Hi, everyone — I'm Farrah and I'm a fan of pop sensation Demi Lovato. Coincidentally, there are a few things Demi and I have in common. We're from the same suburb in Texas, we both love emo music, we both have a dog (though she has two!), and we both love queso. Because I wish I could be half as cool as she is, I decided to attempt to live, eat, and work out like Demi for 30 days!
In case you aren't aware, Demi Lovato is an actor, singer, and performer who has put out six studio albums and incredible pop hits like "Sorry Not Sorry," "Skyscraper," and "Cool for the Summer." She's an anti-bullying advocate and promoter of self-love. Plus, she's starred in my personal favorite Disney Channel movie — Camp Rock.
I did some research to find out what type of resistance exercises and cardio exercises Demi Lovato does (or did at one point), as well as her favorite foods/meals. Here's what I found:
I also love her outlook on fitness. Demi told Self, "Working out really empowers me. It makes me feel stronger. It makes me feel more confident. That, but also...doing things that will empower me, like going to therapy and doing things to really take care of myself. I have a hot tub, I get massages, too. Massages are probably my favorite. It’s important that your body rests and that it gets taken care of."
I found articles on Shape and Elite Daily where Demi mentioned a few of her favorite foods, as well as why she quit dieting for good. For Demi, weight loss isn't the goal and she doesn't deprive herself from things she wants to eat. Here's some of her faves:
That being said, Demi has publicly addressed her eating disorder in the past. She told Self, "I’ve given up the chronic stress of what I eat because I don’t want to set that example for my fans.” So, for the next 30 days, there won't actually be a strict diet regimen I will follow.
After finding all this information, I decided my weekly workout plan would look something like this:
Day 1: Cardio
Day 2: Strength-training exercises
Day 3: Boxing
Day 4: Cardio
Day 5: Boxing
Day 6: Strength-training exercises
Day 7: REST
Days 1 and 2 were dedicated to cardio and strength-training exercises. I walked/jogged on the treadmill for an hour on the first day, and the second day completed all the exercises at home. You could say I was feeling pretty ~confident~ in myself!
I decided to make one of Demi's favorite snacks: a turkey wrap on a spinach tortilla with a side of watermelon. I hadn't eaten a wrap in a long time and went on to eat about five more during the rest of the week!
On Day 3, I had my very first "intro to boxing" lesson with BoxUnion trainer Tara Mobasseri. The first thing I learned was that I was not great at it and felt very self-conscious. Tara was very kind and informative when teaching me the basics and corrected me a lot so I could learn good form, which I appreciated!
My biggest takeaway from my first one-on-one training was that boxing is just as much of a mental sport as it is physical. You have to focus 100% on where your punches land, how you're angling your body, where your feet are positioned, etc. To quote High School Musical, your head actually has to be in the game. After my hourlong lesson, I knew enough of the basics to move on without injuring myself.
If you're a Demi Lovato fan, then it won't come as a surprise to you that she's a superfan of Will & Grace. As someone who has never seen an episode, I decided to watch it. If I was ~living like Demi,~ I had to watch her favorite show. My opinion? It was great!!
I did another day of cardio and completed my first boxing class over the next two days. My body was NOT ready for everything I put it through. My legs were incredibly sore. It hurt to sit, walk, squat...basically any sort of movement hurt. I ended up taking not just one, but two rest days!!!
During Week 2 of living like Demi, I decided to try and re-create one of her signature smokey-eye looks. I think she flawlessly pulls this off. It's rare that I spend time putting on more than mascara, so it took me about 30 minutes to try to blend together my own smokey-eye look. I wasn't mad at the results!
Later, it was time to work out, so I started Week 2 with a boxing class. At first I felt stiff and awkward and NOT confident at all, but the longer class went on, the more I focused on my movements and form. I followed that with an hour of cardio the next day because my arms and legs were sore!!! I was beginning to realize my favorite workouts were boxing, cardio, and then, lastly, the strength exercises.
On Day 3, I completed Demi's strength exercises and then came home and made a version of something Demi said she likes — a burger in a lettuce wrap with cheese, guac, ketchup, and brown mustard. (My burger was plant-based, though.) It was delicious!!!! I highly approve of this choice!
I used Day 4 as my rest day because, to be honest, I wasn't feeling my best. Demi has a tattoo on her hand that says "me" as a reminder to put herself first, so I decided to spend the evening putting myself first by doing something I really enjoy, which is reading.
One of the beautiful things about Demi's favorite strength-training exercises is that they don't have to be done at the gym. And if I don't have to go to the gym, I won't! I have a big enough space in my apartment to do all her exercises, which is a bonus. I do, however, recommend getting a floor mat so it's easier on your back.
Demi has said that she drinks coffee before going to the gym, but I decided to reward my second day of cardio with some post-gym coffee. I also happened to be in Texas at this point in the week, so I stopped to eat one of Demi's favorite Texas treats: QUESO!
By the third week, I was feeling really good mentally. I find that I'm always in a better headspace when I'm working out, and I was proud of myself for becoming a little bit better with the moves during my boxing classes. I felt like I was really getting the hang of it! I always came home super sweaty, which is how you know you got a really good workout.
The strength-training exercises were not my favorite, especially because they left me SO SORE. But I can't deny that I did feel better mentally once I completed them. Even if I HATED doing burpees.
My obsession with turkey wraps continued, and I began meal-prepping them for my lunches. It takes, like, two minutes to make and they're so good! I did my second boxing class that week and had to push through it because I was pretty sore. BUT I DID IT.
Throughout this month, I'd been eating fairly well. I wasn't on any type of diet (other than, you know, eating Demi's fave foods!) so I didn't deny myself the things I wanted to eat, like breakfast tacos! Demi said she enjoys ground turkey tacos, but I bet she also enjoys breakfast tacos because she's from Texas — and TBH, I feel like Texas perfected them.
This was my final week living like Demi Lovato, and I knew I was going to miss some aspects of it. Not the strength exercises, but you already knew that. I got this week started with a day of cardio, and then the next day did those resistance workouts.
Of course, it wouldn't be the final week if I didn't make it to boxing! I was really feeling it after my two classes that week. The energy was just so good, and I felt like I'd improved so much from when I first started.
I love that Demi said she enjoys massages. I mean...who doesn't? It's a really great way to de-stress, so I thought I would treat myself to one during the end of my last week. It'd been a while since I had a massage, and it was super relaxing. And because Demi said she enjoys dark chocolate (it's the best kind), I treated myself to some, too.
Demi hasn't been shy in the past about addressing her eating disorder and has been open with her journey toward body positivity. Nobody knows your body better than you, and if you're eating well and feeling good mentally and physically, then I think you're on the right track. Sorry if you were hoping for before-and-after pictures, but instead I'm going to sum up how these last 30 days made me feel, which I believe is more important!
- I like that Demi doesn't follow strict diet restrictions. Her favorite foods are a balance of healthy and indulgent, which I appreciate because life is too short to not eat that piece of chocolate or cake, you know? Also, I'm terrible at restricting myself from things I like.
- I was surprised I enjoyed boxing as much as I did, and I was also surprised at how difficult it was to get the hang of. It's one of those sports that's both mental and physical. For 45 minutes, I was able to solely focus on what I was doing and really get a good workout in.
- Cardio was a great way to help me unwind after a really stressful day, and I'm going to continue to hop on a treadmill or go on a hike when I need a mental break.
- Burpees are exhausting, but strength-training exercises are a great way to clear your head.
- I want to continue to channel more of Demi when I go for a bolder makeup look. I love her whole vibe.
- I'm going to watch more Will & Grace.
Note: If you're considering making changes to your diet, consult your physician first.