{"id":24888,"date":"2014-01-06T14:40:32","date_gmt":"2014-01-06T19:40:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fitzness.com\/blog\/?p=24888"},"modified":"2022-03-28T09:27:05","modified_gmt":"2022-03-28T14:27:05","slug":"criminal-minds-star-aj-cook-on-staying-fit-and-lean-without-dieting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fitzness.com\/blog\/criminal-minds-star-aj-cook-on-staying-fit-and-lean-without-dieting\/","title":{"rendered":"Criminal Minds Star AJ Cook on Staying Fit and Lean without Dieting"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

If you’ve been to Fitzness.com before, you know that we believe diets are 100% stupid. Eating healthy <\/a>and working out is a way of life that always yields great results. A.J. Cook is a busy lady who seems to adhere to the same philosophy. The actress who plays Supervisor Special Agent Jennifer \u201cJJ\u201d Jareau on the hit-drama, Criminal Minds, spills on juggling her busy schedule while playing her favorite role, mother to her 5-year-old son Mekhai. She graces the cover of the January\/February edition of Women’s Running Magazine, which generously shared some of the highlights of her interview with us. Check those highlights out below, and to see A.J’s complete feature … pick up at a copy of Women’s Running on newsstands near you.<\/p>\n

On how she struggled to be Hollywood thin: <\/b> \u201cThe best thing I ever did was stop dieting. My whole life it\u2019s been this struggle where you feel like you don\u2019t look good enough, you\u2019re not skinny enough. I don\u2019t consider it a chore to eat properly and work out. I want to do it to be as healthy as I can for my son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Moving on after cheat meals: <\/b>\u201cIt\u2019s not the end of the world if you have some ice cream. Just eat more vegetables the next day. Don\u2019t put so much pressure on yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>How she sneaks in exercising in between her busy schedule for \u201cCriminal Minds\u201d: <\/b>\u201cI think what changed is that my life got exponentially busier, and now I look forward to the time in the day where I get to escape. And the older I get, the more I value that I only have one body, and I\u2019ve got to take good care of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>She\u2019s listens to her body: <\/b>\u201cAt the end of the day, I want to do what\u2019s best for my body and best for my health. Do I eat chocolate? Yeah. Do I eat it every day? No. I just try to eat healthy as much as possible, and everything in moderation. And I\u2019ve learned to listen to my body. If my body wants a steak, I probably need some iron. It\u2019s amazing when you listen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>On how having a baby was a game changer for her: <\/b>\u201cYou give birth to this beautiful creature, and life has so much more meaning than whether or not you\u2019re skinny enough or pretty enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>Her favorite snacks to indulge on: <\/b>\u201cSalt and Vinegar Kettle Chips. Yeah, I\u2019m kind of addicted to those.\u201d<\/p>\n

A.J.\u2019s \u201cbusy mom\u201d Eating Menu:<\/b><\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Breakfast \u2013<\/b> Egg white omelet or an egg-white scramble with chicken, avocado, and tomato. Or smoothie.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Lunch \u2013 <\/b>A wrap with turkey or chicken, or a salad.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Dinner \u2013 <\/b>Salad with protein, either fish or steak.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Snack \u2013 <\/b>Piece of chocolate.<\/p>\n