Kristen Bell is looking fitter than ever. In a recent Instagram story, the star of Netflix’s Nobody Wants This joked that her biceps were looking seriously toned in the series. Take a look for yourself, it’s hard to disagree.
The reason behind Bell’s toning up a is a recently reworked fitness regime. From becoming a collector of workout gear to gaining strength, here’s everything the star has shared about her health and wellness routine.
She does Pilates three days per week
Back in 2019, Kristen told Women’s Health a three-day-a-week Pilates spread was the first workout routine she’d committed to consistently. Her home base is Studio Metamorphosis in Los Angeles, and her experience with Pilates made her feel physically strong for the first time.
“I’ve always felt mentally strong because I’m adept and can banter and hold my own in a good conversation,” she said. “But I’ve never felt physically strong. I felt waifish…or pregnant. And I’m loving the fact that if we ever get attacked by ninjas, I would be a valuable asset.”
Bell has been open about her challenges with fitness since having children. “Having children obliterated my abdominal wall,” she said. “Good night. That’s a wrap. And I thought, it’s never going to come back. What do I need it for? I’m married. Spanx exist. You don’t get everything all the time.”
Pilates helped Bell regain her strength. “I feel so much stronger, and it’s a physical feeling, but it’s also a mental one,” she said. “It should be the first stop for anyone who experiences depression or anxiety because it encourages serotonin and endorphins. I feel so much more centred, patient, capable. It sets the next 48 hours for me.”
When it comes to her diet, she tries not to be too strict
Bell considers herself a healthy eater, but she’s never been interested in going vegetarian and isn’t scared of carbs. She previously told Women’s Health that her usual breakfast might be egg whites, spinach, tomato, and feta, plus a salt bagel with cream cheese for a snack. She calls her typical lunch a “garbage disposal salad,” featuring lettuce, avocados, raisins, carrots, blue cheese and cucumbers.
“I’m not super restrictive. If they make au gratin potatoes, I’m going to have some, but I am mindful of the portion I take,” she said. “I find that through conscious eating, I’m able to have all the rewards and also maintain a healthy, steady diet.”
In the past, Bell has also shared that she likes acorn squash. “I’ll make, like, eight acorn squash – they’re single servings – and put them all in a bowl, and that’s a cool thing to have instead of a salad,” she said.
She rotates between strength and cardio days
When she’s not sweating it out in Pilates, Bell tries to head to the gym for a quick workout. On a good day, she’ll be out in 30 minutes or less. “Most days, I run or lift weights for at least 30 minutes,” she told Shape. “Or I’ll take a CrossFit class.”
This might be sounding like a fairly packed routine, but Bell does take days off, and she doesn’t feel bad about them either.. “If I don’t have the energy, I refuse to beat myself up,” she said. “Instead, I’ll do a 10-minute meditation or stretch class on YouTube to prioritise myself.”
She regularly shakes up her workouts with new equipment and tools
A new piece of equipment can revitalise any workout routine, and Bell gets new equipment more often than most. That’s because she’s prone to an impulse buy while perusing Instagram. “If I see it, I’m getting it,” she told Women’s Health. “I can’t tell you how susceptible I am to it – I just want to try everything.”
As a result, she’s assembled quite the collection of workout gear. Bell’s home supply includes resistance bands, gliding discs, foam rollers, and more. “That algorithm works,” she joked.
