Taraji P. Henson In Workout Gear Lifts Weights

Taraji P. Henson is showing fans and followers what a typical strength-training workout looks like for the actress. Henson shared a video of herself wearing red leggings and a matching tank top, lifting heavy weights at the gym. “She been working @forcefitnessinc,” she captioned the post. “Let’s gooooo🔥🔥🔥🔥😍,” commented Lala Anthony. Henson is 53 and in the best shape of her life—here’s what her fitness and wellness routines look like.

1. Daily Meditation

Henson meditates first thing every morning. “I try to set my mind right,” she told The Cut. “I try to tell myself that no matter what, today is going to be a good day, so when those curve balls come, I’m not taken by surprise. I can tell the days I don’t meditate, because I pop off. Things aggravate me. When you say ‘meditate,’ people think that you’ve got to be like: ‘oooohm oooohm.’ Meditation is just peace. You’re sitting with your thoughts and letting them play out in your mind until there’s total quiet.”

2. Self-Care Sundays

For Henson, Sundays are self-care days. “For me, much of my self-care starts in the bathroom and Sunday is my self-care day—it’s my wash day and my me day,” she told Marie Claire. “I don’t take calls or texts on Sunday. I firmly believe in practicing the act of self-care anytime, anywhere. My rituals range in simplicity: from enjoying a cup of tea and a few minutes of solitude to creating a full at-home spa moment on a Sunday to pamper myself from scalp to toe.”

3. Sleep Health

Shutterstock

Henson prioritizes sleep for health and wellness. “I always take off my makeup, cleanse, and moisturize before bed,” she told Marie Claire. “I also like to brew loose-leaf tea and light a candle. By the time it steeps I’m ready to wind down, and I’ll sip it to help me fall asleep. I try to get plenty of sleep—it’s so important for your wellbeing.”

4. Discipline Over Motivation

Henson isn’t always motivated to go to the gym, but she is disciplined. “I have to get my mind right to work out,” she told The Cut. “I don’t wake up like: ‘Come on, let’s go to the gym, yaaaas!’ No. I have a window, where if I don’t go by a certain time, it’s not happening. It’s from 10 to 12, maybe 1. If I don’t go by then, my mind will shut down and I won’t be able to push myself to go. I know that about me, so I make sure to schedule my training session during that time.”

5. Personal Trainer Sessions

Henson works out with a personal trainer. “I’m not a fitness guru,” she told The Cut. “I like to work out, but I won’t push myself, so I need a trainer to do that. A great week is when I work out four days a week, but I usually keep it at three days a week, minimum. I’m big on weight-training because I’m so small – I need to build up. I love squats. My trainer has me do planks with weights on my back, which strengthens my core. I used to do boxing. It uses every muscle in your body and snatches you like that.”

Actress Taraji P. Henson covered the November edition of Women’s Health, and she looked stunning. “The older you get, the harder it is to get in shape,” she said. It was feeling down during lockdown that motivated her. “I realized I had to do everything I could to feel good, or that depression thing was going to get the best of me.” The Empire star wore a green sweater ensemble, and showed off her figure. Read on to see 5 ways Taraji P. Henson stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

1. She Practices Holistic Health

Henson is a believer of holistic health, and she revealed to Women’s Health that she has a good reason to. In 2015, she experienced a fit of weight loss and vomiting, and a similar episode happened two years later which resulted in her being hospitalized. Henson recalls, “He said, ‘If you don’t correct what’s going on inside of you, you’re going to develop stomach ulcers, which can lead to stomach cancer.’” Henson then started working with a holistic practitioner to develop a “whole body” approach to wellness.

2. She Intermittent Fasts

Rich Fury/Getty Images

Henson tells WSJ Magazine that she is a fan of intermittent fasting, and doesn’t eat until 11 am. Then Henson will start her day with a shake. "I take vitamin C, I take iron. I put elderberry powder, spirulina and collagen in my shake," she says.

3. She Loves Squats

Arturo Holmes/MG21/Getty Images

Henson says that she has an area of her body that she loves to work out. She says to Women’s Health that her favorite workouts are “anything to do with the butt.” Henson says that she loves to do deadlifts. “You have to keep your feet parallel and let your arms dangle,” she says. “Your focus should be on your glutes and hamstrings, so you actually feel the pull when you’re coming up.” Henson’s trainer, Mike T., tells InStyle, that Henson loves squats. “She definitely loves squats. It’s one of her favorites. She’s pretty much known for her derriere and we make sure that we maximize our workouts for that,” he says.

4. She Boxes

Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET

Henson also says that she loves to box, and picked it up during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I fell in love with this boxing machine, Nexersys,” she says to WSJ Magazine. “After I do my 20-minute warm-up, I get to boxing. And I love it, because it’s got a trainer on there. Not personal, but you can go on-demand and you can do cool work, and it’s just you and the trainer."

5. She Does A Lot of Cardio

Amy Sussman/FilmMagic

Henson tells WSJ Magazine that her workouts always contain 20 minutes of cardio, and she uses a lot of equipment. "I usually do that on the elliptical," she said. "If I’m feeling really adventurous, I’ll do a 20-minute stint on my Peloton bike. If I’m feeling really lazy, I’ll just walk it out on the treadmill."

Taraji P. Henson wants you to get in the best shape of your life—in 30 days. The Academy Award winning actress recently launched the Force Fitness 30-Day Fitness Challenge with her trainer, Mike T, an all-encompassing health and fitness movement that helped the 50-year-old get in phenomenal physical form. Read on to learn about the program that helps Taraji P. Henson stay in shape and the photos that prove it works—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bikini Photos!

In a new video shared to her Instagram account, the actress gives fans a sneak peek at the simple but hardcore workout, which includes light weights and ankle weights and circuits that consists of different types of lunges, squats and lifts.

She also explained to fans why being sore post-workout is a good thing. “I see results, I get fired up. Cause I know things are working. When you’re sore, don’t be discouraged. Sore means something is happening. Sore means things are happening. Fat is burning. Muscles are building. So you should want to be sore. You should hunger for that sore. Cause that’s when your body is going to change,” she says in the clip.

Per the website where fans can sign up for the challenge, a monthly fee will get your exclusive video and training content. “You will be using the same full-body exercises and nutrition plan designed to build Taraji's trademark figure,” it reads. Daily workouts are designed by Mike T himself and users get exclusive access to exercise videos and content, all modifiable for use at the gym or from home. It also includes scientifically backed diet and nutrition tips to help maximize results.

Over the weekend, Taraji shared a photo flaunting her own results, looking incredibly fit and curvy while rocking a string bikini in front of the mirror.

What does she eat to fuel her workotus? "I try to do my proteins. When I want a salt taste, I'll do boiled eggs with my fermented vegetables. When I want a sweet taste, I'll grab a Special K protein bar or protein shake. I just want to make healthier choices. I had a health scare and I want to live. My health scare came from me not eating right. You think just because you're small and you work out that everything is coming up roses, until you take a look inside. There are so many things that we eat that are bad for us — hormones in animals — that affect you. Coffee on an empty stomach — who knew it could kill you? I know now," she told the Cut.

To enlist in Taraji’s challenge, head on over to the website. Currently the 30-day program is on sale for $89.

Unless you live under a social media rock you have probably experienced the viral trend on social media that just about every celebrity is partaking in: The Not My Name viral challenge. In their videos, set to the Ting Ting’s song That’s Not My Name, celebrities offer up clips of all the characters they have played, and fans are eating it up. The latest celeb to join in on the entertaining viral movement? Taraji P. Henson, who used it as an excuse to show off all the names she has been called professionally–as well as her impressively fit body in a swimsuit. “Y’all know I HAD to get in on this!!! Shoutout to @drewbarrymore for starting this trend ✨ Which is your fave character!?” she captioned her video. How does the actress keep herself in stellar physical form? Read on to see 10 ways Taraji P. Henson stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

1. She Has Her Own Fitness Program

The Academy Award winning actress recently launched the Force Fitness 30-Day Fitness Challenge with her trainer, Mike T. The workout, which she shared about on Instagram, is an all-encompassing health and fitness movement. The workouts involve light weights and ankle weights and circuits that consist of different types of lunges, squats and lifts.

2. She Strives for Sore

Taraji likes to workout so hard that she feels it. “I see results, I get fired up. Cause I know things are working,” she revealed on Instagram in the same video. “When you’re sore, don’t be discouraged. Sore means something is happening. Sore means things are happening. Fat is burning. Muscles are building. So you should want to be sore. You should hunger for that sore. Cause that’s when your body is going to change.”

3. She Makes “Healthier Choices”

Alberto E. Rodriguez/FilmMagic

In an interview with The Cut, the actress reveals that making “healthier choices” is always her objective. “I had a health scare and I want to live. My health scare came from me not eating right. You think just because you're small and you work out that everything is coming up roses, until you take a look inside. There are so many things that we eat that are bad for us — hormones in animals — that affect you. Coffee on an empty stomach — who knew it could kill you? I know now,” she said.

4. She Loads Up On Protein

Shutterstock

"I try to do my proteins,” Taraji told The Cut about one of her diet tips. “When I want a salt taste, I'll do boiled eggs with my fermented vegetables. When I want a sweet taste, I'll grab a Special K protein bar or protein shake.”

5. She Is “Very Disciplined” with Exercise

"Honestly, Taraji is very disciplined in the gym," her trainer told InStyle, revealing that she trains seven days per week when she isn’t working for one to two hours. "She’s the type of person that if you tell her she can’t do something, she’s definitely going to want to do it even harder. Her focus is second to none.”

6. She Starts Her Workouts with 20 Minutes of Cardio

Taraji usually begins her workout sessions with cardio. "I usually do that on the elliptical," she told WSJ Magazine. "If I’m feeling really adventurous, I’ll do a 20-minute stint on my Peloton bike. If I’m feeling really lazy, I’ll just walk it out on the treadmill."

7. She Prioritizes Sleep

Rich Fury/Getty Images

How much sleep does Taraji aim for? “I would like to see eight hours. I don’t know when I’ve seen eight hours. I don’t know if it’s a problem, but I get about five to six hours. I want more, but that’s just where we are now,” she revealed.

8. She Does Intermittent Fasting

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Taraji skips breakfast for a reason. “I do intermittent fasting, so I don’t eat until 11, and then most times I’ll do a protein shake,” she told WSJ.

9. These Are Her Go-To Concoctions

Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for BET

Taraji is all about interesting concoctions. She starts her day with a glass of hot water, “and I put [in] my sea moss and my lime,” she told WSJ. “That’s my morning coffee, if you will.” She also is into supplements. “I take vitamin C, I take iron. I put elderberry powder, spirulina and collagen in my shake,” she added.

10. She Boxes with This Machine

Rich Fury/Getty Images

Over the pandemic, Taraji “fell in love” with Nexersys, a boxing machine. “So after I do my 20-minute warm-up, I get to boxing. And I love it, because it’s got a trainer on there. Not personal, but you can go on-demand and you can do cool work, and it’s just you and the trainer,” she told WSJ.