How Jennifer Lawrence Got Into the Best Shape of Her Life
It's no secret that Jennifer Lawrence had to shapeshift into a killer physique… literally, as Mystique in the X-Men films. But achieving a fit frame doesn't require magically developing supernatural abilities and then assuming another human's form.
Lawrence transformed her own body by following a few simple tips from her former trainer Dalton Wong, who she met on the set of X-Men: First Class. "He changed my body for that movie but gave me the skills to change my life," she penned in the foreword in The Feelgood Plan: Happier, Healthier & Slimmer in 15 Minutes a Day. Find out what her body-slimming secrets are below and then find out how else you can fry flab fast with these 60 Ways To Be Healthier In 60 Seconds Or Less.
Stay Hydrated
Still hungry? Try reaching for a glass of water instead of second helpings. Chances are you're mistaking thirst for hunger. And not to mention, drinking water will help fill you up so you can eat a little less. "You don't have to slam back water all the time, but you have to sip water throughout the day," Wong explained to Cosmopolitan.
Catch Those Zzz's
"I've always told her that when you're travelling and you arrive somewhere and you're really fatigued, have a power nap," Wong advised. In fact, getting enough shut-eye is one of the easiest ways to lose weight. A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that sleep-deprived people gobbled up about 385 more calories per day. "Relax. Let your body recharge. Try not to burn the candle at both ends."
Portion Control Is Key
If you've ever watched an interview with JLaw or just stalked her Facebook feed, you're already aware of the actress' obsession with food. Pizza, fries, fried chicken—she doesn't give any of those noms up, but she does know how to enjoy them in moderation. To keep your portions in check, try adopting the "The Rule of Two" that Wong taught Lawrence next time you eat out. Here's the breakdown: If you're hungry, choose a starter and a main entree. If you're trying to lose weight, order two starters instead of a main. If you have a sweet tooth, order a main and then share a dessert. And if you want to lose weight and are burdened by your sweet tooth, choose just an appetizer and then share a dessert.
Find Your Favorite Workout
"[Exercising is] part of her job but I try to make it fun," Wong said. "Whether it's a sport or a gym class, you need to like what you're doing so it doesn't feel like exercise." How about starting with these 35 Fun Activities That Don't Feel Like Exercise?
Indulge Intelligently
Depriving yourself of your favorite fare isn't going to gift you a one-way ticket to weight loss—but indulging intelligently will. "One thing I said she could have occasionally, but not all the time, was 75 percent dark chocolate," Wong says. "I'd rather give you something you want, like a little bit of dark chocolate, than have you not eat it and crave a whole chocolate bar." Plus, dark chocolate is filled with flavonols that can help reduce your body fat and fight inflammation!
Booze the Right Way
Bottoms up! You can have a drink or two without suffering from a beer belly if you follow Wong's tricks. In his book, he advises choosing ultra brut champagne to cut down on sugar, ordering clear spirits with water-based mixers, sipping organic wines and micro-brewed beer over traditional, and diluting your drinks. Follow these simple swaps and you won't need these 25 Best Foods For A Hangover Cure… or that suffocating shapewear.
De-stress
"She makes sure she does some sort of movement, she eats the correct amount of food, she manages her lifestyle and her stress, and she makes sure she enjoys her life," Wong summed up. De-stressing not only works wonders for your mental health, it also helps you stay svelte. A study published in the journal Obesity revealed that middle-aged people who experienced chronic stress had a significantly higher risk of becoming overweight or obese than their low-stress counterparts, so you may want to put these 20 Ways To Strip Away Stress to good use.
