Jane Fonda Recalls Past Body Dysmorphia Struggles

Jane Fonda never aspired to be an actress when she was younger. "Young me did not want to be an actor. I didn't think I had talent; I didn't think I was pretty enough. I had a lot of body dysmorphia," she tells People in a new feature this week (May 4). She adds, "I was pretty lost as a young person."

The actress and activist overcame a turbulent childhood with her father, the late actor Henry Fonda. Her socialite mother, Frances, died by suicide when Fonda was 12. "Being young is really hard. Don't let anyone kid you," Fonda, 85, said. "I wish when I was younger, someone had said to me, 'Don't give up. Keep going. It'll get better.'"

Fast forward to 1982, when Fonda started a fitness revolution via Jane Fonda's Workout. It was based on a class she took from exercise instructor Leni Cazden, which made her feel in more control over her health after struggling with bulimia. The video sold more than 17 million copies.

"So many women said to me, 'My whole attitude about myself changed,'" Fonda said of her workout program. "That meant the world to me." Even well into her 80s, Fonda exercises three to four times a week with a trainer, goes on hikes, and sticks to a healthy diet. She says one of the main reasons she's happier today is that a lot of the existential questions she had when she was younger have now been answered. She added, "I don't take anything for granted, and I'm just amazed that at my age I'm still working and have a lot of energy. It's all a surprise to me."

Fonda will next be seen in the comedy Book Club: The Next Chapter, in theaters May 12. She stars alongside Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen for the sequel to their 2018 comedy. The movie follows best friends Diane (Keaton), Vivian (Fonda), Sharon (Bergen), and Carol (Steenburgen), who "take their book club to Italy for the fun girls' trip they never had." But "when things go off the rails and secrets are revealed, their relaxing vacation turns into a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country adventure."

We've all used the excuse of not having the right equipment to do a workout. Well, that isn't the case anymore, since there is a plethora of workouts out there to target what it is you want to work out, without any need of fancy equipment or any equipment at all! All you need is yourself and a good attitude.

Below, we've found the six best workouts for every skill level and type of workout you could possibly want to do.

This 20-minute full body routine is also apartment friendly, meaning there is no jumping involved in the workout in case you have downstairs neighbors or have a sleeping baby in a nearby room.

These workouts can be done indoor or outdoor, but just note that there will be jumping involved. In this video, Darryl Williams will show you how an effective workout doesn't require a gym membership.

This follow-along workout will include the following exercises: Jumping jacks to start the workout and warm the body up, steam engines to get the core warmed up as well, squats, burpees, supermans, which is a great back exercise, planks, rest breaks, imaginary jump ropes, calf raises, arm circles to get those shoulders burning, ankle taps, glute bridges, push ups, toe touches, mountain climbers, side planks, raise the roofs, and flutter kicks.

In this video, you will be doing 10 minutes of nonstop, fast-pace cardio using five different types of exercises for 45 seconds on, 15 seconds off of: jumping jacks, mountain climbers, box jumps and burpees, some footwork and ice-skaters.

Pamela Reif What made a beginner friendly workout using basic movements that are not too complicated or hard to perform. The workout sequences repeat, giving you a chance to get used to the movements and get a better feeling for them.

In this video, you will be doing 30 exercises in 30 minutes, with 10 seconds of rest in between exercises. What's great about this video is that it is easy to follow, as there is a preview window of what exercise is next during your rest time.

This is the full list of exercises below:

Warm Up

Air Squats
Jumping Jacks
Dead Bugs
Lunge Stretch
Half Burpees

Lower Body

Jumping Squats
Squat Pulses
Wall Sit
Glute Bridge Right Leg
Glute Bridge Legt Leg
Reverse Lunges
Burpees
Star Jumps

Upper Body

Pike Push Ups
Pike Push Up Hold
Hand Release Push Ups
Low Push Up Hold
Shoulder Taps
Diamond Push Ups
Back Extensions
Superman Hold

Abs

Low Plank Climbers
One Leg Plank Right Leg
One Leg Plank Left Leg
Commandos
Side Plank Left Side
Side Plank Right Side
Bicycle Crunches
Leg Raises
Hollow Hold

This core-focused workout by YouTube channel MadFit is 45 seconds on, 15 seconds off of constant movement with 20 different ab exercises.