Fitness has become a top priority in recent years. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, the fitness industry will continue to grow in the coming years. Surveys revealed that 80% of consumers are willing to go to the gym, and 40% prefer gym workouts rather than working out at home, as long as the facilities are properly sanitized. Moreover, 43% of fitness enthusiasts are now adopting a hybrid workout setup that consists of in-person gym workouts and pre-recorded fitness videos. But what caused this fitness craze?
Article was specially written for https://health.gd by Alexa Hope.
The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) found several reasons why consumers are more motivated to prioritize their health nowadays. The survey found that 46% said remaining active is their number one goal for exercising, 35% believe exercising will help them maintain better overall mental well-being, and 32% exercise because they want to lose weight.
What is a Hollywood Body?
A BBC article shows how exposure to popular media and famous personalities influence perspectives on what the human body should look like, urging people to hit the gym more often. This is known as the Hollywood body. As the name suggests, a Hollywood body refers to a chiselled physique that Hollywood stars have often portrayed in films and television. For women, it means having an hourglass-shaped figure, while for men, it means having six-pack abs and muscular arms.
Megan Fox, Kate Upton, Scarlett Johansson, and Angelina Jolie are some actresses praised for their perfect Hollywood bodies. Apart from an hourglass-shaped figure, they are admired for their toned arms and stomach. They are also complimented for their long, lean legs when attending movie premieres and gala events. With this, most women, inside or outside the showbiz industry, aim to achieve the same physique.
On the other hand, Sylvester Stallone, Hugh Jackman, Dwayne Johnson, and Jason Momoa are some examples of male actors who train for months to achieve the ideal physique for their Hollywood roles. Because their leading characters in action films embody strength and masculinity, the audience expects actors to have six-pack abs, a chiselled jawline, and barely any fat on their sculpted physique. These physical characteristics of female and male Hollywood stars have become the standard for a Hollywood body mainly because it depicts power and confidence.
However, the Hollywood and film industry is already taking giant steps in helping people embrace their natural selves. Films like Hairspray celebrate and empowers female characters with different body sizes. Lila Hudson shared that Motormouth Maybelle from Hairspray, played by the icon, Queen Latifah, is one of the most influential and positive character depictions of a person that doesn’t conform to the usual female body type. This shows that the Hollywood body is becoming diverse, and every kind of body can be a Hollywood body.
While the classic “Hollywood body” may sound superficial, aspiring to have a Hollywood body like Angelina Jolie is not necessarily harmful, especially when done gradually and correctly. It can be inspiring and help people feel good about themselves, and it can also be a form of motivation to remind people to remain active and stay away from unhealthy eating habits. Lastly, having a reliable fitness coach or instructor can help people feel safe about starting their fitness journey and guide them to achieve attainable but challenging goals.
How to Achieve a Healthy Hollywood Body?
From an outside perspective, a Hollywood body type may seem unhealthy and unrealistic. However, this mindset trivializes actors’ and actresses’ efforts and hard work to achieve their body goals. A Hollywood body can be achieved with the proper diet and exercise.
In fitness expert Steve Zim’s book, 6 Weeks to a Hollywood Body, he explains how you can achieve a healthy and sustainable physique in a short period. To attain your desired goal, you must follow a balanced and nutritious diet, which will supercharge your metabolism and ensure you consume only good carbs and fats. In addition, you have to do regular cardio and strength and conditioning training to help shed body fats and reshape your muscles. The book aims to show fitness enthusiasts that having the perfect body is attainable with dedication and application.
Shedding the extra pounds alone is not enough, though. In our previous post on the ‘Benefits of Strength Training for Women’, we suggested incorporating strength training if you want to lose weight and get in shape. It will help ensure you have sufficient muscle strength and power to perform explosive exercises. Once you follow Zim’s suggested regimen, you’ll feel healthier and happier about your body.
The Hollywood Body Plan by David Higgins, a fitness trainer who worked with celebrities like Margot Robbie and Zoe Kravitz, talks about the importance of learning how one’s body moves. For instance, Margot Robbie personally chose to do Pilates and boxing instead of weight lifting for her role as Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad. This shows that he acknowledges his trainees’ different strengths and preferences when creating a healthy and effective workout plan. Higgins reminds aspiring health enthusiasts that performing the same workouts as Robbie won’t make them look like her since individuals have their physique, which is influenced by factors such as genes and diet.
However, it doesn’t mean you can’t be fit and healthy like Margot Robbie. In his 21-day workout plan, Higgins strategically included activities on strengthening your core, activating your glutes, and improving lower back movement and hip flexibility. While doing these workouts, you must also practice self-discipline and consistency when training your body to achieve your Hollywood body goal. His approach with Robbie shows that there can be myriad ways the Hollywood body can be achieved, depending on your workout preferences. Additionally, he emphasizes that a Hollywood body goal is not merely for aesthetics; it’s also about improving your overall health and living a better lifestyle.
Is the Hollywood Body a Healthy Aspiration?
Working towards that Hollywood body can motivate you to remain fit and healthy, and it will only become detrimental if you sacrifice your health and well-being for unrealistic goals. So, whatever makes you feel good about yourself and your body is a win-win situation.
