* We know this picture is photoshopped, but we think Ellen is hilarious!
Samir Becic and the Health Fitness Revolution team is bringing your our list of the 10 Fittest Comedians. Laughing is a fundamental part of being healthy, as we wrote about in an article here. These comedians are household names and we chose them in order to motivate everyone to be healthier, fitter, balanced, and happier (through laughter!). We chose them based on their fitness levels and body type- we recognize that not everyone is built the same with regards to their heritage and cultural background. We made sure that all of them use natural means to be healthy and fit!
We first researched all the available data on stand-up comedians online and narrowed it down to 100. Then, we did more extensive research to narrow it down 50, 25, and then finally 10. We used a combination of interviews, internet, library, industry literature, and Samir Becic’s knowledge of over 33 years in athletics coupled with his experience as 4 times Number 1 Fitness Trainer in the World.
The actors on this list not only lead healthy lifestyles themselves, but also promote healthy lifestyle to their fans.
The following was all taken into consideration: fitness level, nutritional habits, age, their own medical issues and how they coped with them, and involvement and promotion of healthy lifestyle in general. Our picks are listed in no particular order:
Jimmy Fallon
The first lady, Michelle Obama, challenged him to a fitness competition on his show and though he lost (in a funny way), he stays very healthy in order to keep up with his hectic schedule. He drinks green juices that are a mixture of spinach, parsley, and to quote the comedian “God knows what else is in it.” He takes daily fish oil supplements, eats salads, and trains regularly with a trainer. Fallon is treating his new duties like a boxer training to go extra rounds. (Cue Rocky music here.) These days the comedian sleeps more, goes out less, and takes care of himself- because he realizes that without the host, the Tonight Show’s 200+ performances cannot go on!
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres turned 56 this year and the talk show queen, attributes her success and energy to her healthy lifestyle. She does daily yoga and eats vegan (since 2009) — which she says keeps her looking and feeling her best. Last year Ellen told Shape magazine that she’ll opt for a daily morning yoga practice rather than snack on unhealthy treats and she often does sugar detoxes in order to gain more energy. Ellen also loves dancing and is always laughing, which is certainly very healthy because we actually change physiologically when we laugh. Our muscles stretch and our pulse and blood pressure go up, which sends more oxygen to our tissues. Also, anyone who has watched her daily show knows how generous she is, which research has proven to be good for your health!
Jenny McCarthy
There’s a reason that this funny blonde bombshell has been a Playboy Cover girl 6 times, and that at 42, after having a child, she still has washboard abs. She maintains her amazingly toned figure with strength training and running three to five times per week and yoga twice a week. Jenny enjoys doing lunges, sit ups, pushups, and planks — because she’s working my whole body. She also realizes that other than even more so than working out, food is the most important thing. “Especially in today’s age how convenient fast food restaurants are, and how exhausted we are as mothers. It’s too overwhelming that we sacrifice [healthy] food,” Jenny has said. The View host relies heavily on her soup in her gluten and dairy-free diet. However, don’t think that she hasn’t struggles with her health and weight before- the former Playmate of the Year once ballooned to 211lbs during her pregnancy with 10-year-old son Evan back in 2002. She credits healthy lifestyle and discipline to becoming healthy again.
Kevin Hart
This 5’4″ funny man is so successful lately that he barely has time to use the bathroom (or so he says). However, something Kevin always makes time for are his kids (family is important to health) and working out. Kevin says he surrounds himself with friends who are active and that he tries to work out with them 5 to 6 times a week- but if he has to workout early in the morning or late at night, he will take stuff with him to work and do it between sets. He mainly does core exercises and some weights but not too much. Kevin has said “I don’t want to be the little strong guy with too many muscles who can’t move. I just try to keep naturally fit.” He regularly posts clips of himself working out while cracking jokes on his instagram and twitter while chronicling his 21 day fitness challenges.
Kathy Griffin
Kathy, who says she loves her body more now, at age 53, than she did 20 years ago, has a very balanced approach to diet and fitness. She has a strict no-extremes policy, just eating and exercising sensibly. “But if I eat something that’s not so good for me, I don’t feel bad anymore. If I don’t exercise one day, I’ll make it up some other way” she says. Her schedule makes being consistent difficult, so three times a week of workouts is what she aims for. If she’s home, she does a full hour of cardio on the bike or treadmill, and weights. When she’s out of town, she will go to the gym at the hotel, or go for a very long walk. She says she’s a big believer in making your workout wherever you are.
Joan Rivers
This 80 year-old comedien says that cardio is an essential part of her daily routine- that she likes to walk everywhere. “I walk everywhere,” Rivers said. “I do every little thing I can to keep myself in motion. I have a trainer three times a week.” She has also become even more health-conscious since she was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2002- knowing that staying active and doing weights is good for building bone strength. And although Joan admitted to suffering from Bulimia after her husbands suicide, she said she was able to overcome it and now eats healthier.
Seth Meyers
This SNL funny-man who is poised to replace fellow Top 10 Fittest Comedians lister Jimmy Fallon on “Late Night” is an avid exerciser. He has emceed Cycle for Survival — the spin-a-thon-style event that raises money for rare cancers. He says he is an avid runner, aiming to do five miles about four days per week, and then lifting weights about three days per week. When he’s not working out, he still enjoys green juices, saying they make him feel great. He also says that the best advice he ever got from a nutritionist, that he follows, is to eat every 4 hours and not skip meals. He usually has one cheat day a week, which was Saturday, when he was hosting because it is such a high stress day.
Wayans Brothers
The Wayans brothers are both members of one of the funniest families of comedy- but agree that health is not a joke. They know that to stay motivated, inspired, and energetic, their bodies need to be in peak physical shape and they both workout around 5-6 days a week: Marlon Wayan has said “I work out five to six days a week in order to keep my energy up. I don’t always feel like going, but it keeps my body and mind sharp.” They partake in circuit training to keep from getting bored and in order to burn more fat. They also take yoga classes as a way to loosen up and center the mind at the start of the day. When on the road, they have been known to workout to videos- so there is truly no excuse to not stay in shape!
Jim Carrey
This lanky actor recently trained and dieted intensely in order to have a 6-pack in his movie “Incredible Burt Wonderstone,” and says the intense regimen was extremely difficult to sustain. And while he eased off the intensity of his regimen, he does speak wonders to how working out and eating healthy makes him feel. The famous comedian recently gave up alcohol and cigarettes and started a strict new diet as part of a lifestyle makeover. “Tomorrow, day 14, no wheat, dairy, sugar, coffee, soda, drugs, alcohol or tobac,” he tweeted. “A few more days till that sweet feeling but right now ain’t bad!” He added: “Clarity! Contentment! Youthfulness! Longevity! This diet, though tough at first, gives me that! Can u handle it? Just 3 weeks and you’ll see! I eat eggs, meat, fish (and) veggies cooked in olive oil, fruits, nuts, water, tea with honey or Stevia, gluten-free crackers and almond butter 4 snack.” Carrey is also a keen runner, regularly doing five-mile runs. He once did an entire interview while running on a treadmill!
Here is a comedic workout video from Jim Carrey:
http://youtu.be/BIilsvosj-0
Chelsea Handler
Chelsea Handler didn’t grow up knowing how to eat healthy- and she spent years yo-yo dieting because of her choices- because she didn’t know any better. Now the only woman late-night show host is educated and enjoys living, and eating healthy. For the most part, Chelsea eats fresh wholesome foods-avoiding anything processed-whenever possible. Her day typically begins with a bowl of oatmeal mixed with a scoop of protein powder and a spoonful of ground flax seeds. Turkey and an arugula salad with shaved Parmesan-no dressing-is always her midmorning snack, and for lunch, she usually has sushi. Although she’s always been active, Chelsea says finding a workout she loves-and can commit to-has been a huge challenge- she’s tried yoga, and gets bored on the treadmill, but pilates, however, has been just the right fit. “It’s been the most gentle on my body,” says Chelsea. “I’m longer and leaner and much more graceful. I can honestly say it’s changed my body-and my life.”
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