10 Celebs Who Prove Lifting Weights Changed Their Bodies Forever
Many celebrities like Victoria Beckham and Meghan Trainor include strength training in their regular fitness regimen, and their totally sculpted figures are oh-so telling. Strength training is one of the most popular forms of exercise out there—and for good reason. Not only does it help to make your muscles more defined, but lifting weights brings on a plethora of amazing health benefits. It can help to lose weight, minimize chronic health conditions, and keep your body young and independent.
Weights are truly a golden addition to anyone's workout routine, and here are 10 celebs who prove that lifting weights changed their bodies forever.
1. Victoria Beckham
The fashion icon and former Spice Girl is a big fan of lifting weights.
Victoria revealed in an interview with Grazia, "I've always been a bit scared of weights, but it turns out I love them. I've even got those special gloves to wear! It's good to switch things up and keep your body guessing. I've got so much more muscle tone now."
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2. Kate Upton
One way Kate Upton maintains her swimsuit model figure? By adding weights to her regimen. Kate shared this video on Instagram of herself doing barbell hip thrusts with a resistance band around her ankles. She revealed in the caption that she was lifting 225 pounds.
Kate's trainer, Ben Bruno, told PEOPLE that when Kate was training last year for the 60th anniversary cover of Sports Illustrated, she was incredibly dedicated. "Training wise, she pushes herself very hard, but she's also great about listening to her body and not overdoing it," he said.
3. Meghan Trainor
After having her two children, singer Meghan Trainor decided to pick up the weights. She talked about this in an interview with Hoda Kotb on The Today Show, as reported by Women's Health.
"I try to go three times a week of lifting weights. I didn't know lifting weights would change my life so much," Meghan said.
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4. Hoda Kotb
In the same interview with Meghan Trainor, as reported by Women's Health, Hoda Kotb talked about her love of weightlifting and how it has helped her.
"Weights give you more energy later. I think when you run you get more adrenaline, but when you lift weights, you're like, 'wow,'" she said.
5. Ashley Graham
Model Ashley Graham is a big fan of strength training. She posted this video on Instagram of herself doing a deadlift at the gym. Ashley captioned it, "HEX DEADLIFT 135lbs + resistance bands || leggings @k.deer."
Her trainer, Shannon Decker, told Cosmopolitan that weights are a big part of Ashley's workout routine. "Ashley is very fit and athletic, I love to program a combination of weight training, cardio and mobility, with a focus on core to maintain her current frame," she said.
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6. Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria shared some of her favorite ways to stay in shape in an interview with Women's Health. She revealed that she loves lifting weights.
"I do very heavy weights. I feel like my body changes the most when I do that—I wear a heart rate monitor, and I can see my heart rate spike from just doing a heavy bicep curl," Eva shared.
7. Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union is a major advocate for strength training. She shared some of her favorite exercises in this Instagram video. In the caption, Gabrielle revealed that she turned to weights to film the movie for Being Mary Jane.
She wrote, "Tomorrow will be the 1st day of filming for the series finale movie of #BeingMaryJane I wanted to approach this opportunity with fresh eyes and an open heart. I wanted different for Mary Jane and realized I had to make different decisions for myself. In order to give my all to Mary Jane, I had to give my all in my own life. I wanted different, better, more… so I proceeded to do exactly that…different shit for a different outcome and damnit do I feel golden."
In the video, Gabrielle performs barbell back squats and squats to presses.
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8. Frankie Bridge
Singer and TV host Frankie Bridge talked about how she got into shape using weights and the positive impact it had on her well-being with Cosmopolitan.
"A lot of people I knew did it and I've heard a lot about it burning fat and being good for toning, so I've started doing that with a new trainer. I really like it. My bum and my legs just weren't changing before I started weight training, but now I have noticed a difference [from squatting with free weights] quite quickly," she said.
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9. Beyonce
Beyonce is a big fan of using weights in her workouts.
"I'll put on a song that I really like and do [biceps curls with] five-pound weights [for] the whole song and just try to burn out," she told Self, as reported by Harper's Bazaar. "The truth is, it's a lot of sacrifice. It's more about your mental strength than physical strength. You have to push yourself. It doesn't matter what trainer you have. And it doesn't matter what program you're on. You have to be healthy and make the right choices."
10. Millie Mackintosh
Reality star Millie Mackintosh told Women's Health that she works out first thing in the morning. Sometimes, that means hitting the weights.
"I like to get it done—if I say I'm going to exercise later in the afternoon or in the evening, I'll never do it," she said. "Either I might go for a run or I might do some strength training with my trainer."
