Who wouldn't want to look as buff and healthy as 38-year-old actress and mom Busy Philipps, and not even have to cut out all fun to achieve it? Seriously, the star has mastered the art of living a healthy lifestyle but also knowing when to cut loose and eat what she wants and even enjoy a cocktail [2] when the occasion calls for it. Read on to see how she does it!
What Busy Eats
The star recently did a Whole30 elimination diet [3] because, as she explained on Instagram [4], "I just did it cause literally every person I've ever known was doing it and I thought it would be good to get myself back on track before the holidays and an interesting challenge. Which it was. Both of those things. Yay!! I am actually proud that I made it through all 30 days cause there were a few days that were rough. (Especially when I really wanted tequila or gummy bears...)."
According to the diet's website, Whole30 [5] is "designed to change your life in 30 days." It's basically a short-term nutrition reset that helps individuals "put an end to unhealthy cravings and habits, restore a healthy metabolism, heal [their] digestive tract, and balance [the] immune system."
Busy cut out sugar, grains, dairy, and legumes for 30 days in an effort to restore her energy levels and improve her overall health, including her skin tone. The benefits of following Whole30 are many, but of course, as she admitted, it isn't easy to stick to such a strict regimen. Luckily, her husband, Marc Silverstein, helped keep her accountable to the plan [6], according to Self, and cooking at home as much as possible allowed Busy to stay on top of exactly what she was eating.
Aside from the 30 days, Busy maintains her commitment to eating healthy. As she told Cosmopolitan, the day starts early with a Bulletproof coffee concoction [7] meant to jump-start her metabolism. "I've been doing it for almost a year now. It is 8 to 10 ounces of freshly brewed coffee, 2 tablespoons of grass-fed butter or Ghee (I use Kerrygold butter), 1 tbsp. of Brain Octane Oil, and 2 scoops of BulletProof brand Collagen Protein Powder," she told the magazine.
For lunch, it's chlorophyll water, which may help reduce inflammation, and a salad or healthy wrap from her favourite juice bar, Kreation.
Snack time for Busy is "generally hummus on Rice-Thins or Nut-Thins [9] crackers and some guacamole," she told Cosmopolitan. The star also indulges in dark chocolate chips or her favourite treat: cinnamon gummy bears! For dinner, the mama tries to cook something both she, her husband, and her two daughters, Birdie, age 9, and Cricket, age 4, can eat. One go-to recipe is ground turkey and marinara sauce. "I eat it over greens and asparagus and serve whole-wheat pasta to the girls," Busy told Cosmopolitan.
Although her weekday eating plan seems very disciplined, on the weekends, Busy eats what she wants when she goes out with friends. And she doesn't restrict herself from giving into cravings and even indulges in cocktails when she feels like it.
How Busy Sweats
The star is a self-professed LEKFit devotee, regularly attending classes at the Los Angeles-based fitness boutique. According to the studio's website, LEKFit [11] was created by Lauren Kleban and is "a dance-inspired fitness method designed to create long and lean muscles by using intervals of low-impact, high-intensity, fat-burning cardio with muscle-sculpting techniques created to strengthen and tone."
Busy is known to hit a Bounce class after taking her kids to school. This "signature intense cardio and muscle-sculpting workout" utilizes trampolines and helps the actress work up a serious sweat, which she said on an episode of her podcast We're No Doctors [12] makes her body feel good [13] and even helps her cope with depression and anxiety, as well as be a better mom [14].
The star often posts photos of herself sweating to the max on Instagram.
Busy also attends Sculpt classes at LEKFit, which are ballet- and yoga-inspired sessions leading to optimal muscle recovery. Overall, Busy often says on her Instagram Stories that she swears LEKFit has totally changed her body. We second the notion that Busy looks great and is clearly winning at leading a healthy and happy life!