You can usually find Lucy Liu playing a fierce fighting female that kicks bad-guy booty in movies like Charlie’s Angels and Kill Bill. But did you know that when the camera stops rolling, she hits the gym to get her own butt kicked by her Pilates instructor?! You may think that Lucy was in her prime back in her twenties, but she says, “I’m smarter, stronger and more confident than I was in my twenties”…“I know who I am now, and I’m more accepting of myself.” She also comments how Pilates has changed her body for the better and even made her aware of muscles she never knew existed. As her new role on the CBS show “Elementary” takes off, she is more motivated than ever to stay healthy and fit. In the March 2013 issue of FITNESS the magazine, Lucy opens up further to discuss just how she is accomplishing her fitness goals.
What was the toughest training you have had to do for a movie role?
“Charlie’s Angels because it was eight hours a day, five days a week. I thought I was fairly fit when I started, but I wasn’t. The kind of moves we were doing with all the kicking—oh my god! I couldn’t even lift my legs afterward.”
On the pressures to look a specific way or be a certain size:
“Part of being an actress is that people are going to judge you whether you gain or lose weight—it’s just sort of a given. But I’ve never had issues with food. When I was growing up, my family didn’t have a lot. So if there was food, I was going to be eating it!”
Who keeps you motivated?
“A group of five of us, friends and friends of friends, got an email chain going and we all set goals: an ideal weight, inches we wanted to lose, eating habits we wanted to adopt. We’d email saying, “I ran today”. Or “I ate this,” and we’d share recipes. Then we’d celebrate by going to a show or taking a group Pilates class when each of us reached our goals. We also celebrated mini milestones along the way to keep our motivation up.”
What was your goal?
“To lose the five extra pounds I’ve had for years, which I did. It may not sound like a lot, but for my height, it makes a big difference. And doing it with a support group of my girlfriends made it easier.”
Talk about how you meditate to keep your Zen
“I’ve been meditating twice a day for about two years now and it’s like saying a prayer. It’s helped me so much! It gives me a feeling of comfort and safety. You realize that you can live and work and do all the things you need to do. It makes me feel like I’m part of a bigger plan, and that’s a very nice feeling.”
On how Pilates has transformed your body and body image
“Pilates and running help to clear my mind and they really strengthen me. Pilates has engaged my core and made me feel more confident in that area. I don’t have long legs so I’ve never said, ‘Oh, I love my legs.’ But I feel like they look longer and feel better than they ever have with the combination of Pilates and running.
How do you fit in an exercise routine with your crazy schedule?
“I don’t always, but I can do Pilates at home with a ball and I have a treadmill. I run while watching Downton Abbey, and I’ll increase the speed a little at a time, decrease it, and then raise it again. Each time I’ll say, “Just another 0.2 miles.” I’ve found running is the fastest way to lose weight.”
What are your healthy, go-to food options and snacks?
“When I’m exercising, I’m not as prone to eating sweets and junk because I tend to feel really good about myself and my body feels good, so I don’t want to ruin it. I have only juice before noon, usually bananas with berries, and I bring grapefruit or green juice to the set with me. If I’m really hungry I might have a breakfast burrito with spinach, a fried egg and tomatoes. For dinner I usually have fish with steamed vegetables or a salad. But I also eat pasta with pesto or veggie pizza because when you’re standing all day that’s a workout, and sometimes you need to carbo load.”
If you are interested in learning more about Lucy, her Pilates routine, or what’s on her iPod for workout jams, grab a copy of the March 2013 issue of FITNESS!
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