We all know that laughter provides powerful health benefits for both mind and body. Physiologically, the act of laughing reduces stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, helping improve our resilience against disease. The “happy hormone” endorphin is also released during laughter, promoting feelings of well-being and even temporary pain relief.
Given these promising effects, HFR set out to identify the fittest comedians around – those using both humor and healthy lifestyle habits to spread laughs and wellness. Through extensive research and guidance from founder Samir Becic, a recognized authority in health and fitness with over 20 years of experience, we identified the top 50, 25 and finally 10 fittest comedians dominating the scene. Samir says of these funnymen (and women) “There is a famous saying that laughter is the best medicine, yet many comedians are very often depressed. This is why these 10 rockstar comedians are put on a pedestal for being funny and fit!”
For the first time since we started our rankings a decade ago, we have incorporated a vital component: mental health. Recognizing its significant influence on overall well-being, we have taken into account the mental health aspect while crafting this prestigious list. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that 1 in 5 Americans suffers from mental health illness, making it imperative to address this crucial aspect of health.
These funny folks exemplify how prioritizing physical and mental health through regular exercise and diet can fuel success both on and off the stage. So grab your tickets – seeing one of these star performers is sure to leave you in stitches while also boosting your own wellness. Get ready to welcome the reigning champions of fit and fearless comedy!
Here’s a list of the top 10 fittest comedians of 2024 in alphabetical order:
Dane Cook
Fitness Routine:
- Dane Cook credits “tethered swimming” as his go-to workout for staying fit. This form of swimming involves being attached to a stationary object while swimming against the resistance of the water, providing a challenging full-body workout.
- He claims to have burned 1000 calories a day through swimming and considers it the greatest workout he has ever done.
- Dane Cook also emphasizes the benefits of swimming beyond just the physical aspect, describing it as a form of meditation that has positively impacted his thinking and overall well-being.
- He enjoys doing planks to strengthen his core.
- When it comes to building his stamina and muscle mass, Cook challenges himself by lifting heavy weights.
- He likes to get some cardio by running.
- Paddle boarding and recreational swimming are just some of Cook’s favorite outdoor activities.
- Bringing his dog along with him keeps his daily strolls/hikes more pleasant.
- He gets creative with his training by bringing basketball into his workout routine.
Nutrition:
- He has mentioned the importance of healthy living and staying away from alcohol and drugs, which can negatively affect the skin.
- Cook has also mentioned drinking mostly water to maintain good skin and overall health.
Mental Health Practices:
- He has mentioned the benefits of swimming as a form of meditation, suggesting that it likely contributes to his mental well-being.
James Corden
Fitness Routine:
- James Corden regularly engages in boxing sessions with his trainer in the mornings. Boxing is a high-intensity workout that helps improve cardiovascular fitness, strength, and agility.
- He revealed that at his heaviest, he weighed 294 pounds, and he had lost 84 pounds as of May 2022.
Nutrition:
- James Corden partnered with WW, formerly known as Weight Watchers, in January 2021. This program focuses on healthy eating habits and encourages portion control. Corden became an ambassador for WW and found success in following their approach.
- Corden follows a form of intermittent fasting called time-restricted eating. He limits his eating window and doesn’t eat until 12 PM. This approach allows him to eat normally but within a specific timeframe.
- Corden tries to eat healthily and not deprive himself. While he doesn’t believe in diets, he focuses on making healthier food choices. He has been seen drinking a 15-calorie, sugar-free health drink loaded with vitamins and incorporating fruits like apples into his diet.
Mental Health Practices:
- James Corden recently completed a four-day transcendental meditation course, which helps settle the body down to a state of restful alertness. He practices 20 minutes of silence daily to let his thoughts be whatever they are. Transcendental meditation is known to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and improve mental well-being.
Whitney Cummings
Fitness:
- Whitney Cummings has mentioned that she used to work out all the time in her 20s and had an adversarial relationship with her body.
- These days she is more gentle in her fitness approach, making it more about mental health than to lose weight.
- She just had a baby and posted a video to Instagram with all the ways she works out while carrying her baby on her.
Nutrition:
- In the past, Whitney Cummings followed a strict diet that included a smoothie for breakfast, a salad for lunch, and chicken and vegetables for dinner.
- However, she has since realized that she doesn’t need to adhere to a specific size or standard of beauty and has shifted her focus to being healthier and happier.
Mental Health Practices:
- Whitney Cummings has been vocal about her struggles with body image and her journey to self-acceptance. She has mentioned that she worked on her self-esteem through therapy and realized that she didn’t need to be a size 2.
- By prioritizing her mental well-being and embracing her body, she has found greater happiness and love for herself.
Chelsea Handler
Fitness Routine:
- Chelsea Handler prioritizes working out almost every day. She aims to exercise and feel strong, as it is part of her mental strength.
- Handler incorporates strength training exercises into her fitness routine. Her trainer, Ben Bruno, has shared videos of her doing exercises like Bulgarian split squats, weighted hanging leg raises, and hollow holds with a chest fly.
- Handler has been seen performing an isometric ab roll-out variation, which requires core control and strength.
- Chelsea incorporates deadlifts into her workout routine. In a recent Instagram video, she can be seen performing deadlifts with weighted plates designed to look like doughnuts and pizza.
- In her Netflix special, Chelsea performs a hollow body hold on a stool for over two minutes with seemingly zero effort. Her trainer, Ben Bruno, takes partial credit for her impressive core strength, as he emphasizes comprehensive core training that targets not just the abs but also the obliques and rotational function of the muscles.
- Chelsea believes that working out is not just about physical appearance but also about being mentally strong and capable of accomplishing tasks. She recognizes the importance of mental strength in her fitness journey.
Nutrition:
- Eating every three to four hours: Chelsea follows a nutritionist’s advice to control her blood sugar levels by eating small meals or snacks every three to four hours.
- Breakfast: Chelsea starts her day with fresh celery juice or lower-sugar orange juice. After her workout, she has scrambled egg whites with avocado, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic, onion, and hot pepper.
- Lunch: Chelsea enjoys a dozen oysters at her favorite restaurant, Blue Plate Oysterette, or has turkey wrapped in iceberg lettuce with avocado, mustard, and light organic mayo. She also includes greens like broccoli and Brussels sprouts in her lunch.
- Dinner: Chelsea prefers lighter options like turkey meatballs, fish (such as branzino or black cod), or sushi. She avoids heavy foods like pasta with cream sauce and gluten.
Mental Health Practices:
- Chelsea Handler has been open about her mental health journey and the practices she incorporates for her well-being.
- Handler has found therapy to be extremely helpful for her overall health and happiness.
- Meditation: Handler is a strong advocate for meditation and has incorporated it into her daily routine. Initially skeptical, she found it grew on her over time.
- Marijuana Use: Handler has spoken about the positive impact of marijuana on her mental health. She has mentioned using THC gummies for relaxation and before workouts.
Kevin Hart
Fitness Routine:
- Kevin Hart follows a rigorous workout routine, hitting the gym 6-7 times a week.
- He starts his training early in the morning, preferably by 5 a.m.
- His workouts are designed to build a strong upper body and include a mix of exercises performed as circuits.
- Some of the exercises he incorporates into his routine include pull-ups, air squats, push-ups, bench press, tricep pushdowns, incline dumbbell press, chest flys, and weighted planks.
- He also includes running in his routine, typically running 5 kilometers on Tuesdays.
- On Thursdays, he usually does a deadlift routine.
- Fridays are dedicated to working on shoulders and legs with various exercises such as squats, military press, leg press, and hamstring curls.
- Saturdays are reserved for CrossFit-style workouts, where he chooses one of the challenging CrossFit WODs (Workout of the Day).
- Sundays are rest days for Kevin Hart, allowing his body to recover.
Nutrition:
- Kevin Hart follows a balanced and healthy diet to support his fitness goals.
- His breakfast usually consists of four scrambled eggs and a variety of fruits like banana, orange, and apple.
- He consumes a protein shake post-workout.
- For lunch, he often has a meatless patty with green vegetables and sweet potatoes.
- His typical dinner includes fish, salad, and nuts.
- Kevin Hart is committed to leading a healthy lifestyle and avoids bread and dairy products, although he occasionally indulges in his favorite foods like buffalo wings and cheesesteak.
- Has a superfood powder range available at Walmart.
Mental Health Practices:
- “Mental health is just as important as the physical, if not more. Every day is the start of a new day. If you were bad yesterday, that doesn’t mean you have to be bad the following day. You can always improve and you can always start a new journey.”
- “We all battle with ourselves. There’s a battle that you have with yourself. Am I doing enough? Am I good enough? Is this enough? Am I going to make it? What’s good is that you’re giving your all, you’re applying 110% of you within your efforts to just make something good, and that’s the big win.”
- “We’re not supposed to walk around angry. The world is not supposed to be dark 24/7. The sun shines for a reason. It goes from day to night for a reason, so we should match that energy.”
Trevor Noah
Fitness Routine:
- Trevor incorporates quick-burst moves into his day by assigning exercises to people around the office. When he sees them, he performs the assigned workout, such as squats or lunges.
- Trevor engages in sporadic workouts, such as pull-ups and squats, during script meetings and other moments throughout the day. He emphasizes the importance of avoiding prolonged sitting and encourages movement and bouncing around.
- Jumping: Trevor believes in the benefits of jumping and encourages people to incorporate it into their fitness routine. He mentions that many people have forgotten how to jump and suggests rediscovering this simple exercise.
Nutrition:
- Cutting Out Sugar and Refined Carbs: Trevor adjusted his diet after moving from South Africa to America. He dropped all sugar and sometimes eliminates refined carbs from his meals. Initially, the transition can be challenging, but he finds that it leads to increased energy, alertness, and improved brain function.
Mental Health Practices:
- Trevor advises starting a fitness and nutrition routine when there is less work and stress. He suggests avoiding overwhelming periods as they can negatively impact the body’s ability to cope.
- Trevor Noah views depression as more of a symptom than a cause, emphasizing the importance of understanding and working on mental health issues.
- He believes in the significance of acknowledging and addressing mental health challenges. He encourages individuals to recognize that mental health is something they can work on and improve.
- Trevor acknowledges that he doesn’t have thick skin, but he heals fast. He highlights the importance of healing and bouncing back from difficult experiences.
- He also suggests that fear of regret should be the greatest fear, rather than the fear of failure or rejection. He emphasizes the importance of taking risks and not being held back by fear.
Yvonne Orji
Fitness Routine:
- Yvonne dedicates part of her day to diverse fitness routines, such as outdoor activities and strength-training courses offered by ClassPass.
- She engages in dancing workouts and High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) sessions for muscle development.
- Yvonne believes in consistency and maintains regular exercise schedules despite her busy schedule.
Nutrition:
- Yvonne follows a balanced diet plan that includes fruits, vegetables, and proteins.
- She cuts out carbs before production and focuses on eating healthy foods like salmon and chicken.
- While she generally avoids sugar and lowers her carbohydrate intake, she allows herself a cheat day occasionally.
Mental Health Practices:
- Yvonne recognizes the importance of mental health and has been open about her journey in therapy and talk therapy.
- She emphasizes the value of self-care and engages in activities like yoga, meditation, and mindful concentration techniques.
- Yvonne’s holistic approach to wellness includes addressing mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of her life.
Matt Rife
Fitness Routine:
- Matt Rife follows a split workout routine, focusing on different muscle groups on different days.
- Some of his favorite exercises include alternating incline press, pull-ups, Zottman-to-reverse Zottman curl, Russian twist with a medicine ball, loaded plank, plank mountain climbers, and Bulgarian split squat.
- He typically performs 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps for each exercise.
- Matt often incorporates boxing into his routine to prepare for his dream fight.
Nutrition:
- Matt Rife follows a strict diet that includes a higher intake of protein and fats, while keeping his carbohydrate consumption moderate.
- He emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet and occasionally allows himself to indulge in moderation.
- Matt also supplements his diet with essential supplements like whey protein, creatine, and BCAAs.
Mental Health Practices:
- Matt Rife recognizes the importance of mental health and uses exercise as a way to release stress and improve his overall well-being.
- He considers his time at the gym as an hour dedicated to focusing on his body and making himself happier.
- Matt also prioritizes self-care and takes time for himself amidst his busy schedule.
Amy Schumer
Fitness:
- Amy Schumer has worked with celebrity trainer Jen Widerstrom. They focus on creating strength and freedom in movement, considering Amy’s medical history and previous surgeries.
- Core strengthening exercises, including Pilates, are a significant part of Amy’s workout routine. These exercises help rebuild her core and back strength, which were weakened due to previous health issues.
- Amy enjoys tackling new Pilates movements and finds them exciting.
- She also incorporates low-impact exercises and resistance band workouts into her routine.
- Amy tries to stay active throughout the day by walking everywhere she can, which includes walking from the studio to her hotel.
Nutrition:
- Amy Schumer has a balanced approach to her diet and doesn’t believe in starving herself.
- She enjoys food and doesn’t shy away from ordering what she wants, including indulging in junk food occasionally.
- Amy’s husband, Chris Fischer, is a chef, which suggests that she appreciates good food and isn’t afraid to eat.
Mental Health Practices:
- Amy Schumer promotes body confidence and self-love. She encourages women to focus on loving themselves and being kind to themselves, rather than obsessing over perceived flaws.
- Amy’s positive attitude towards her body and her emphasis on mental well-being contribute to her overall approach to fitness and health.
Rebel Wilson
Fitness:
- Rebel attended the gym at least an hour every day, six days a week.
- She was highly disciplined with her training schedule, often doing grueling cardio and strength workouts that involved tire flips and stair sprints.
- On all but one weekday, Wilson strives to achieve 60 minutes of exercise, be it a walk or a session with one of her personal trainers.
- Wilson often incorporates her daughter into her workouts such as lifting her up while squatting.
Nutrition:
- According to Rebel, she significantly reduced the size of her portions and focused on protein that would actually satisfy her hunger.
- In the morning, Rebel loves getting her day started with eggs and avocado on whole grain toast. Occasionally, she’ll change it up and go for a protein shake with berries or bananas instead.
- For lunch, Rebel typically sticks to a fresh salad with chicken.
- As for dinner, it differs each night, but the actress swears by grilled chicken, salmon, and other types of fish.
- Indulging her sweet tooth is something she hasn’t outgrown. Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food ice cream and Klondike Bar are her own sweet favorites. “I’m obsessed with Klondike bars,” she says. “I just love a simple treat.”
Mental Health Practices:
- Wilson shared that turning 40 and beginning her wellness journey has made her feel “more confident and powerful as a woman. … You just feel more, ‘OK, this is me and I know what’s good for me, what’s not, and now I can just be in my own power,’ so which is great.”
- Wilson has started to take a positive approach to things by understanding that not everything will be perfect, you will mess up one day but, you will just have to go harder the next day.
- A significant portion of Wilson’s success, she now realizes, can be attributed to her Pitch Perfect character Fat Amy, who made her a global superstar and helped her rake in millions. Her desire to drop pounds was not borne out of professional necessity, but more “for health reasons,” she insists.