Australian singer and activist Amy Sheppard is proudly sharing swimsuit snaps from a recent trip to the beach. Sheppard, 32, posted pictures of herself posing in a bathing suit on a grassy hill, against a gorgeous background of blue sea and skies. “Stick a fork in me. I’m done,” she captioned the post. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Sheppard 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. Lots of Protein
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Sheppard enjoys a protein-packed diet. “ If I’m not training in the morning, I usually whip up some bacon, eggs and spinach,” she says. “I will have pea protein shake for morning tea or some beef jerky if I’m in a rush. Typically, I end up having lunch around 2pm as the protein fills me up for most of the morning and early afternoon.” Getting enough quality protein is important for health, experts say. “Daily protein intake plays a role in keeping your cells in good shape and should be part of your daily health maintenance plan,” says dietician Nancy Waldeck.
2. No More Dieting
Sheppard stopped yo-yo dieting after she realized it was harming her health. “I feel great and my weight has appeared to have evened out,” she says. “It's not all smooth sailing; some days I do over-eat and some days I get so busy I don't get as many calories, but I no longer let guilt trip me up. I get right back in tune with what my body is telling me and it appears that in the long run, it all evens out to be a healthy amount of calories.”
3. Strength Over Appearance
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Sheppard says it’s more important to focus on being strong and healthy over having the ‘perfect’ appearance. “It’s ok if your fit body doesn’t look like someone else’s fit body,” she says in an Instagram post. “I work out, I love keeping fit but I will NEVER look like some of the fitness influencers I see online. I used to punish myself in the gym, eat ‘clean’, do all the right things and I still couldn’t look like them. I’ve come to realize that my health and fitness is for ME and no one else. I don’t need to look like anyone else to be strong. I can have my own fit body and kick my own goals.”
4. Prioritizing Mental Health
Sheppard makes sure to always protect her mental health. “Health is very important to me and although I love being fit and in shape, I also need to take into consideration what’s best for my mental health,” she says. “To me, happiness is not slaving away at the gym and obsessing over everything I’m consuming. 🤷♀️ If a big genuine smile on my face comes with an extra 5kg so be it! 😊”
5. Intuitive Eating
Sheppard eats whatever she wants, but makes sensible choices. “Overall, I'm still fairly new to intuitive eating,” she says. “It has taken time to adjust and to learn about my body, but the best part of all of this is that I feel free. I no longer focus on food or how to eat it. I can eat pasta at night (my favorite!) without feeling guilty and I don't have to restrict the next day. I just get on with it.”
