Julie Benz is offering up some over-50 fitspiration in her workout clothes. In a new social media post The Dexter alum shows off her incredibly fit figure – including her washboard abs – in a sports bra and leggings. A little workout inspiration for all you guys feeling your age 🤪 Most of the women I train are over 45, They are STRONG, they choose to #agegracefully & CHOOSE to be in charge of their bodies 💪🏼You CAN NOT out run aging, it’s inevitable, but you CAN choose HOW you do it. Flip the script on getting older, #ageisjustanumber. I know its scary but there are so many of out here pulling you up & out of your rut🙈 Allow us to 𝓘𝓝𝓢𝓟𝓘𝓡𝓔 𝓨𝓞𝓤 ✨Big thank you to Ms. @juliebenzmft for setting the bar high for women over 50!!! We love you,” trainer Christine Roderick captioned the post. How does Benz, 51, approach diet, fitness, and self-care? Here is everything you need to know about her lifestyle habits.
Julie loves biking. “Indoor cycling gives me the calorie burn that I need and works my fast twitch muscles,” she told Self. She added to Los Angeles Magazine that she regularly hits Cycle House in LA. “It’s my church! The instructors are amazing. I leave Nichelle’s class dripping sweat and feeling inspired. There’s a real sense of community there. Friday nights they have this happy hour ride, a 45-minute class followed by cocktails on the patio. It’s a great way to meet your fellow riders. On Saturdays, Nick teaches the 1,000 calorie ride. It’s a killer. The best thing about Cycle House is that for every class you take, two meals are donated to those in need through Feed America,” she says.
Julie also enjoys pilates. “Pilates gives me the muscle-building slow burn and also increases my flexibility. Both are extremely tough core workouts and they complement each other perfectly,” she told Self. According to research, Pilates exercises are designed to increase muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility, and to improve posture and balance. Experts maintain that it is a great workout for leaning out.
Benz’s go-to exercise is the plank with resistance band leg raises. “This move is like wearing full-body Spanx—it tightens EVERYTHING! I travel a lot and I always take my resistance bands with me so I can do this move anywhere,” she told Self.
Sometimes Julie does her workouts on a trampoline. In one video she does a Body by Simone workout with some bounce. “Working out from home using the @bodybysimone app!! Dogs not included! Stay healthy, stay strong, be kind and WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!” she captioned the post. Adding a spring to your step can help you get into shape faster. A NASA study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology claims that rebounding exercise is 68 percent more efficient than jogging. As far as calories burned, a study by the American Council on Exercise found that mini trampoline workouts effectively burn an average of 12.4 calories per minute for men and 9.4 calories per minute for women. According to a 2016 in the Journal of Sport and Health Science trampoline jumping also helps with bone density and strength.
Julie’s main form of fitness as she ages is strength training. She does a lot of exercises with simple weights and kettlebells, like kettlebell squats and weighted lunges. According to the Mayo Clinic, strength and weight training help reduce body fat, preserve and increase lean muscle mass, and burn calories more efficiently. Strength training may also help you:
- Develop strong bones
- Manage your weight
- Enhance your quality of life
- Manage chronic conditions
- Sharpen your thinking skills