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How Does Cher Stay Youthful? Exploring the Icon's Diet, Fitness, and Lifestyle

4 min read

In a 2023 interview with People, Cher, then 77, posted on X (formerly Twitter) asking, "When will I feel OLD?". Her seemingly ageless appearance and boundless energy have long been a subject of public fascination, prompting many to wonder: how does Cher stay youthful? The answer lies in a disciplined approach to diet, exercise, and a willingness to embrace modern beauty treatments.

Quick Summary

Cher's enduring vitality is the result of a lifelong commitment to health, including a nearly vegetarian diet, a vigorous exercise routine featuring yoga and Zumba, and a dedicated skincare regimen. She has also been transparent about her use of cosmetic surgery over the years. Her positive attitude and genetics also play a significant role.

Key Points

  • Strategic Diet: Cher follows a nearly vegetarian, plant-based diet, avoiding high-fat dairy and red meat since 1991, which aligns with modern health recommendations and promotes longevity.

  • Rigorous Fitness: Her workout routine includes a mix of high-intensity activities like Zumba and more static exercises like yoga and wall sits, which she admits she works harder at as she gets older.

  • Honest About Cosmetics: Cher is refreshingly candid about her plastic surgery, acknowledging procedures like a facelift, nose job, and breast augmentation, normalizing the conversation around cosmetic enhancements.

  • Dedicated Skincare: She has a multi-brand skincare regimen, having used products like Retin-A for acne treatment, which also provides anti-aging benefits, along with other cleansers and moisturizers.

  • Positive Mindset: In addition to her health habits, Cher credits a positive attitude and a "lust for life," staying active both professionally and socially, which helps her feel young.

  • Good Genetics: Strong genetics, evidenced by her long-living and active mother and grandmother, are also cited by Cher as a contributing factor to her youthful vitality.

In This Article

A Lifelong Commitment to a Healthy Lifestyle

For over three decades, Cher has maintained a notably strict dietary and fitness regimen, a foundation for her sustained health and youthful energy. In a 1991 interview with People magazine, she and her nutritionist, Robert Haas, detailed a wellness plan that is remarkably similar to the modern "Harvard diet". This long-term consistency has paid dividends in her longevity and appearance.

Cher's Diet: Plant-Based and Disciplined

In 1991, Cher adopted a diet focused heavily on whole foods, eliminating many of the high-fat and processed items she once enjoyed. Her approach is nearly vegetarian, avoiding red meat and limiting dairy.

  • Eliminates cheese: In her 1991 interview, she stated, "I think cheese is one of the worst things for the body. It doesn't digest well, and most cheeses are too high in fat and cholesterol".
  • Chooses brown rice over white: Opting for complex carbohydrates over refined ones provides more sustained energy.
  • Loves legumes: She incorporates lentils, pinto beans, and kidney beans into her meals regularly.
  • Prioritizes fruit and vegetables: These are staples for her sugar cravings and nutrient intake.
  • Avoids unhealthy habits: Cher is vocal about abstaining from drugs, coffee, and excessive alcohol, a rarity among many celebrities.

The Workout Ethic: No 'Playing the Age Card'

Cher's fitness routine is a powerful testament to her work ethic. She works out consistently with a trainer who, as she told Hello! Magazine, doesn't let her "play the age card". As she has gotten older, she has admitted to working "twice as hard" in the gym to maintain her physique.

  • Abs and Zumba: At 75, she tweeted about her regimen, which includes a combination of ab exercises and Zumba, a high-energy cardio dance class.
  • Yoga and wall sits: To maintain flexibility and strength, yoga and static exercises like wall sits are part of her regular routine.
  • Surfing: An unlikely but favorite fun workout for the "tomboy" at heart.

Skincare and Cosmetic Procedures: An Open Approach

Cher has famously been candid about her use of cosmetic surgery, an attitude that has both invited public scrutiny and garnered respect for its honesty. Unlike many who deny any and all procedures, Cher has approached the topic with a sense of humor and frankness, joking in 2018, "Yes, I've had a facelift, but who hasn't?".

The Skincare Product Mix

Despite her openness about surgery, Cher maintains a robust daily skincare regimen that includes a mix of over-the-counter and specialized products.

Product Category Cher's Reported Favorites Purpose
Cleanser Aveeno Ultra Calming Foaming Cleanser and Dr. Barbara Sturm face wash A gentle, sensitive-skin cleanser for daily use, or a deeper-clean exfoliator
Targeted Treatments Proactiv, Retin-A Fought hormonal cystic acne in the 70s and still uses Retin-A for its anti-aging benefits
Moisturizers Dr. Barbara Sturm's eye cream, Jan Marini products Specialized hydration for delicate areas and overall skin smoothing

The Surgical and Non-Surgical Tweakments

Cher has acknowledged having several procedures over her career. These are part of a larger, long-term approach to maintenance, rather than a single dramatic overhaul.

  • Rhinoplasty: She admitted to having a nose job early in her career.
  • Facelift: In 2018, she confirmed having a facelift but has consistently denied rumors of more extreme procedures like rib removal.
  • Breast Augmentation: While she did have breast surgery, she has been open about her dissatisfaction with the results.
  • Possible Subtle Treatments: Experts speculate her regimen likely includes non-invasive treatments like Botox and fillers to maintain proportional facial features over time.

Genetics and Mindset: The Intangible Factors

While lifestyle and cosmetic interventions are major contributors, Cher herself credits her family's incredible genetics. Her mother, Georgia Holt, lived to 96, and her grandmother was a daily gym-goer well into her 70s.

However, Cher also maintains a mindset that defies age stereotypes. She keeps up with trends, has friends of all ages, and continues to create new music and plan memoirs. This "lust for life," as she calls it, is a powerful force. She famously told People that she is simply "getting along" and not consciously trying to be or feel young, but that her spirit remains vivacious.

Conclusion: A Multi-faceted Strategy

Cher’s timelessness is not a single secret but a strategic combination of factors. It's a testament to the power of a disciplined lifestyle, a proactive approach to beauty, and an indomitable spirit. Her healthy diet, consistent exercise, and thoughtful use of cosmetic procedures, combined with strong genetics, all contribute to her famously youthful appearance. Ultimately, Cher embodies the idea that aging is a process one can actively manage, not passively endure, by taking control of diet, fitness, and cosmetic choices while maintaining a vibrant and engaged outlook on life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Cher has followed a notably strict diet since 1991 that is nearly vegetarian. She avoids red meat, high-fat dairy like cheese, and coffee, favoring plant-based foods, legumes, vegetables, and fruit for energy.

Cher's rigorous exercise routine includes a variety of workouts such as Zumba, yoga, ab exercises, and wall sits. She has also mentioned enjoying more unique activities like surfing. She consistently trains with a trainer and works hard to maintain her physique.

Yes, Cher has been open and candid about having plastic surgery. She has confirmed having a facelift and rhinoplasty, though she has also been outspoken about negative experiences and denied rumors of other extreme procedures.

Cher's skincare routine is eclectic and includes products for sensitive skin like Aveeno Ultra Calming Foaming Cleanser, as well as prescribed treatments like Retin-A for acne control and anti-aging benefits. She has also mentioned using products from Dr. Barbara Sturm and Jan Marini.

Cher acknowledges that genetics play a significant role in her youthful appearance. She cites her mother, Georgia Holt, who lived to 96, and her active grandmother, highlighting a family history of longevity and good health.

Cher does not directly recommend plastic surgery for everyone, but she does not shy away from her own choices. Her candidness is more about normalizing the conversation, stating, "who hasn't?" when discussing her facelift.

Cher's attitude is a mix of frankness and defiance. While she admits getting older "sucks" and is not as fun, she also maintains a vibrant, active mindset, stating she doesn't feel her age and keeps up with current trends and has friends of all ages.

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Medical Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding personal health decisions.