For some, exercise is a means to an end. But for Kate Hudson, it’s a way of life.
“I need to move to feel good,” she previously told People . “Even if it’s just taking a little time every day to do some movement — going for a walk, a few minutes on the treadmill, doing some Pilates, or if I have more time, hot yoga.”
The actor has always led an active lifestyle and has emphasized the physical and mental benefits of exercise.
“I really enjoy sweating and it helps me clear my head,” the 45-year-old previously told People. “It’s not just about looking good physically, it’s about getting oxygen to my brain and feeling my blood actually circulating. I love skiing, hiking, walking, and especially biking. It makes me feel like a kid again!”
Hudson has a similarly even-keeled attitude when it comes to food, having previously told Shape that she “hates” the idea of dieting.
“There’s so much pressure on people to lose weight quickly. Getting healthy isn’t a two-week process, it’s a lifestyle change,” she told the magazine, according to People.
We can all learn from Hudson’s balanced approach to health and wellness. Curious about the secrets to her success? Read on.
She prioritizes strength training
Before she started working out with personal trainer Brian Nguyen, Hudson never really emphasized strength training in her workouts, but then she realized it was the missing piece of a balanced routine.
“One day I was listening to the video and I was like… I don’t feel strong, I feel tall and I love my Pilates workout, but as I get older… am I doing enough (strength exercises)?” she told TODAY.com earlier this year.
During a typical workout, Hudson and Nguyen use a variety of strength training techniques, including planks, lunges, bodyweight squats, and hip and glute bridges.
When speaking with Shape, Nguyen explained that Hudson was initially hesitant to start strength training, especially weightlifting.
“She used to think she couldn’t do it, but now that we’re implementing heavier loads, we’re really enjoying pushing the edge of chaos,” he said. “Kate isn’t afraid of heavy weights — the weight has to be heavy enough to break her integrity and she has to get that control back. I don’t think we’re doing anything special, but by getting the basics down, she can play with speed, heavier loads, and instability.”
She loves pilates
Hudson discovered Pilates at the age of 19 and is still a fan of the sport.
“It’s the workout that my body really responds to. It’s all about alignment, lengthening your spine, and strengthening your core. It makes me feel my strongest,” she previously told Shape, per PopSugar.
While Hudson spoke to Self about her love of Pilates, she said nothing else makes her “feel like I’m back in my body.”
She doesn’t believe there is a one-size-fits-all workout
We all have different body types and fitness goals, so the workout that works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. But Hudson believes that everyone can find a workout that fits their lifestyle.
“We’re all individual people with individual needs, desires, and preferences — and we need to find what makes us happy and what moves us,” she told Women’s Health. “If you like to bike, bike. If you like to walk, walk. If you like to swim, (swim).”
She knows a lot about nutrition
Hudson has access to top personal trainers and nutritionists, but she doesn’t rest on her laurels and let them do all the work. Instead, the star is “super passionate” about food and nutrition and encourages everyone to follow her lead.
“The truth is, you have to be passionate about what you put in your body, and why you put it in your body, when you put it in your body, learning about it,” she told E! News earlier this year. “You have to want to love learning.”
Yoga was a ‘big part’ of her last pregnancy
In 2019, Hudson shared a photo of herself practicing yoga on Instagram, calling it “a hugely important part of supporting my pregnancy” and praising its “amazing bonding benefits.”
“I loved practicing with my growing belly and connecting with (my daughter’s) beautiful spirit,” she wrote.
She uses trackers to ensure she gets enough nutrients
Tracking how many fruits and vegetables you eat or how much calcium you consume can be time-consuming if you do it alone, which is why Hudson prefers to use an app like MyFitnessPal to track her meals and nutrients.
“Food is 80 percent of the challenge … and keeping up with it, knowing it, understanding it and having the knowledge is something I’m passionate about,” she told TODAY.com earlier this year.
While filming the 2011 film “Something Borrowed,” Hudson said she gained 10-15 pounds and decided to track her food intake to understand why.
“I started tracking it and realized I was eating about 3,000 calories worth of nuts… If I hadn’t realized that, I never would have known,” she said.
She considers an active lifestyle a ‘privilege’
Training can sometimes feel like an obligation, but Hudson prefers to look at it more positively.
“When people say, ‘What’s your best day?’ there’s always something active involved, because I really have time to enjoy it,” she previously told Shape. “I have to move… Sitting on my butt is not a luxury for me. Sitting on my butt is getting off my butt. And I think it’s a privilege to be able to live and feel strong and healthy. And so I never want to take that for granted.”
She is not afraid to try different workouts
Hudson’s fitness resume is filled with a variety of workouts, from boxing and hiking to Barry’s Bootcamp classes and pole dancing.
While speaking to Shape about pole dancing, she explained why it’s such an effective workout.
“For me, that’s the strongest body, and I enjoy that because I can just play music and dance,” she said. “When I’m feeling really strong, I usually do more tricks (on the pole).”
For her, dancing is also one of the ways to sweat.
“Dance is one of my favorite ways to express myself. But the discipline of it — constantly pushing myself to be better — is what I love about it,” she told People.
She has increased the amount of protein she eats
You can’t achieve your fitness goals if you don’t fuel your body with the nutrients it needs to perform.
“Food is everything,” Hudson told TODAY.com earlier this year. “The food we eat is fuel for our bodies.”
During her visit to TODAY in Studio 1A, Hudson talked about the nutrient she’s trying to consume more of these days.
“We, especially women, really should be eating more protein, especially in the morning,” she said.
She passes on her love for fitness to her children
In 2021, Hudson shared a photo of herself with her daughter Rani after a workout and captioned it with the following caption.
“I grew up watching my parents take care of their bodies. People always ask me how I get motivated to stay in shape. The answer is: It’s what I know. It’s how I was raised. It’s ingrained in my brain that honoring and training our bodies is a gift and so I don’t take it for granted,” she wrote.
“I love to move. I love when it’s challenging. I love being in charge of my results. And I love seeing my daughter having fun doing it with me. They watch everything we do! I gotta get some good kid moves in 💃🏋️♀️🧘♀️,” she continued.
She has never been an ‘extremist’ with her diet
Life is too short to completely eliminate food from your diet. That’s a lesson Hudson learned and one she’s eager to pass on to others.
“I’ve never been an extremist. I love food. And I love a good cocktail,” she previously told People . “For me, it’s really about moderation. Being mindful of what I put in my body and remembering that it’s OK to indulge.”
When Hudson was an ambassador for Weight Watchers, she spoke to TODAY.com about her balanced approach to eating.
“I love food so much that I could never live a lifestyle that wasn’t open to anything and everything. If someone told me I couldn’t eat bread, I’d be like, ‘Wrong, girl!'” she said.
Instead of restricting entire food groups, Hudson has learned to “eat accordingly throughout the day” when she has a craving for one of her favorite foods or drinks.
“The goal is that we can live our lives and enjoy everything,” she explained.
She understands the importance of a support system
Sometimes it takes a village to take control of your health and wellness routine. Hudson previously told TODAY.com that she’s blessed with a strong network to help her achieve her goals.
“What’s really important is that we have access to support… we can’t do it alone… I think some people can, but for most of us, like myself, I need a support system,” she said.