Elizabeth Banks Fitness: Hunger Games Star Follows Gluten Free Diet, Loves Iced Drinks and Shares Other Healthy Secrets

Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Banks looks tall and lean @ The 2016 Glamour Women of the Year Awards in London. 06/08/2016. Credit: Splash News.

Buying more bananas than cookies when grocery shopping is one of the diet pearls of wisdom The Hunger Games’ Elizabeth Banks has for those who want to be as thin as she is, though she does keep a stash of Girl Scout cookies for herself in her freezer (it helps her forget they’re there). But you can bet when it comes time to prep for a role, Elizabeth Banks’s gluten free diet kicks in, which essentially means she ditches all things white. Thanks to her self-proclaimed fast metabolism, keeping weight off is easy for her, but her rather strict diet is also a factor.

Once it’s time to film, Elizabeth Banks’s diet consists of essentially eating no rice, pasta, or bread; instead she eats a ton of protein and veggies, along with lots of water, tea, and—surprisingly—alcohol. The actress has often been snapped by paparazzi with iced drinks, so they must be a particular favorite of hers as well, though what these drinks contain remains a mystery. On Elizabeth Banks’s Instagram account, she recently shared a pic of some alcoholic beverages at the Democratic National Convention.

Portion control is another way that Banks stays so lean. She admits that she and her husband typically split an appetizer and an entrée. One of her favorite dishes is meatloaf, especially her dad’s version, but she claims to have mastered the art herself and makes it often. Another favorite dish is chicken done in a slow cooker with bay leaves and garlic. She says the chicken just falls off the bone.

Elizabeth Banks

Elizabeth Banks looks tall and lean @ The 2016 Glamour Women of the Year Awards in London. 06/08/2016. Credit: Splash News.

Elizabeth Banks Workout Routine

Elizabeth Banks’s fitness routine is about as grueling as her eating routine. She admits that she’s genetically gifted, but to keep her body in tight condition she needs to work out regularly. When Banks is in Los Angeles, she works with her trainer three times a week for about an hour each time. Every session is different to keep the body challenged and avoid the dreaded plateau.

The two focus on functional agility training that includes a mix of cardio, medicine ball exercises, plyometric exercises, free weights, and TRX training. Below are two of the exercises they use to get Banks’s body in shape.

Dog Down Pushups

From a downward dog position, close up the space between your hands and feet, and bend at the knees; your hips should be pointing up to the ceiling. While doing this press your chest towards your thighs. Holding this position, bend your elbows to the sides so that the top of your head taps the floor. Press back up to the starting position. This exercise is great for your shoulders, and you can adjust the difficulty by widening the triangle position made by your body.

Sawing Plank

Start in a plank position on your forearms. Push your weight forward so your chin is above your fingertips. Allow your toes to roll over the tops. Stay as flat as you can, and engage your core to pull your body back in your heels to get back in the starting position. Basically you’re going to look like a saw moving horizontally, balancing on your forearms and toes.


Sources:
“The 26 Things Elizabeth Banks Can’t Live Without,” Women’s Health website; http://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/elizabeth-banks-2013, last accessed July 25, 2016.
“How Elizabeth Banks Stays in Camera-Ready Shape,” Shape website; http://www.shape.com/celebrities/celebrity-workouts/how-elizabeth-banks-stays-camera-ready-shape, last accessed July 26, 2016.
Banks, Elizabeth, Instagram post, July 25, 2016; https://www.instagram.com/p/BIS6Lq7go47/?hl=en.