Kelsea Ballerini is welcoming the new year – in her swimsuit and workout gear. In a new social media post, showing off her gorgeous body in a variety of bathing suits and exercise clothes, the country singer reflects on 2024 and gets real about her struggles. “i spent majority of this year wildly uncomfortable. part of it intentional, knowing real growth and creativity (maybe even freedom) comes from pushing myself out of my comfort zone. i took the most time off the road that i have in 10 years, and had to rewire my brain to not operate from a place of scarcity from that. then sat in the space to try new things, then actually made the jump and did them. shaking in my boots then learning im more capable than i give myself credit for. and checking a few things off the bucket list along the way,” she writes, sharing a few thing she was “uncomfortable” about and how she found a “deeper gratitude for friendships and therapy. and good skincare. and sleep.” She continues: “uncomfortable in challenging myself to chill with the death grip on fear and settle into a new pace and level of steady love. not dashing during dust storms and enjoying the view even more when it settles. taking a magnifying glass to past patterns, and valuing, even protecting its place in my life. uncomfortable in the juggle of wanting more and wanting less, being the girl on stage and a dog mom, some days feeling new still and others spent precautionary plotting when the glitter won’t be as glittery. so i guess my goal for the year ahead is to try to find some comfort? in the loud and quiet, public and private moments. to still push and seek and want, but find comfort in being uncomfortable. don’t get me wrong, i love a little chaos. i just wonder how it pairs with a little more peace.” How does she approach diet, fitness, and self-care? Here is everything you need to know about her lifestyle habits.
Protein and Salt
Kelsea also learned she wasn’t getting enough salt and protein in her diet. “I didn’t realize that you had to have salt to absorb water,” she said, revealing that she drinks electrolytes and water in the morning. She also eats more protein. “Chomps, cottage cheese, a good steak—that’s my trifecta right now,” she says. For breakfast she usually has a couple of scrambled eggs with chimichurri on top, a side of cottage cheese, and blueberries. For lunch, she makes her version of a turkey sandwich. “I do layers of turkey and cheese, with sprouts and tomato,” she says. “On one side, I put a little avocado. On the other, aioli.” Dinner might be salmon with zucchini or a skirt steak with asparagus.
A Gentler Approach to Fitness
Kelsea has shifted her approach to fitness. She recently explained to Women’s Health that she used to work out with a high-profile trainer, who “trained a lot of the really hot country girls,” doing four or five strength-training sessions a week. But after five years, she needed something different. “It almost felt like I was punishing myself to become what I thought I was supposed to be, visually, in my industry,” she said.
SoulCycle
ShutterstockShe took a little break and then added gentle exercise into her life. One of the workout she did was SoulCycle, which she still attends from time to time. The Cleveland Clinic explains that biking, a low-impact aerobic exercise, is great for building muscle, improving strength and flexibility, and improving balance. It can also boost mental health and help other health conditions, including arthritis.
Lagree Method
However, it was the Lagree Method—a high-intensity, low-impact workout that incorporates a Megaformer – that she fell in love with and does three to four times a a week. “I do it as much as I can,” she said. “I love how it makes me feel doing it—I feel strong. Having a good relationship with how I’m moving my body has changed everything for me.” She adds that it also gave her a booty. “I’m proud of that ass!”
Walking
She also walks her dogs, including a nine-year-old labradoodle named Dibs, “the love of my life,” she says. Going for a daily walk can be a game changer in terms of exercise, especially at a brisk speed. One study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that walking at a brisk pace for about 30 minutes a day led to a reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, dementia and death, compared with walking a similar number of steps but at a slower pace.
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