14 DAY TRIAL // Vanessa Williams is 47 years old, but she is in better shape than many women half her age. Of course, being in showbiz means looking good is almost mandatory, but the actress tells the April 2010 issue of Prevention magazine that her secret lies in knowing to accept reality. She will never get the fit body she had when she was 25, so, instead, Williams works to maintain her health.
The “Ugly Betty” star says the only diet she’s on right now is not even a diet per se, since she can’t actually abstain from all kinds of foods when she has four children to take care of. Instead, she exercises strict portion control so, whether she’s having pancakes or French fries, she always pushes the plate aside once she feels she’s full. This way, she gets to enjoy the best of both worlds: have her cake and eat it too, even if she only has a bite or two.
Another important thing for Vanessa is the amount of exercise she gets. After turning 40, she realized all that cardio and Pilates would no longer be enough to keep her in top shape, so she started weight training as well, to maintain her muscles toned. Other than that, the actress admits she’s a diehard fan of Pilates, from “before people even knew how to spell Pilates.” She works with Pilates guru Mari Winsor to strengthen her core and keep her impeccable posture.
In the same interview, Vanessa tells all other women working for their figure to always remember one important aspect: fun. In order to avoid the boredom that invariably kicks in with one workout routine, the star takes full advantage of the seasons and goes out for long walks or hikes as soon as the weather is warm enough to allow it. For company on these walks, she takes a family pet, which also helps her do some interval training, by enjoying short but intense runs with the dog.
One final tip from the star is that we should always be realistic about what we have, what we want and what we can achieve. Vanessa, for one, says she has finally come to terms with the thought that she will never have washboard abs again – which is why she’s now entirely focused on living the rest of her life healthy and happy.