Blake Lively has a lot going for her. She’s super famous, has a happy family, and is the star of one of 2024’s highest grossing films, It Ends with Us. She holds an enviable position. The cherry on top is that she’s also incredibly fit.
Plenty of actors are known to get into shape for specific roles, but staying fit and healthy in-between work is another thing entirely, and it’s something Lively has mastered.
It’s safe to say that Lively’s fitness routine is all about balance. Women’s Health US recently sat down with Lively’s long-time personal trainer, Don Saladino, who revealed the ins and outs of the actress’ training program.
Here, we break down seven of the key things Lively prioritises in her fitness routine.
1. Building energy is a big focus
Saladino says that when he’s training Lively, it’s not just about putting in the work, it’s about doing it the right way. That means working to improve her body’s energy on a daily basis.
“It’s not just about you upping your heart rate, it’s about improving your body’s resilience and energy,” he says. “While we’re increasing movement quality, we’re making sure we’re optimising everything we do.”
2. She's willing to be patient with results
Get-fit-quick schemes aren’t to Lively’s taste, and she and Saladino prioritise long-term commitment. After the birth of her second child, Lively spent 14 months training hard to get into the best shape of her life.
This commitment to long-term goals, according to Saladino, is an important part of staying healthy for life. “Every single person who does my programme day in, day out finds their bodies change for the long haul,” he says. “It’s not a case of weight loss that you gain back. These are long-term, attainable changes and they work.”
3. Nutrition is important to her
Saladino says that Lively’s diet is based around nutrient-rich foods. “Proteins, vegetables, fruits, slow-burning starches like sweet potato, and healthy fats like avocado, coconut oil, and grass-fed butter,” he explains.
“There are certain rules I stick to, like food quality,” he continues. “Don’t eat crap but, if you’re going to eat crap, have better quality crap.”
4. Sleep is just as important
Lively isn’t one to overlook the importance of sleep, according to her PT. “It might be the most important of them all.”
“The first two things I ask: How’s your sleep and how’s your digestion?” he says. “If you fix one, you fix the other.”
5. Her workouts are designed to be efficient
Just like the rest of us, Lively has a busy schedule. Even when she’s training for a role, she can’t be working out all day long. That’s why she tries to train efficiently, with workouts limited to around one hour per day for three or four days per week.
6. She doesn't set weight loss goals
You might be reading this article expecting to find out exactly how much weight Lively has lost. Sorry to disappoint, but the actress actually doesn’t put too much emphasis on that front.
Over the years, her weight has gone up and down during different periods, but she doesn’t pressure herself to get back to a target weight. Instead, she opts for a healthy, positive mindset above all.
7. Being happy is her priority
Workouts are great, but sometimes the best way to stay healthy isn’t by lifting weights or going for a run. Lively understands this and structures her routine accordingly.
“You’ve got to be happy and enjoy yourself,” Saladino says. “As hard as we have to work, you can’t sit there and be business all the time. People have to separate themselves from hustle and bustle, keep their side of the street clean and eliminate a lot of the crap.“
