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- Kevin Hart works out like a pro athlete. His trainer says heavy lifting isn’t the key to staying shredded. (businessinsider.com)
Kevin Hart’s Secret to Staying Shredded and Youthful in His 40s: It’s All About Longevity, Says Trainer
LOS ANGELES, CA – While many of us are still hitting snooze, comedian and actor Kevin Hart is already hitting the gym. For over a decade, the 46-year-old star has been committed to an intense fitness regimen, treating his body like a professional athlete under the watchful eye of his personal trainer, Ron “Boss” Everline. What started as a quest for fitness magazine covers has evolved into a disciplined pursuit of longevity, proving that age is truly just a number when it comes to peak physical condition.
Hart’s fitness journey began when he approached Everline with an ambitious goal: to grace the cover of Men’s Health. “I said I’m the man to help you get there – if you listen to the rules,” Everline recounted to Business Insider.
And listen he did. Hart not only landed the Men’s Health cover in 2015 and again in 2020, but he’s also appeared in countless other fitness publications.
Now, at 46, Hart’s training philosophy, guided by Everline, prioritizes sustained health and vitality. “Age doesn’t really factor into what we’re capable of. Training in a certain fashion keeps you young and vibrant,” Everline explained, emphasizing that the core workout remains consistent, with adjustments made to the intensity and load.
So, how does Hart maintain his sculpted physique and youthful energy? Everline shares his top strategies for getting and staying in shape for the long haul.
The Right Way to Lift Weights
Everline, who initially aspired to play in the NFL, brings an elite athlete’s mindset to their training. Hart’s workouts incorporate full-body movements designed for speed and power, including squats, cleans, presses, and lunges. A typical week might see dedicated leg days on Monday, chest on Wednesday, shoulders and back on Thursday, and full-body sessions on Friday and Saturday, with Sunday reserved for active recovery.
While the exercises themselves haven’t drastically changed over the years, the focus has shifted from lifting maximum weight to building resilience. “The lifting now is more tailored toward more mobility and stretching.
As you get older, it’s less load,” Everline noted. He stresses that building and maintaining muscle is a fundamental principle for aging well.
“The more muscle you have, the better you are.”
Everline, 41, highlights that consistent, quality repetitions that put muscles under stress are more crucial for growth than simply lifting super heavy. “Lifting super heavy, it’s not necessary for growth. It’s really time under tension,” he advised.
Don’t Skip the Warm-Up
A key difference in training in your 40s, according to Everline, is the necessity of a thorough warm-up. “I think there’s a lot more warming up and getting the body primed versus when you’re 25, you just go into the gym and go,” he said. Proper warm-ups prepare the body for the movements ahead, activate the correct muscles, optimize performance, and significantly reduce the risk of injury.
Sprint Towards Youth
Hart’s routine includes a significant amount of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on full-body workout days. “We sprint a lot to get our heart rate up and keep us super young,” Everline revealed. Drawing from his athletic background, Everline incorporates outdoor running sessions, with repeated 100 or 200-meter sprints, complemented by one-minute treadmill sprints.
Extensive research supports the benefits of short, intense bursts of cardiovascular activity, not only for disease prevention but also for slowing the aging process. “Most people don’t sprint after a certain age,” Everline observed. “If you continue to use it, you can still run a sprint when you’re 50 or 60, and that’s why it’s a foundational principle for us.”
A Dash of Competition
A secret ingredient to Hart’s consistent motivation is the competitive edge built into his high-intensity workouts. “It keeps the gamification a part of how we train at a very, very high level,” Everline shared.
Finding ways to challenge yourself and enjoy the process is vital for long-term adherence to any fitness plan. However, Everline cautions against a one-size-fits-all approach to motivation.
“It’s really finding a formula that fits you, taking it day-by-day, and not trying to have all the answers at once,” he concluded. “That’s what longevity is built on.
It’s the compound effect of doing small things over a period of time.”