Jennifer Aniston "Hates" Doing Ab Workouts, but These 5 Core Moves Are the Exception

Published on 6/23/2021 at 6:05 PM

Vital Proteins

Jennifer Aniston has a confession. "I hate abs," she told POPSUGAR (which we think is totally fair!). But when she does core workouts, some of her go-to exercises are Russian twists, a "good three-minute plank," bicycle crunches, standing oblique crunches, and Pilates 100s. It's fitting since Pilates actually is her favorite type of sweat session.

Aniston injured her back last year, so she stuck with Pilates for about six months for rehabilitation purposes. "I almost don't feel like I'm doing abs when I'm doing Pilates because it's not like, 'OK, here we go!' You're just doing beautiful movements," she said of the low-impact exercise style. If you have access to a studio with reformers, Aniston also suggests utilizing that: "it changes your body."

Otherwise, the actress has been able to get back to doing what she calls 15-15-15, which consists of 15 minutes on the elliptical, 15 minutes on an indoor bike, and 15 minutes of a walk-jog. She's also a huge fan of workout apps such as The Class, Alo Moves, and Peloton.

Aniston views wellness holistically, meaning she believes that you have to take care of yourself physically, nutritionally, emotionally, and spiritually. "As important as it is to be mindful of what you put in your body on a nutritional level, I also believe what you listen to, what you read, what you ingest visually or just audibly is extremely important," she noted. "I've been careful about what I take in mentally as well as nutritionally." That's why she's a proponent of adding products from Vital Proteins, for whom she is chief creative officer, into her coffee and smoothies (she suggests the Chocolate Collagen Peptides because "what's better than chocolate anything?!").

Ahead, check out those five ab moves — not a full workout — that Aniston does (even if she isn't really into core sessions). We're right there with you, Jen. Right there with you.

Seated Russian Twist

Sitting on the ground, lean slightly back without rounding your spine at all. It is really important, and difficult, to keep your back straight.
Pull your navel to your spine, and twist slowly to the left. Move through center, and rotate to the right. The movement is not large and comes from the ribs rotating, not from your arms swinging.
Keep twisting from side to side. You can add a dumbbell to progress the move.

Elbow Plank

Start face down on the floor resting on your forearms and knees.
Come up off of your knees and onto your toes, resting mainly on your elbows.
Pull your navel into your spine to engage your core and prevent your booty from sticking up.
Picture your body as a long, straight board or plank.
Aniston said she likes a three-minute plank, but hold this for as long as you can or as long as your workout requires.

Bicycle Crunches

Lie flat on the floor with your lower back pressed to the ground. Interlace your fingers, and put your hands behind your head.
Bring your knees in toward your chest, and lift your shoulder blades off the ground. This is your starting position.
Straighten your right leg out and parallel to the ground while turning your upper body to the left, bringing your right elbow toward the left knee. Make sure your rib cage is moving and not just your elbows.
Return your arm and leg back to your starting position, and do the same motion on the other side to complete one rep (and to create the pedaling motion).
Keep alternating.

Standing Oblique Side Bend

Hold a dumbbell in each hand or just on the side of your body that you'll be bending. Plant both feet on the floor, shoulder-width apart. This is your starting position. (Aniston also likes to hold a kettlebell in one hand similar to windmills.)
Stretching your right obliques, lower the kettlebell down your left leg and draw your ribs toward your left hip.
Contract your right obliques to straighten your torso to return to the starting position.
Do the same number of reps on either side.

Pilates 100s

Start lying on your back with your legs in tabletop position (hips and knees at right angles). Engage your deep abs to round your lower spine into the floor.
Exhale and lift your upper back until the bottom tips of your shoulder blades skim the floor.
Straighten your legs to a 45-degree angle (but make sure your low back is staying connected to the floor). Reach your arms toward your feet. Your arms will be about two inches off the floor. This is your starting position.
Pump your arms up and down with a small range of motion, keeping your elbows straight. Inhale for five arm pumps, and exhale for five pumps. That completes one set or cycle (10 pumps). Repeat the cycle nine more times for a total of 100 pumps.