Summer is just a few weeks away, and that means bathing suit season is upon us. For moms, it can sometimes be emotionally intimidating to slip into a swimsuit again, and working up the courage to hit the beach or the pool without a cover-up can feel like quite the mental hurdle. Even celebrity moms have fessed up to feeling uncomfortable in a bikini on occasion. So first off, we want to remind you that every body is a beach body. But as moms ourselves, we totally understand that tiny bit of panic that sets in when you realize a whole lot more of you is about to be on display very soon.
Losing a few pounds or tightening things up a bit before that pool party might help give you just the confidence boost you need to feel amazing in that super-cute bathing suit you've been eyeing. There's nothing wrong with wanting to shape up and get healthier as we approach the season of short shorts, crop tops, and skimpy swimsuits, so we're turning to some of our favorite stars for some fitness and nutrition tips that will help us all get summer ready in time for a sizzling day at the beach or maybe even that island vacation you're finally taking after more than a year of being stuck at home.
Without further ado, here are some of the best celebrity fitness secrets we've uncovered to help you get ready to bare it all (or as much as you want to) all summer long.
Add Resistance Bands
As a former professional wrestler, Nikki Bella knows a thing or two about amping up a workout. She exercises daily, and sometimes she lifts heavy — like, really heavy. But other days, she does bodyweight workouts and simply incorporates resistance bands to make her sweat sessions a bit more challenging and increase the calorie burn.
Try a Trampoline
Actress and director Eva Longoria has worked really hard to whip her figure back into shape — and maintain it — since she had her son, Santiago, in 2018. She's a busy lady, but she makes time for regular workouts. One way she gets in her cardio — while having a little fun — is by using a mini trampoline. If you have a toddler, you might already have one at home (check the weight limit first), but they are readily available at sporting goods stores and online.
Jump It Off
Halle Berry has always had an incredible body and even in her 50s, she's committed to keeping it that way. Her workouts are intense! She loves boxing and other martial arts, but her preferred method of cardio? Jumping rope! Literally anybody can do it and burn some serious calories in a really short period of time.
Practice Moderation
Actress and TV personality Sofia Vegara is no fitness buff and she doesn't like dieting either. But she still has to keep her incredible figure because, well, it's a part of her job. Sofia believes in moderation and self-control, which honestly are two things that can make a healthy lifestyle sustainable.
Get a Workout Buddy
Twins Brie and Nikki Bella do what seems like everything together, including exercising. Brie has said that having Nikki as a workout buddy helps keep her accountable and motivated and that they also keep each other on track with nutrition. A workout buddy could be just the push you need to stick with a new fitness routine or nutrition plan.
Be Consistent
Fitness trainer Brittany Matthews, who is engaged to NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes, knows a lot about fitness. She actually has a bachelor's degree in kinesiology, but even she recognizes that you won't get anywhere without consistency. Any fitness routine can yield results as long as you stick with it and stay consistent — something Brittany even did throughout her pregnancy with daughter Sterling. (She worked out up until the day before she gave birth!)
Wake Up With the Sun
No, not your son, the sun. Take a cue from Jessica Simpson and set your alarm for before the kids are usually up. Jessica stays active by tracking how many steps she takes each day and she also loves yoga to keep her physique fit and trim. The important thing, though, is to carve out some time when you can move your body uninterrupted.
Or Let Them Join You
Serena Williams is a world-class athlete. She's the GOAT. But even she struggled to keep up during quarantine. Plus, she likes spending time with her kid, so she's been teaching her daughter, Olympia, since she was tiny to join in on her workouts, or to at least be patient while mom works on her fitness. Kids do what they know, so if you start them young, they'll grow up understanding what to expect when mom laces up her sneakers or rolls out her mat.
Start With Some Stretching
It can be tough to get going for a morning workout or to shift gears from work and family responsibilities later in the day. Rather than feel intimidated and overwhelmed by the idea of a workout session, take a cue from singer and actress Kelly Rowland and start with a little stretching to get your blood flowing and your mind in the right zone.
Go Vegan
Kim Kardashian has dabbled in plant-based eating in the past, but in January 2021, she committed to going vegan for 30 days and she had so much success and slimmed down so nicely that she ended up sticking with the diet. Beyoncé also is known to go vegan periodically. It's worth a try, even if it ends up being temporary.
Try Two-a-Days
Kylie Jenner is young enough that she never had to worry much about diet and exercise until rather recently. She took a cue from her sister Kim in January and adopted a mostly plant-based diet, but she also started working out twice a day. For women who can eke out the time for double sessions, it's a surefire way to torch tons of calories daily to get to your goal quicker. Just be sure to taper down your routine slowly once you reach your goal so you don't lose all your progress.
Chug Water
Jennifer Lopez's body is undeniably insane, and she works out a ton to keep it that way. But there's one other thing she does. That bling cup she's always seen clutching is full of water at all times. Jen doesn't drink alcohol or soda, and she sticks to water almost exclusively. Guzzling H2O means you're not drinking your calories, and it can help you feel fuller longer. Plus, staying super hydrated is good for your skin, your hair, your digestion, and a slew of other things.
Get Outside
Getting motivated to go to the gym or even to your living room or garage for an at-home sweat sesh can be so tough. But heading outside to hike or surf or practice yoga actually sounds like fun, doesn't it? Model and healthy living devotee Gisele Bündchen focuses on just that to stay fit. Whether she's getting in a solo yoga flow or climbing a mountain with her kids, she finds ways to make being fit and active something to look forward to.
Get a Virtual Trainer
Thanks to the insanity that was 2020, virtual trainers and fitness classes are the new normal. Go ahead and sign up. Hire one. So you can do like model Ashley Graham and get your sweat on without leaving home and without having to rely entirely on yourself to figure it out. Having a set time and someone waiting for you to log on can take you from "maybe I'll workout" to "I have to workout."
Give Intermittent Fasting a Try
Another popular "diet" among celebrities continues to be intermittent fasting. Model and influencer Camila Alves McConaughey is a big fan and does it periodically. For those unfamiliar, it basically means only eating between certain hours each day. You don't cut calories or restrict food groups, but the idea is that your body will use up its sugar stores while you're fasting and start burning fat. Lots of people have great success with it, once they get used to the eating pattern.
Do a Detox
In addition to working out regularly (she's fond of Pilates right now), Kourtney Kardashian does periodic detoxes during which she eats plant-based and low-carb and practices intermittent fasting. Her fasts occasionally include 24 hours of just drinking bone broth and water — no solid food. Combining all of these things supposedly flushes out heavy metals and can kickstart the metabolism.
Find Something You Love
Brazilian model and former Victoria's Secret Angel Adriana Lima is crazy about boxing and mixed martial arts. She's found a workout style that she loves and that helps her stick to the routine. Follow her lead and find a workout that you enjoy and will look forward to doing at least a few times a week. Whether it's Zumba, CrossFit, yoga, or something else, if it makes you feel good, you won't want to quit.
Switch It Up
Actress, entrepreneur, and all-around boss mom Jessica Alba is a big fan of rotating her workouts so she doesn't get bored. She enjoys exercise and considers it part of her self-care routine, but she knows that doing the same thing again and again can feel tedious, so she's always trying new things. An added bonus is that you're less likely to plateau if your body never has the chance to get used to one thing.
Sneak in Supersets
As a mom of six young kids, author and influencer Hilaria Baldwin has to squeeze in fitness when she can, and needs to get the most out of the time she has to work out. She's quick to take a few minutes here and there to get in a few supersets, which can burn calories and help you tone up in less time. It's essentially doing compound exercises that work multiple muscle groups at once.
Forget Dieting
Or you can be like Chrissy Teigen and ditch the diet mentality altogether and focus on things that make you feel good from the inside out. No matter what size you wear or what the number on the scale is, your joy will radiate from you and make you look and feel incredible. So you can do all those things, some of those things, or none of those things and still be glowing and gorgeous and ready for summer, because you are happy and fulfilled and not hung up on perceived imperfections. Do you, mama.
