From red carpets to dramatic reunion specials, the “Real Housewives” consistently showcase impressive physiques, prompting many to wonder about the fitness regimens behind their glamorous lives. Beyond the designer outfits and lavish lifestyles, these reality television personalities often commit to rigorous workout routines and healthy habits to maintain their shape. While personal trainers and exclusive gyms might be part of the equation, their approaches often emphasize consistency, variety, and finding what works for their individual bodies and busy schedules.
Inside the Workouts of Iconic Housewives
The stars of the “Real Housewives” franchises embrace diverse fitness philosophies, from intense weight training and cardio to more holistic approaches incorporating yoga and walking.
Teresa Giudice (The Real Housewives of New Jersey)
Teresa Giudice is known for her dedication to fitness, particularly weight training and cardio. She reportedly dedicates 45 minutes daily to weight training, targeting different body areas, and also incorporates 90 minutes of cardio per day, split into two 45-minute sessions on a treadmill or elliptical. Her routine also includes yoga. Giudice’s commitment to fitness intensified during her time in prison, where she worked out up to three times a day and even excelled in planking competitions, holding a plank for 9 minutes and 19 seconds. She focuses on lower core exercises, weighted core moves, and Pilates for her toned abs. Teresa trains 4 to 5 days a week.
Lisa Rinna (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills)
Lisa Rinna, at 60, has maintained a consistent fitness regimen since she was 16, starting with Jazzercise. Her go-to workouts include yoga, which she has practiced for 26 years, and dancing. Rinna also enjoys SoulCycle, hiking, and long walks, especially when traveling. She emphasizes the importance of moving every day and finding what works for her body, often mixing up her routine 5-6 days a week. She calls herself a “dirty vegan,” primarily plant-based but allowing meat when needed.
Kyle Richards (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills)
Kyle Richards, one of the longest-running “Real Housewives,” significantly transformed her physique by improving her diet and exercise. She believes in shaking up her workout routine daily to prevent her body from acclimating and getting stuck. Her varied regimen includes Peloton, an extensive ab routine, and increased weight lifting. Kyle also incorporates Pilates for toning and flexibility, hiking and running for cardio, and yoga for mental well-being and flexibility. She enjoys outdoor activities and regularly alternates between different workout classes, including boxing and SoulCycle.
Bethenny Frankel (The Real Housewives of New York City)
Bethenny Frankel champions a balanced and “no-frills” approach to fitness. She states she doesn’t crash diet or have a strict gym routine, preferring to walk, especially long walks on the beach. Her main form of exercise is aiming for 10,000 steps per day, often outdoors in nature. She occasionally includes yoga classes but avoids intense workouts. Frankel prioritizes sleep and hydration, and believes in listening to her body and not being “shackled and imprisoned by dieting.”
Dolores Catania (The Real Housewives of New Jersey)
Dolores Catania’s weight loss journey, which saw her lose over 20 pounds, involved a combination of diet, medication, and exercise. She works with a trainer and integrates strength training and cardio, including walking, Pilates, and resistance training. Dolores emphasizes finding activities she enjoys to ensure consistency and prevent dreading her workouts. She often works out three to four times a week with her boyfriend, Paulie Connell.
Kandi Burruss (The Real Housewives of Atlanta)
Kandi Burruss lost 31 pounds by prioritizing her health. Her fitness routine includes working with a personal trainer who helped her incorporate strength training, cardio, yoga, and dancing. Kandi notes that exercise helps release endorphins, improving her mental well-being. She also uses resistance bands for toning, praising them for their portability and effectiveness. Kandi aims to incorporate movement gradually and sustainably into her busy life, starting with walks and light cardio.
Erika Jayne (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills)
Erika Jayne, known for her dynamic dance performances, extends her fitness routine beyond the stage. Her approach to exercise focuses on consistency and finding enjoyable activities, rather than extreme workouts. She incorporates a mix of strength training, cardio, and yoga to keep her body strong and toned. Erika works out three to four times weekly, increasing her focus during dance rehearsals for her shows. Hydration and mindful eating are also crucial to her routine.
Ramona Singer (The Real Housewives of New York City)
Ramona Singer focuses on core training, utilizing kettlebells and Bosu balls, and alternating planks. Her routine also includes reverse lunges with presses, triceps push-downs, and V-ups with a bar weight. She integrates cardio workouts like 1-2 miles on the treadmill on her core training off-days. Ramona also enjoys walking on the beach, covering two to four miles daily, and uses free weights at home. She believes in the importance of lifting weights for toning, especially as one gets older.
Heather Dubrow (The Real Housewives of Orange County)
Heather Dubrow incorporates Orange Theory, a one-hour workout, almost daily. She also enjoys BOXHAUS, a 45-minute boxing workout. Dubrow is a proponent of “cardio fasting,” working out on an empty stomach to burn fat stores. She advises exercising first thing in the morning to avoid excuses later in the day and believes in high-intensity interval training, even for short durations like 10 minutes.
Key Takeaways from “Real Housewives” Fitness Journeys
While their specific routines vary, several common themes emerge from the fitness journeys of these reality stars:
Consistency is Key
Many of the Housewives emphasize that regular, consistent movement is more effective than sporadic, intense workouts. Lisa Rinna and Erika Jayne, for instance, highlight consistency as a cornerstone of their fitness success.
Embrace Variety
To avoid boredom and plateauing, most stars, including Kyle Richards and Lisa Rinna, advocate for mixing up workout routines. This keeps the body guessing and targets various muscle groups.
Listen to Your Body
Several Housewives, such as Lisa Rinna and Dolores Catania, stress the importance of listening to their bodies and finding exercises they genuinely enjoy. This approach fosters a healthier relationship with exercise and makes the routine more sustainable.
Integrate Exercise into Daily Life
For busy individuals like the “Real Housewives,” integrating movement into daily life, whether through walks, dancing, or hotel gym sessions, is crucial. Bethenny Frankel’s emphasis on walking 10,000 steps daily is a prime example.
Beyond the Gym: Holistic Well-being
Many stars recognize that fitness extends beyond physical exercise to include diet, hydration, and mental well-being. Erika Jayne prioritizes mental health and stress management techniques like meditation and adequate sleep as integral to her routine. Similarly, Kandi Burruss found that exercise helped her mentally, releasing endorphins and aiding in emotional healing.
The “Real Housewives” demonstrate that while the journey to fitness can look different for everyone, fundamental principles like consistency, variety, and a holistic approach are universally beneficial.
