Whether you first met bold, brash Bethenny Frankel all the way back in 2008 during the first season of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New York City (seriously, what is time!?!) or have become a more recent fan thanks to her informational and often-irreverent TikToks, you know at least a couple of things about the Skinnygirl founder. First off, she has opinions. Secondly, she is not afraid to share them. To that end, Bethenny recently launched The List, where all of her favourite finds and candid thoughts live in one place.
At 54 years old, Bethenny continues to be as lively and vital as ever—which got us wondering about what her health and wellness list might look like too. From magnesium foot sprays to digestive water boosters, Bethenny shared with WH her top five tips and tricks for staying happy and healthy in her 50s.
1. She aims for 10,000 steps per day
Bethenny adheres to a pretty no-frills workout routine: walking. Okay, sure, she might hop into the occasional yoga class from time to time (she also tried weights once—it didn’t stick, she says). But Bethenny says that walking is really the only consistent form of movement she prioritises.
She aims for 10,000 steps a day—usually outside in nature—and says that she generally sleeps better if she hits that mark. (Again, it all goes back to sleep.)
2. She doesn't cut corners when it comes to sleep hygiene
After a stressful period of life left Bethenny chasing Zs—at one point she was only getting about five hours a night—she got serious about sleep hygiene. ‘Sleep is a big character in my life, and the effort that I make to get sleep and the different things that I do to get sleep are militant’, she says.
She’s not kidding: Her night time routine truly is a head-to-toe affair. Bethenny starts with an eye mask to block out any potential sunlight that might seep through the curtains or blinds, which is ‘critical’, she says. To stop her teeth from grinding, she started wearing a night guard in her 40s, and she recently added mouth tape to the equation, which she says has helped further ease her jaw muscles.
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Around her neck she wraps a scented pillow fresh out of a warming cabinet (think: that magical device from which a masseuse or manicurist pulls a hot towel) in order to help herself relax. She might pop a gummy or two (she’s sent a ton of samples so she dabbles—be it melatonin or cannabis-infused), and, to finish, she spritzes the soles of her feet with magnesium spray. Bethenny attributes this full routine to helping increase her sleep duration to around eight hours a night.
3. She got sober curious
If you follow Bethenny on social media, you’ve probably watched her taste-testing alcoholalternatives (or touting her own Mingle Mocktails). That’s because she’s mostly stopped drinking over the past few months. Without alcohol, Bethenny says, she’s able to balance her emotional levels better. ‘It’s how you’re reacting to something, how you’re dealing with something, how irritable you are’, she explains.
4. She supercharges her water
Along with reducing her alcohol intake, Bethenny makes sure she stays hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Bethenny suffers from POTS—postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome—a condition in which the heart rate rises rapidly after sitting or lying down. It can cause light-headedness and faintness upon standing. Severe dehydration is another of Bethenny’s symptoms.)
But she isn’t chugging plain H2O to avoid dehydration issues—her water often pulls double-duty. ‘I put hydration packets in my water’, she says. ‘There are several different types of water flavour stories that I have going on—some are relaxing, some are hydrating, some are digestive.’
Just like the gummies, she’s willing to try a little bit of this, a little bit of that. She recently sampled BelliWelli and was a fan of the flavour. She also digs the new strawberries and cream variety of Nello.
5. She focuses on moderation, not perfection
Ultimately, Bethenny’s approach to health and wellness boils down to the principle of balance. In her diet, that means eating the fruits she loves, like pineapple and watermelon, plus also allowing herself a chewy orange slice candy that brings her back to her childhood. Or, while she’s embarking on her sober curious journey, sipping the occasional cocktail while out at a celebratory dinner with friends.
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‘I believe in balance, and I’ve taught that to my daughter too’, Bethenny says. ‘I’m not educated on every single thing. I barely know what seed oils are. I just do my best’.
This article originally appeared on Women’s Health U.K.
