Babette Davis, 73, Shares Her Secrets for Flat Abs—No Crunches Needed

Her bikini shots nearly broke the internet. How does she stay fit? The vegan chef reveals a simple daily exercise she’ll never skip, plus a health drink that tastes ‘like Kool-Aid.’

By
Published March 06, 2024
Chef Babette poses for photos in Inglewood, California
NATHALIE GORDON

Flat abs. They can seem so elusive. But Chef Babette Davis—the beloved 73-year-old fitness enthusiast reaching more than 300,000 followers on Instagram @chefbabette while serving as co-owner and head chef of Stuff I Eat, a plant-based restaurant in Inglewood, California—has figured out some secrets.

The body will respond to the love that you give it or not. So giving the body love, to me, it covers all of it. It covers what I eat, it covers what I think. Even how I challenge myself. That’s why at 73, I’m looking like I’m looking.

The fact is, our bodies of any size can be beautiful, and no one is perfect. Nor should we try to be. So why do our abs matter? Well, for one, weak core muscles can leave you at risk for lower back pain and muscle injuries, but strengthening core muscles (which include your pelvis, lower back, hips and stomach) can help back pain improve, make it easier to do a variety of activities (like bending), and even lower your risk of falls, Mayo Clinic confirms. So if you’re interested in getting your mid-section in better shape, for health reasons, personal reasons, or whatever reasons, here’s what Davis told us about her routine. Spoiler: Babette says, “I never do crunches.” But she definitely crunches on raw veggies and fruit!

Chef Babette poses for photos in Inglewood, California

[Note: Interview has been edited for length and clarity.]

Babette says, ‘I never do crunches.’ But she definitely crunches on raw veggies and fruit!

Consider that it’s not just what we eat—it’s when. 

Babette Davis: Really, we all have abs. Normally they’re hidden just by excess fat. Of course, you need to strengthen. However, what you really need to do is concentrate on losing some of the bulk. Diet is a good place to start. I start off to make it easy on myself by fasting. I just get myself […] to do a simple little detox like the Master Cleanse. I’m on a water fast now. This is my third day; I am drinking probably about a gallon of water a day right now. Knowledge is power. Don’t do anything without first investigating what it is you’re going to do and the proper way for you to do it. It doesn’t hurt you to talk to your doctors, especially if you have a holistic doctor that gets it. I open the year up with a cleanse, but about every three to four months I’m doing some kind of fast or something.

[More info: “Intermittent fasting is safe for many people, but it’s not for everyone,” Mayo Clinic confirms, adding that “if you have kidney stones, gastroesophageal reflux, diabetes, or other medical problems, talk with your doctor before starting.”]

Get some ‘life’ on that plate. 

BD: Sugar is really not good for any of us. I don’t eat processed food. My burgers at the restaurant, I make my own burgers out of walnuts. I’m very, very particular when it comes to food in boxes, and bags, and all that kind of stuff. I really love fresh, organic food. I prefer my food to be not overcooked. I prefer a little bit more life on my plate than what we normally eat.

It is totally unnecessary and silly to get in the gym and overdo it. It’s [about] practicing self-love and self-care to be consistent.

Make a delicious juice—heavy on the delicious.

Chef Babette poses for photos in Inglewood, California

BD: I love juicing. That’s my main thing. I have my juicing certificate under the Juice Guru program. I’m really excited that I learned about the importance of juicing. So when I really want to get a whole bunch of nutrients during the day, I’m going to make me a slam green drink. But I’m not that girl that’s going to make her green drink taste like wheat grass. I’m going to make my green drink palatable.

when I really want to get a whole bunch of nutrients during the day, I’m going to make me a slam green drink. But I’m not that girl that’s going to make her green drink taste like wheat grass. I’m going to make my green drink palatable. 

Let me tell you what my favorite juice is: Cilantro, green apples, lemon or lime, ginger. I love a lot of ginger because I love the snack. Now if you really want to get creative and have some fun, put you some pineapple up in that bad boy. I have [another] one that’s like a punch to me: It’s beets, oranges, pineapple, ginger, and a little lemon. Well, that’s like Kool-Aid. Okay. Can I tell you? I just be drinking on that, going, “Oh, I am in heaven.”

Skip the crunches and try planks.  

Chef Babette poses for photos in Inglewood, California

BD: I never do crunches. Never. My workouts generally [engage the] core. One reason in particular: Because I’m 73 years old, and I’ve always been terrified as I see older people going down and can’t get up. I never wanted to have to go through anything like that. If I’m getting in the bathtub, can I please have the strength to climb out of that bathtub? Core strength is everything as far as I’m concerned.

There are so many things you can do at home. That’s how I started. I’d get in a plank position and set my timer. I don’t care if I could only do 30 seconds, I would get down there every single day and do a plank until I got better, and better, and better. Now, I don’t stay in the forearm plank position. I will come up on my hands or come up on one side. But the total amount of time that I can do a plank right now is 8 minutes. You don’t have to do 8 minutes. But I always challenge myself.

[Note: Check out this Sisters story for more on how to start, and perfect, doing planks—for beginners to pros. And visit Chef Babette’s Instagram page to see more of her workouts.]

Don’t go overboard, and remember self-care. 

BD: It is totally unnecessary and silly to get in the gym and overdo it. It’s [about] practicing self-love and self-care to be consistent. Consistency is more important than trying to rush something. I learned that. The body will respond to the love that you give it or not. So giving the body love, to me, it covers all of it. It covers what I eat, it covers what I think. Even how I challenge myself, all of that is what the body will respond to. That’s why at 73, I’m looking like I’m looking. I’ll do that for me because I know I need to. So it’s discipline. It’s loving you and knowing that nobody is going to do this stuff for you. It's all on you. [end]

Leslie Quander Wooldridge is an award-winning writer and editor whose work has reached tens of millions of readers. She is the former senior editor of Sisters From AARP, where her work included reporting, writing, commissioning, editing, and posting content; advising on strategy; and developing and hosting live social media events. As a freelancer, she covers topics related to health and wellness, relationships, personal finance, and more, with her articles also appearing in outlets including AARP the Magazine, Business Insider, Consumer Reports, and Men's Health. Connect with her on social media platforms @lesliequander and at lesliequander.com.