Ashley Tisdale in Bathing Suit is "So Grateful"

Ashley Tisdale took a much needed mom’s getaway with some of her famous pals over the weekend! The High School Musical alum enjoyed a kid-free getaway with celebrity pals, including Meghan Trainor and Hilary Duff at the Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, showing off her fabulous figure in a swimsuit. “Moms weekend away! I love being surrounded by these ladies. What an amazing group of women to journey through this mom-hood together! So grateful for this trip,” she captioned the series of snaps. How did the mother-of-one get into the best shape of her life after welcoming her first child? Read on to see 5 ways Ashley Tisdale 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 Claims Walking Is a Game-Changing Workout

Ashley Tisdale/Instagram

Ashley revealed that walking was the workout responsible for making her feel like herself again after welcoming her first child. "Getting back with my trainer @harleypasternak has changed my body tremendously and honestly it's all about getting your steps in," she said in an Instagram Story. "His method isn't hard and my body isn't left feeling like I tortured it. I can't believe what my body has gone through over the last year and a half. I'm so grateful for it and honestly can't believe how strong I feel." Wearing a Fitbit, she aims for 14,000 steps a day. "All I do is walk lol but it's effective," she said. "I'm only sharing this because after months of working hard and trying everything, these small changes in the last three weeks is what have done the most," she continued. "It's the difference of how I feel. It's all about moving, finding ways of walking. Taking the dogs out with the baby for a stroll, taking meetings while walking vs. sitting." She also claims it is good for her mental health. "It's honestly what has helped my mental health as well," she added. "Having the extra energy from anxiety, just taking a walk and putting on a walking meditation always makes me feel better."

2. She Focuses on Low Impact Workouts

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Tisdale, who has "borderline thyroid disease," adds that low impact workouts help her condition, in addition to diet. "I eliminate gluten (sometimes 😛), dairy and do everything I can to not have to rely on medication but a lot of it is not creating stress on the body and even though working out is great, the different methods can create more stress and do more damage," she said. "So using @harleypasternak technique helps me reach my goals but not over exert myself."

3. She Mixes Up Her Workout

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In addition to training with Pasternak, Ashley also stays fit through a variety of other workouts. "I've worked my butt off. Whether it's hiking, Pilates, riding on my Peloton,” she wrote on Frenche.

4. Her Diet Is Balanced and Healthy

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She also revealed on Frenche that diet is a big part of the equation. “While I haven’t mastered his recipes yet, I’m excited to dive deeper into them. He always says, ‘you can’t out-walk a bad diet,’ and I’m trying to live by that too,” she said about Pasternak’s plan. “In the past, I practiced yo-yo dieting that wasn’t sustainable instead of focusing on making lifestyle changes. That’s ultimately the opposite of Harley’s methods. He emphasizes the importance of fueling the body with food rather than depriving it of certain foods. My entire point is that while it’s easy to get caught up in wanting fast results from your diet and exercise regimen, it’s not a healthy mindset to have. It’s not a race; it’s a lifestyle, so I’m sure the more I do it, the better I’ll get at it.”

5. She Claims Ditching Dairy Is Responsible for Her Glow

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“Skin never looked so good,” Ashley said in an Instagram video. “I would love to say it’s just the products I use but I’ve been dairy free for 5 years and I swear it changed everything with my skin. I barely break out,” she added. “I know it’s hard to give up something but when you do, after awhile, you barely crave it and I feel healthier.”