Emily Simpson In Workout Gear Shares Top Fat-Burning Fitness Tips

The Real Housewives of Orange County star Emily Simpson lost weight, gained muscle, and looks incredible—and she's still on a roll. Simpson, 48, has a sustainable long-term plan that works for her, and she's sharing it with her fans or anyone looking to get fit. The reality star shared a video of herself using a lat machine at the gym, wearing black leggings and a matching sports bra."Lifting weights daily is my favorite way to build confidence, strength, happiness, muscle mass which is anti-aging," reads the text over her video. Here are Simpson's top tips for getting fit, healthy, and happy.

Simpson credits weight lifting with transforming her physique and positively impacting her mental health. "For the past 6 months I've dedicated myself to improving my physical and mental health," she captioned an instagram video. "Getting up at 6am is hard. Going to the gym 6-7 days per week is hard. Lifting weights is hard. Daily cardio is hard. Drastically changing my diet is hard…. Depression is hard. Feeling sad and lethargic is hard. Inflammation is hard. A bad diet is hard. CHOOSE your hard."

Simpson wakes up early and goes to bed early, which research shows is the ideal way to align your body with a natural circadian rhythm. "I emphasize sleep regularity with patients. I see it as the foundation for aligning biological rhythms and building healthy habits," David Brendel, MD, PhD, tells Nike.com. "If you have a good sleep schedule, it will be easier to build those habits, and if you have those habits, you'll be more likely to build a sleep schedule." 

Simpson makes sure she is getting plenty of protein to fuel her workouts. "The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein is only 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight, but this is a recommendation for the general (sedentary) population and should be considered a minimum," Ellen Landes, RDN, tells Peloton The Output. "Active people need more than this, especially if the goal is to build muscle."

Simpson eats at home as much as possible to take control of her diet and nutrition. "When people cook most of their meals at home, they consume fewer carbohydrates, less sugar and less fat than those who cook less or not at all – even if they are not trying to lose weight," Julia A. Wolfson, MPP, tells Johns Hopkins. "The evidence shows people who cook at home eat a more healthy diet."

Simpson says consistency is the crucial element to her success. "For me, Consistency and Repetition are the key 🔑 to making lifestyle changes," she captioned a video. "I get up at the same time, eat the same things, repeat a lot of the same workouts (but consistently add weight). Committing to a routine has helped me build a strong, healthy body. What works for you?!"