Alessandra Ambrosio seems to practically live on the beach, but consider it a cost of doing business. She’s a model and co-founded her own swimsuit line! “Sunny hunny 🍯🌞” she captioned her latest post, of her in a blue number under the sun. As a result, she knows the ins and outs of staying healthy and keeping toned, and looks younger than her 40 years. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 6 ways Alessandra Ambrosio stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!
1. She Starts Her Day With Eggs
What does Alessandra eat? “It all depends on the day and if I am working on set or working from home. For breakfast I usually have eggs and/or avocado toast and after my work-out I usually grab a green juice followed by lunch where I usually have a salad along with some chicken or fish. For dinner I might go for sushi, or grill Brazilian BBQ at home. I also have some nuts or a protein bar in my bag all the times in case I get hungry while I’m running around,” she told Harper’s Bazaar. Eggs are among our best sources of the B vitamin choline and the amino acid methionine, which dampen the activity of genes related to insulin resistance, obesity, and fatty liver disease. They also provide powerful protein punches, which help fire up your metabolism and keep you full throughout the morning rush.
2. She Hits the Gym
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Alessandra hits the gym for an hour or an hour and a half each day. “As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day. If you want to lose weight, maintain weight loss or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to exercise more,” says the Mayo Clinic. “Reducing sitting time is important, too. The more hours you sit each day, the higher your risk of metabolic problems. Sitting too much can negatively impact your health and longevity, even if you get the recommended amount of daily physical activity. And some research has found that people who've lost weight may be more likely to keep off the lost weight by sitting less during the day.”
3. She Plays Volleyball or Hikes
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Outdoor exercises are fantastic. And you can stay fit by hiking. “Hauling yourself around takes energy — and that’s reflected in the calories spent walking,” says the Cleveland Clinic. “A 150-pound person walking a mile in 20 minutes will burn about 80 calories. If you’re heavier, you torch more calories because it takes more energy to move more mass. Likewise, the count is lower if you weigh less.” Instead of counting steps, count minutes; walking for 10 minutes should get your heart pumping.
4. She Drinks Green Tea
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Green tea is rich in catechins, substances that blast adipose tissue by revving the metabolism, increasing the release of fat from fat cells (particularly in the belly), and then speeding up the liver’s fat-burning capacity. One particular catechin in green tea, called epigallocatechin 3-gallate, has been shown to reduce the activity of genes for obesity, insulin resistance and fatty liver. In a recent study, participants who combined a daily habit of 4–5 cups of green tea each day with twenty-five minutes of exercise lost 2 more pounds than the non-tea-drinking exercisers.
5. She Focuses on Her Glutes
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Muscle burns fat, so working out one of your biggest muscles—your glutes—is a smart choice. Alessandra focuses on it. Here are a few exercise that activate your glutes:
Plank: Assume a standard plank position with your forearms resting atop a medicine ball. Make sure to keep your back straight and glutes engaged throughout the prescribed time.
Kettlebell Swing: Take a wider-than-shoulders stance with back flat and hamstrings and glutes engaged, then bend at the knees to pick up a kettlebell placed between your feet. Using your arms as hooks, use pelvic motion to swing the kettlebell out in front of you until it reaches shoulder height. Let it swing back down as you guide it between your legs. Use the momentum created by the return swing to power the bell upward again. This is a tricky movement that is dependent on flow, rather than any attempt to “muscle up” the weight.
Hamstring Raise: Lie on your back with a Swiss ball at your feet. Raise your legs up and place your heels and calves atop the ball. Now curl your lower legs back toward your glutes as you rise up on the ball, until the soles of your feet are on the ball and your hips are raised high. Slowly return to the start position to complete one rep.
6. She Has Done the Tracy Anderson Method
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Alessandra says the Tracy Anderson Method targets all her muscle groups. The technique is often described has having roots in dance. “I have done research about people who think they're doing movements and people - like Madonna and professional dancers - who are actually 'performing' movements. The people who can connect and perform during their workout get results way above and beyond the people who are just going through the motions,” Anderson has said.