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He might be 82 years old, but Harrison Ford is still cracking the whip as Indiana Jones.
The latest installment, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, saw him team up with Phoebe Waller-Bridge in 2023 for the first Indy outing in 15 years, and he’s still got that movie-star magic.
Ford has enjoyed a long and illustrious career, starring in huge action blockbusters such as Apocalypse Now, Blade Runner and, of course, the Star Wars films.
Demanding roles require a good level of physical fitness, and Ford has been open about needing to look after himself as he ages, but just how does he stay so fit at 82?
When it comes to exercise, ‘do what you enjoy’ is a good mantra. Not only are you more likely to want to do it in the first place, but you’re more likely to stick to it.
Speaking on The Ellen Show in 2020, Ford said: “I don’t work out like crazy. I work out a bit. I mean I ride bikes and I play tennis.”
His love of cycling was evident when filming Indiana Jones in Northumberland in 2021.
Despite gruelling 11-hour night shoots that finished at 5am, Ford was seen heading out on long bike rides after just six hours’ sleep.
Indy co-star Mads Mikkelsen gave The Hollywood Reporter some insight into Ford’s fitness: “It was the first time I met him, and he’s an insanely powerful person,” he said.
“Not just as an actor, but physically. I remember the first day we were shooting, it was a night shoot, then we stopped at 5am – and then he got on his mountain bike and went biking for 50 kilometres (31 miles).
"Harrison is a monster of a man, a very nice monster.”
Speaking to USA Today in 2020, Ford summed up his fitness as follows: “I’m healthy, I enjoy being active and fit. I’m aware of keeping my old [butt] in shape.”
Cycling offers many options. If you’re a fair-weather cyclist, you can head to the gym if it’s raining to use an indoor bike or take part in a spin class.
Outside, you have the choice of following one of our country’s cycling networks or going off road for some mountain biking.
Personal trainer and fitness instructor Julia Buckley highlights some of the benefits of cycling:
Ab wheels are great tools for strengthening your core, and it seems Ford is a fan.
They’re not as popular as they once were, owing to the advancements in gym equipment, meaning we have so much more to choose from, but they’re still great for working out at home.
They’re very reasonably priced, too, starting at around £9.
Appearing on The Ellen Show in 2017, Ford revealed he has a gym at home and does “weights and wheels”, demonstrating an ab wheel.
“You do the old-fashioned wheel thing on your knees?” Ellen DeGeneres asked, with Ford confirming.
Not only is Ford reaping the benefits of strength training by using weights, he will be maintaining strength in his stomach and lower back by using the ab wheel – important as we age to help avoid lower back issues by keeping good posture.
Buckley shares her top tips for getting started with an ab wheel at home:
When it comes to a healthy diet, Ford adopts a clean-eating approach, telling DeGeneres he eats “practically nothing”, before further clarifying that he mainly sticks to fish and vegetables.
“It’s really boring,” he added.
Ford might not be enamoured with his diet of choice, but eating fish has many health benefits – researchers recently found that people who eat omega-3-rich foods, such as sardines, regularly are less likely to develop hearing issues.
Oily fish is also rich in vitamin D and could help to prevent heart disease.
Ford says: “I just decided I was tired of eating meat, and I know it’s not really good for the planet and it’s not really good for me.”
A lifelong environmentalist, Ford addressed the UN in 2019 on the importance of protecting the rainforests.
Your questions answered about what really is a good 5k time.
