I remember the first time I realized that a Jennifer Lopez workout was not like everybody else's. It was while watching her dance as a Fly Girl on In Living Color back in the early '90s. At the time, I was maybe, probably, definitely too young to be watching the subversive sketch comedy show that launched the careers of both J.Lo and Jim Carrey, but if you watch this audition tape of Jenny from the Block busting a move, you'll see why her fitness routines, workouts, and general healthy habits have been fascinating the sweaty masses for the past 30 (!) years.
Thanks to the advent of Instagram, you no longer have to rely on grainy footage from VHS tapes (remember those?) to get a glimpse at J.Lo's workout routine. She and her fitness buddy/boo ARod are both constantly posting and talking about their exercise and diet habits on social media and during interviews. On the off chance you don't have hours to spend scrolling through their feeds, though, here is a highlight reel of every important thing that's ever been revealed about Jennifer Lopez's workout routine on the internet so far.
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1
She Is All About The Abs Workouts
It seems that 50 is a magic number for Jennifer Lopez, and it's not just because it happens to be her age.J.Lo’s trainer told O, the Oprah Magazine that her typical core workout starts with a set of 50 hanging ab raises, 50 rope crunches, and 50 incline sit ups with a 45-pound plate. The operative word here is starts... Here's the Jennifer Lopez abs workout in its entirety.
Set 1: 50 hanging ab raises.50 rope crunches50 incline sit ups with a 45 pound plate.
Set 2 : Everything from the first set but with 35 reps.
Set 3: Same thing, but with 21 reps this time.
2
She's A Fan Of Pole Workouts
Of her time spent preparing for her role as a stripper-turned-extortionist in Hustlers, here's what J.Lo told Jimmy Kimmel about learning to pole dance: "It's, like, acrobatic, it's a different muscle group," she said. "And the things that they do with their legs and everything and go upside down...it's hard." Because of the physical demands, she says: "I have a lot of respect for people who do the pole."
3
J.Lo Doesn't Do Rest Days
Consistency is key when it comes to maintaining strength, endurance, and yes, abs. So it's not super surprising that Jennifer Lopez "very rarely skips a workout," which she revealed to Us Weekly in 2015. Want to see the receipts? This is a photo of her pre-workout this past Christmas Eve.
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4
She Isn't Afraid To Lift Heavy
If there was every any doubt out J.Lo's status as an all-fitness badass, watching her leg press nearly 300 pounds (not one, not twice, but 10 TIMES) is all you need to understand how seriously committed she is to strength training.
5
J.Lo Doesn't Just Work Out For Physical Gains—But Mental Ones Too
"Sometimes when I get home and I'm not feeling so great, I make myself go to the gym," J.Lo told Redbook in 2010. "Then I come home...and I feel pepped up and great about myself." Endorphins are real, y'all.
6
Jennifer Lopez Likes To Focus On The Three B's During Workouts
Before a performance as part of her It's My Part tour last summer, J.Lo posted an Instagram story of her pre-show prep workout in which she noted that there were three muscle groups in particular she likes to focus on during workouts: biceps, back, and booty. Not a bad trio, TBH.
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7
She Leaves It All On the Dance Floor (And Gym Floor)
Given how dedicated she was to preparing for her role in Hustlers, it's hardly surprising that Jennifer Lopez doesn't phone it in when it comes to workout out. But one of her trainers, David Kirsch, confirmed as much to People in 2017: "She’s genetically blessed, she’s physically gifted with an incredible amount of physical energy, but also this beautiful amount of mental and emotional energy. She’s very connected to her body, and she’s got crazy discipline."
8
J.Lo Doesn't Take Fitness Too Seriously
Sure, she's clearly dedicated to her workouts, but J.Lo knows how to let loose and have fun too, as evidenced by this Instagram post from ARod. "VerifiedI’ve heard of hot yoga. Even goat yoga. What kind of yoga is this?" he wrote in the caption. J.Lo-ga?
9
Girl's Got Goals
How does J.Lo stay accountable when it comes to working out—even with an insane schedule? Well, the hashtag int his photo offers a clue. It says: Make promises to yourself and keep them. Clearly, J.Lo is not afraid of commitment.
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10
She Doesn't Skip Warm-Ups
One of her personal trainers Tracy Anderson told People in 2016 that she likes to incorporate music into we pre-workout routine. “I do an upper body warmup with her,” Anderson said. “We do two songs without weights, and then we add three-pound weights, and sometimes I add a song with five-pound weights as well.”
11
J.Lo Works Out At Home
Okay, this Instagram video of J.Lo boxing in her living room is technically an ad, but the star has reveled that she does work out at home. She even installed a portable pole in her house so that she could do pole dancing workouts at home.
12
And Understands That A Good Activewear Outfit Can Actually Motivate You To Work Out
If I had to guess what Jennifer Lopez's personality type would be based on her activewear, I'd go with self-assured, duh. The star understands the power of a good outfit, whether it's meant for the stage, the screen, or just the gym.
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13
Oh, She Also Loves Dance As Cardio And A Confidence Booster
"I am 100 percent convinced that working out is part of what makes me so happy. Dance has always been a huge part of my life and taking the time to move my body and do something that's so good for me is key to my happiness,” J.Lo told Hello. “When my confidence is lagging, I dance. There's something about seeing what my body is capable of and feeling the endorphin rush that comes with a good dance session that really helps boost my confidence and my mood. I still consider myself a dancer at heart and I love it."
14
J.Lo Prioritizes Fitness
“I really believe that when you take care of yourself and work to stay healthy, you're better able to take care of those you love. So working out is definitely a priority for me," J.Lo told Hello.
15
Girl Hearts Her TrueFusion Workouts
...almost as much as ARod. The couple are both very into the the mixed modality studio, which includes workouts like hot yoga and heated bootcamps.
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16
J.Lo Relies On The (Fitness) Buddy System
J.Lo and ARod have made no secret about the fact that they are partners both in life and at the gym.
17
She's Into Fitness Apps
While traveling and away from her home gym and personal trainers, Jennifer does what anyone with a smartphone and wifi access does when they want to work out—she uses a fitness app. Specifically, she shouted out the Fitplan app in this Instagram video of her and ARod working on at the Dallas Cowboys gym.
18
J.Lo Uses Fitness Challenges To Prep For Big Events
She and ARod revealed the 10-day fitness challenge they'd committed to do together. The couple has also done a 10-day challenge to cut sugar and carbs.
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19
She Works Out Before Big Events
Nothing will help get rid of nerves quite like a big rush of endorphins, which could be why J.Lo opts to hit the gym before hitting the red carpet (as she did ahead of the Golden Globes) or a performance like the one she did here before appearing on SNL.
20
Most Of All, She Understands That A Comprehensive Workout Plan Is About Exercise And Nutrition
"You got to work out, you got to watch what you eat," she told Us Weekly. "It's a job—you've got to buckle down."
Jordan Galloway
Jordan Galloway is a certified personal trainer and the fitness director for Women’s Health magazine and website.