January 16, 2026, 4:30 p.m. |
Reading time: 4 minutes
At 83, Harrison Ford continues to defy expectations, maintaining a remarkably active and healthy lifestyle. But what’s the secret to the iconic actor’s enduring vitality? It’s a commitment to consistent activity, a lesson he learned decades ago while preparing for one of his most famous roles.
Sport in Old Age
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It’s tempting to slow down as we age, but maintaining balance is crucial. Inactivity leads to muscle loss and reduced mobility, increasing frailty and susceptibility to injury—injuries that can be difficult to fully recover from. Harrison Ford seems to understand this intuitively, prioritizing regular exercise. “I’m physically active. I play tennis, ride my bike and train a little in the gym,” he recently shared in an interview with „Film Inside“.
The actor, then 75, detailed his personal gym routine during an appearance on „TheEllenShow“. Host Ellen DeGeneres, prompted by a GQ cover featuring Ford’s physique, inquired about his training regimen, specifically his work with biceps. Ford explained he uses weights and an abdominal roller, declaring, “I’m old school there.”
Reports suggest Ford has long favored incorporating consistent, light exercise into his daily life over intense fitness programs. This includes daily walks and physical activity on his Wyoming ranch. His passion for flying also demands a degree of physical and mental fitness.
His Diet
In a later interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Ford revealed details about his dietary habits. He consumes a diet rich in “vegetables and fish,” while avoiding both dairy and meat products. “I just decided I didn’t want to eat meat anymore,” the actor explained.
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Fit Like Indiana Jones
Ford’s portrayal of the adventurous Indiana Jones remains one of his most iconic roles. The character’s demanding physicality—navigating treacherous terrain and battling villains with a whip—required Ford to get into shape. This was particularly true for “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” which featured numerous shirtless scenes. However, achieving that physique in the 1980s differed significantly from modern Hollywood’s emphasis on extreme transformations with dedicated trainers and nutritionists.
For the first time, Ford began working with a trainer in his early 40s specifically for “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” According to his “Indiana Jones” trainer, Jake Steinfeld, who spoke with „Men’s Health“ in 2024, the training didn’t involve heavy lifting. Instead, Ford focused on moderate weight and high repetitions, six days a week, utilizing everyday items like towels and brooms.
Steinfeld explained the workouts began at 5:30 a.m. with a 30-minute warm-up of stretching exercises using a broom. Each session focused on a different muscle group: “Monday, Thursday: chest and Trizeps. Tuesday, Friday: back and biceps. Wednesday and Saturday: shoulders and legs. Stomach every day,” Steinfeld revealed. Towels were used for resistance training, followed by dumbbell exercises. The approach mirrored the use of resistance bands in modern home workouts. “It wasn’t about making Indiana Jones a bodybuilder. The guy was super ripped and you can do that with lots of repetitions. We did sets of 100 reps. I love Supersets. That’s where I’m old school.”
Harrison Ford Knows How to Do It
That experience alone demonstrates Ford’s understanding of fitness. While his routine may have evolved since then, the core principles remain: a combination of gym work, tennis, horseback riding, and a healthy diet—a formula for staying active and healthy at any age.
