Cameron Diaz gets back to basics in âThe Body Bookâ
Appearances to the contrary, actress Cameron Diaz wasnât always the picture of health. A few months of kung fu training changed all that, and now sheâs written a guide for women to make smart decisions about their bodies. For Diaz, âThe Body Bookâ is about dispelling confusion and letting people know how things work from the eyebrows on down.
What motivated you to write âThe Body Bookâ?
Two years ago I was 39 and having conversations with other women my age, and they kept saying the same things about how they were confused about their bodies and how to get them to where they wanted to be. I thought it was crazy that someone could live their whole life in their own body and not know how it works.
But itâs because weâre not taught. Weâre not given good information. I was tired of hearing about women hating their bodies and being forced to compare it to other women. Such comparison is a brutal assault on oneâs self.
So what is it that makes your book different from other fitness books?
Itâs about basic education. Diets donât work. When youâre being told what to do and what to eat and checking off a list that someone else created, youâre not really thinking about what you need to be doing for yourself. Youâre just following someone elseâs lead.
We should all be experts in our own bodies and how they function. I want people to be happy and healthy and productive, and you canât tell them how to do that. They have to learn it themselves, so it all comes back to giving them the basics of how the body functions and letting them figure it out from there. I donât give a diet or fitness plan. I want people to learn critical thinking to figure out their own plan. Or to be able to look at another plan and understand what parts are right for them and how to adapt it to fit their own needs.
How has your dedication to exercise changed over the years?
When I was growing up, kids just played outside. I rode my bike everywhere, we played in the park and on the street. ⊠There wasnât a moment we were inside, because there was nothing to do inside. I also ran track and played softball. Things are much different now because kids have too many distractions.
In my 20s I slowed down. I smoked and ate terrible and didnât have any ambition to do anything with my body. That changed with âCharlieâs Angelsâ because I had to put my body through something extreme that Iâd never done before. It was eight hours a day, seven days a week for three months of kung fu training for the role that changed everything. ⊠It was âmovieâ kung fu, but I learned what my body was capable of. I never looked back after that.
What are your go-to exercises these days?
Iâm into everything. I just like being active. I hike and do Pilates and weight train. Wherever I am I try to keep active. I look at New York as an opportunity to walk around fast and get my sweat on. Just going to the gym to get my blood going and staying connected to my body, even if itâs only for 20 minutes, is really important.
I like to build strong muscles, which is especially important at my age, so Iâve done some pretty intense weightlifting to build muscle. Itâs something that I moved into naturally just from trying different things. I love lifting heavy because when you build strength in your body itâs a great feeling, so youâre compelled to keep up with it.
Hating on carbs is trendy these days, but you love them.
Itâs the type of carbs that matter. Carbs fuel our bodyâs energy needs. If youâre going to be active, then itâs a great source of fuel for that. People can experiment and try different diets, because we all vary, but for people who exercise a lot, I think carbs are a good fuel choice.
Fell is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and owner of sixpackabs.com.