Hands up who wants a body like J Law? Yep, us too.
When Jennifer Lawrence needed to get in shape for her role as Mystique in X-Men: First Class, she turned to celebrity trainer Dalton Wong. Wong not only taught her valuable lessons which allowed her to change her body, but he also guided her into a healthier, more vital lifestyle. Of course, when Wong needed someone to write the foreword for his new book The Feelgood Plan: Happier, Healthier & Slimmer In 15 Minutes A Day, it makes sense the first person he turned to was Jen.
Lawrence writes: “[Wong] changed my body for that movie but gave me the skills to change my life. We remain good friends; when I’m in London I love to train in his gym, then afterwards we go out for burgers and fries with his family. It’s all about balance.”
We love the sound of exercise with a side of fries… So when Wong divulged some of his tips to Cosmopolitan, we were all ears:
1. Stay hydrated. Keeping your body hydrated is the first step towards being able to perform at your best both physically and mentally. Wong says: “You don’t have to slam back water all the time, but you have to sip water throughout the day.”
2. Control your portions. Sticking to a super strict diet every minute of the day doesn’t necessarily equate to a happy, healthy lifestyle. In fact, depriving yourself of the things you enjoy is possibly the fastest way to misery. Moderation is key – if you eat a nutritionally-balanced diet most of the time, there’s no harm in indulging in a burger every so often. J Law concurs: “I could never live on a diet,'” she writes in the foreword for Wong’s book.
3. Get enough sleep. It goes without saying, but getting enough sleep will make all the difference to your energy levels which in turn will impact your mood, your exercise routine and your metabolism. Wong’s advice to Lawrence: “I’ve always told her that when you’re traveling and you arrive somewhere and you’re really fatigued, have a power nap,” Dalton says. “Relax. Let your body recharge. Try not to burn the candle at both ends.”
4. Eat chocolate. This one we like… If you are craving something sweet, curb it but control it. Says Wong: “One thing I said she could have occasionally, but not all the time, was 75 percent dark chocolate. 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.”
5. Work on your posture. If you have good posture, it will automatically make you look better. Wong had Lawrence practice the “T-bird”:
Bend your knees slightly with your knees over your ankles and your hips pushed back.
With your back straight, let your arms hang down and turn your thumbs out.
Raise your arms to create a T-shape with your body.
Squeeze between your shoulder blades and keep your core engaged.
Perform the move for 1 minute.
6. Have fun. It’s not exactly rocket science, but when you enjoy doing something, you’re usually going to want to do more of it. So like other aspects of your life, make sure your exercise routine is something you like doing. Wong says: “Whether it’s a sport or a gym class, you need to like what you’re doing so it doesn’t feel like exercise.”
7. Don’t forget to breathe. Taking a few minutes of your day to meditate or take a couple of breaths can do wonders for your concentration and stress levels. Wong suggests taking deep breaths from the diaphragm to reduce stress instantly. “Inhale through the nose, filling your lower belly, lower rib cage, then up through your chest and throat,” he writes in his book. “Exhale through the nose for a count of three.”
8. It’s all about balance. The best way to live a vital, happy life is to create balance in everything you do. Work hard, but take time to enjoy yourself, too. Wong says of Lawrence: “Ever since I’ve known her, she has been really hardworking. 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. When you put all those things together, you become a very balanced person. She’s also really committed to her career, and that’s what makes her such a wonderful role model and actor.”
