a healthier… how do you explain it? A glow. It’s sort of that working from the inside-out thing.
If I don’t have a shake, I’ll just have some toast and poached eggs with some avocado. Or millet cereal with almond milk and bananas—it’s really yummy, and you can get it hot for winter months.
Then I’ll go do a workout of some sort. I have a trainer, a wonderful woman who I do this spin-yoga class [with]. We spin for half an hour, and then do yoga for 40 minutes. That’s pretty intense. Then I go to a gym, where I do strength training or just my own thing on the treadmill, the bike, or the elliptical, just to change things up. Keeping your body confused is always the key for me.
The treadmill can be hard! If I’m watching television I can’t run, because I have to focus on what I’m listening to. [So] it’s usually music. And it’s really good to get sprints in, to get in that interval training, because it’s monotonous to do one pace. The whole time your body goes, “I know what’s happening…” It’s good to pump it up and then take it down.
Yet another person who works out early in the morning. I just don’t know how you people do it. I’ve been changing my weekend routine a bit this month, and I’ve been going to gym early Saturday mornings and it has been – no joke – KILLING me, just to do an early-morning workout once a week (and work out as normal in the afternoons throughout the week). While the early morning workouts go by quickly enough (that’s nice, truly), I’m really not in the mood to work out first thing, and I end up feeling tired throughout the day. And not only does Aniston believe in morning workouts, she does two-to-three workouts! Spin, yoga AND something else on top of that. That’s like a solid two hours every morning, right?
As for her breakfast, meditation and face-washing… that sounds normal enough to me. I need about ten minutes of quiet in the morning too, but I don’t call it meditation. And I just do soap and water in the morning too (no Aveeno!).
Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.
Clearly one of them is not the crossword puzzle.
I workout half an hour after my breakfast. I am a morning person in general. If I do it after work there is a big chance of skipping it.
Same here. Once the day gets going, it’s too easy to let it slide. I used to work out after work and it was a struggle every single day.
I’m the same. If it doesn’t happen before noon, it’s not going to happen.
After 36 years on this planet i have finally found out what works best for me.
2 months ago I bought myself a yoga mat and I now workout every other day of the week at home.
I save myself so much time, money and energy that I don’t know how i haven’t come to this conclusion any sooner!! I also watch something on tv while I do it and i don’t find exercising so exhausting any more.
Ok, maybe an ignorant question here, and I swear I’m not trying to be snarky. But is yoga really considered a “workout”? I ask because I took a yoga class with a friend who really, really loves it and convinced me to try it. I did it 3x a week for one month. But to me it just seemed like a stretching routine that one would do after a workout. I never felt my heart rate go up or worked up a sweat or anything. Maybe there are different kinds of yoga?
There are some kinds of yoga where you sweat your ass off but I don’t do that on my own. I usually start with the sun salutes to warm up the muscles and then i do weights, squats, crunches and a lot more than just yoga.
I have bought an elastic band and it is amazing what you can do with it. I felt the difference in only 2 weeks. Squats and jumps with the elastic band work twice as much.
Then in the end i do some yoga positions to stretch the muscles and I’m good to go.
I used to spend hours in the gym trying to find the perfect workout and use all the machines but at home I do almost everything and without queues.
I’m loving it 🙂
There are many different types of yoga; what you were doing sounds like yin yoga. I do either Bikram or heated power yoga, and that is all I do besides taking walks or hiking. I still get sore after a particularly intense session, and I’ve been doing it for years, 4 x a week.
Morning meditation=wake n bake
Hahahaha yes that’s her all right.
EasyPeasy123: Best comment ever!!! The fact that you called it that makes me think you would know *winky face
I like to smoke one mid-cardio as the music is so much more intense and I feel like I’m invincible!! Plus, it’s my reward and the endorphin rush is incredible…
when I DID work out, I had a friend introduce me to the “workout while high” thing…it actually did make the workout go more quickly, and (shockingly) did not make me lower the intensity of my workout.
plus, singing along with whatever I was listening to was more fun, too!
Lol truth. It really makes my workouts better
i work out at 6:15 three mornings a week and 10am on the weekend. the early AM workouts are a struggle for me. i use a heart rate monitor and there is a HUGE difference between my total output on the 6:15 days and on the 10am days even though the workouts are the same intensity (it is a class). i just can’t push as hard right when i wake up – but – its better than nothing at all!
I like that she is admitting a lot of exercise and discipline goes into looking that fit.
Me too! I can have a solid workout in the afternoon or evening ( or late morning). But early morning workouts do nothing for me.
I like it, too, Lizzie. At her age, she probably needs to work out that much to stay fit, so good for her for admitting it. (By the way, I’m her age and quickly finding out that what used to work doesn’t work as well anymore and that I need more, more and more…)
If I didn’t have kids, my morning would probably be pretty similar. As it is, I can fit a few of those things in… I recently switched my face routine from using loads of organic products to using only micellar water – it has been a huge difference not only in my routine but also in my skin! I was getting reactions to my products and my 13 year old was getting little breakouts. About two months ago we switched to only using micellar water on our faces – no treatments, no traditional washing, no scrubbing – and we’re getting compliments on our skin now, which is a first for me!
It was crazy scary at first, but it was totally worth it. I’m all about streamlining these days, lol!
I had never heard of micellar water until you mentioned it, GiGi. Would love to try it–do you mind sharing which brand you use?
I use the Simple brand – mainly because it’s inexpensive and easily available. When I was trying it for the first time, I was basically at my wits end. My skin is very sensitive and almost anything I put on it was breaking me out. I had flakiness and had been told you MUST exfoliate every day, but nothing was working.
So when I started using the micellar water, I was really nervous about what might happen. But now, after a month (although I saw improvements probably after 2 weeks), my skin is clear and glowy and, well, skin – like. More sturdy seeming, if that makes sense? I can wear makeup now and my skin doesn’t react poorly.
I just use it on a cotton round in the morning and then at night – using until all traces of makeup are gone and the cotton pad comes away clean. I no longer feel the need to even put moisturizer or any other kind of treatment on my skin – it’s just balanced itself. I wouldn’t have believed it possible if I hadn’t tried it!
I use micellar water too, but I’m not as crazy about it. I use “Simple” brand liquid, and I have the wipes for late night makeup removal. I usually add extra “water” to the wipes and use that to remove makeup. Then, I use a cleanser with my clarisonic and use a a nice night cream. I have sensitive skin, so I don’t wash my face in the mornings.
I second micellar water! I have wipes on hand at home and at work
I’ve never heard of micellar water, but will check it out. I break out very easily too.
I wish I could get my act together to work out in the morning. I always get distracted by other stuff or don’t get up in time.
I don’t wash my face in the morning, too drying. Just rinse then moisturizer/sunscreen. Fast! If she’s waking up at 8/9, and working out after breakfast, her workout’s not happening until 10ish. That, for me, would be a great schedule. But, you know, work. I wonder how she fits in her workouts when she’s on set.
Recently I’ve been reading a lot about how you really don’t have to wash your face in the AM and that it’s probably better for your skin not to.
In the AM I just use a bit of rose water on a cotton ball to clear the previous night’s products off and put on my Vit C serum and a layer of Bioelements over that.
I want to do the morning work outs so I can be free in the evening to enjoy myself and I do work out first thing on weekends but week days I just can’t get myself up and to the gym. I do think you get in better shape and lose more weight if you do but I am not a morning person.
Morning workouts are the only way I get them in. Things will just pile on top of one another during the day and I’ve now established a firm boundary with my job in the mornings. Took only a couple of times showing up sweating and generally being disgusting giving zero efs about it for them not to bother me unless it’s a true emergency.
+1 I used to exercise at night when the kids went to bed. It was nice not to be interrupted. But then they realized I was doing this eventually, and refused to sleep or woke up crying looking for me (they’re little), so now I do it in the morning when they’re awake. I don’t like the 500 interruptions (and I do try to get them their snacks and activities to keep them busy but they inevitably need me anyway), but it’s nice to get it over with and not think about it after that.
If I didn’t have kids and a 40-hour/week job, gah, I would work out like she does. As it is, I kill myself to get to the gym at 5:30am a couple days a week and then a couple afternoons where I feel guilty for not being with my kids. Since having children, my workout has become so much more emotionally necessary! I’m still a fat-ass ‘cuz I love to eat (oh, for a personal chef like Oprah!), just a really healthy one.
I was hoping somebody would mention this. I’m happy for her that she has all the time and money in the world and can hire a personal trainer and then go to the gym. But what else would she be doing? She needs to look good and she does, but it’s not an average life.
I’m up at 6am or earlier anyway, so I love morning workouts. I get my cardio & lifting done, then I’ve got tons of energy for the rest of the day.
I do think you have to do what works for you and your life though – who cares when you do it, as long as you’re doing it. 🙂
I’ve stopped fighting it–I’m a mid-morning workout person. But during the school year, of course, I can’t do that. I’m at a school with really early hours, so I can usually get to the gym by 3:30 or 4. That works for me.
But during the summer? 9 am is perfect. I also don’t understand how people can wake up super early and work out. I’ve tried and tried to do that.
Yes, it’s better this thread evolve into what real women posters here do, NOT Aniston.
As we all know Aniston and her so-called regimes, are full of ish:
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE? She’s smoked for almost 30 years, I read. Many say she still does – it’s more than likely she probably just can’t get caught in public contractually because of her ‘healthy’ ad deals, which would hurt the brands.
HAIR CARE? On numerous occasions she (and her stylist) claimed she regular uses damaging extensions and I think even chemical straighteners FOR YEARS…something not found in a living proof shampoo bottle.
SKIN CARE? Admitted to fillers and botox.Again something you can’t get in an aveeno bottle. Caught way too many times by papz coming out of clinics that do cosmetic procedures. Also, she was voted one time champ of ‘worst skin in HD,’ so no.
DIET: She’s tried them all even she said I read, came to prominence being a nutrisystem pitch woman on Howard stern, has been called a fan of a male hormone shot and some sort of baby food diet. Notoriously at the same salad for lunch on the friends set it’s been printed. Do I think exercise is probably where most of her truth lies, sure- she seems the obsessive type about her weight, and image period… so I believe that…she probably does ‘hate-workouts.’
I use soap and water, then jojoba oil on my face in the morning. I try to eat good breakfast like her when I got time. But my lazy ass never workout. I walk a lot though.
I tried to do morning workouts and I will never be able to make that part of my regular routine. I go to the gym after work, and even though it’s a struggle to stay motivated, I am much more likely to go regularly in the evening. I’ve discovered that it’s best for me not to even go home because once I’m home I don’t want to get off the couch. Going to dinner then the gym right after work gives me enough time to do a full workout with a combination of elliptical, bicycle, treadmill, weight lifting, and vibration training for my muscles.
Three workouts a day? Well, since she and her husband are apart for weeks on end, she has plenty of time to kill…
BTW, that’s a mighty attractive photo!
I’m going to get killed for saying this, but seriously, she doesn’t look like she gets three work-outs per day in. I find it hard to believe she works out every day period – even one work-out. don’t get me wrong, she is built just fine, but I would think somebody who follows the regime she claims to, would be skinny AF but she is not. She’s just normal-thin or whatever.
Honestly, the regime she’s listed just isn’t that intense (though I’ll probably get in trouble for saying so). Basically a short spin class, some yoga, and some weights. Nothing crazy.
She’s like 45 though and believe it is hard to fight the fat in your 40s, especially when you are naturally a curvier woman
It’s not an intense regime or anything. Just a maintenance routine. A bit of running on the treadmill, a bit of yoga, a bit of weights. So cardio, stretching, strength. You’d have to do all 3 things in a very intense way to see huge results on an already slim body eg. a HIIT routine on the treadmill, advanced Bikram yoga, and proper weight training.
@JenniferJustice I think she actually eats, unlike 30% of HW – though of course no carbs and chain smokes to settle cravings – so I believe she gets this many workouts.
I saw her ultra-cheesy strip tease scene from We Are the Millers. She’s got an INSANE body. Not overly muscular but toned and proportioned.
I do a running commute to/from work and I take a class at lunch– I might do a weight-training class and other days I do Tabata or another bootcamp-style class.
Re: early morning workouts. Kaiser, if that’s your only option to work out, you *will* get used to it. Give it time, it took my body about 8 weeks to adjust. Hang in there!
I need to actively lose weight but I just do not have the time to work out at all. Between college and preparing for other exams all I get is like 10 minute intervals from tiem to time to come online and even on weekends i am so tired from the week I just sleep. I will join a swimming class in April. Hope it helps.
swimming is an excellent way to exercise…all of the aerobic benefits and none of the stress on your joints (like running or an aerobics class will do)… not just LOW impact, like biking, but NO impact. still works all your muscles, too! good luck!
Agreed doofus. I lost a bunch of weight by swimming 4 mornings a week. I felt energized but also refreshed and not a sweaty mess haha.
Brand ambassador for Aveeno uses aveeno every morning
I work out at 9, after I drop the kids at school. I can’t exercise after I’ve eaten a meal, so I prefer working out in the morning on an empty stomach. On weekends, I won’t go to the gym past 8:30 because it gets crowded. I really admire people who work out after work. I could never have done that because I would be exhausted.
I ride my bike to work so that takes care of the morning work out- it’s 16 k and I change clothes at work. It’s a great way to wake up and it helps put everything into perspective.
Zzzzzzz… why is this has-been EVER in the news?
Does this woman ever talk about anything of relevance? She and goop same thing everyday. Me & my lifestyle!!!. What about everything in the news? or woman’rights or lack of? Just skincare,diet & exercise. You can’t blame the interviewer because it’s fact that these two & their bulldog publicist organise who they speak to & what about.
In her defense, it’s a lifestyle/wellness magazine interviewing her, so that’s what the questions are about. She didn’t have to do the interview, though.
Ugh. I could not finish this except. Does she ever talk about anything else apart from her self? Meaning herself being reduced to workouts, and beauty routines, and diets.
It’s for a site called Well and Good. What else would she be talking about?
She’s good at her workouts but it’s true, her interviews are usually a snooze. She’s a nice woman and I’d be friends if she lived next door though.
I’m definitely not a morning person – I’m a late night owl ever since I can remember. The earliest I can work out is 7:00am and that’s to do Pilates, no jumping or major sweating. If I have to do anything that’s remotely physically challenging, like riding a bike, then it has to be after work. There is no way I can wake up at 4:30am to exercise. I can wake up at 4:30am to have coffee and read but couldn’t even do a jumping jack without either wanting to punch someone or pulling some muscle.
I had to wear a bridesmaid’s dress just like the pale blue one at the top. It definitely cost less than 200$, but it didn’t have that horrible scar-looking seam down the front that looks like it was sewn by a four year old.
It also covered the sides of my breasts.
Gah on her style.
What this mainly says, is she has a lot of free time.
I used to have a lot of sympathy for Jennifer when she was going through the break up with Brad, but recently she has started to irritate me more and more. All she seems to talk about is her beauty and work out routine, and it just sounds so shallow and boring.
I find people describing breakfast to be especially boring.
I seriously doubt she actually uses aveeno products