Cindy Crawford in Bathing Suit Says “Congrats” to Claudia Schiffer

Cindy Crawford, the legendary model, is doing some light reading, and happens to know the author: fellow supermodel Claudia Schiffer. “Casual afternoon reading 📚👠 Congrats on the new book Captivate, @claudiaschiffer!” she captioned a photo of herself in a swimsuit perusing the pages. Schiffer’s book Captivate is a curation of fashion photography from the 1990s, the “golden age of the global supermodel.” How does Crawford look so fit? (She’s 56, turning 57 on February 20!) Read on to see 7 ways Cindy Crawford 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 Learned How to Be Healthy Out Of Necessity

“I was raised in DeKalb, Illinois, and while I didn’t grow up eating a lot of processed food, I wouldn’t exactly say we had a healthy diet—I thought all vegetables should be served with cheese melted on top. When I moved to New York and started living on my own, I realized that in order to fit in the sample sizes, I had to figure out how to take care of myself,” she told W. “It started with exercise.”

2. She’s 80% Good 80% of the Time

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“Even though aerobics were the exercise of choice for most of my friends, I found a trainer in N.Y. named Radu. He taught me how to exercise and feel strong. I think when you are working out that hard, it’s natural to want to carry over that good feeling by eating healthy. I started reading books and sometimes following more 'fad' diets, but eventually I figured out what works for me. Besides avoiding “bad” carbs such as white bread etc., I try to be 80 percent good 80 percent of the time. I feel like that’s an achievable balance,” she told W.

3. She Does Pilates

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Pilates works your core using a very specific sensibility and tools. Crawford does it a few times a week. “From small weights to bands and blocks to the ‘magic circle,’ a ring-shaped piece of equipment that offers a level of resistance for various exercises, there are a number of tools used for various Pilates exercises,” says the Cleveland Clinic. “Conversely, there are relatively few pieces of equipment that are necessary for yoga beyond the typical mat and yoga blocks. Other pieces of equipment, like yoga straps, are also occasionally used but the total amount is far less than with Pilates.”

4. She Does Strength Training

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Muscles burn fat, so building your muscles is core to any lean figure. Want an example of strength training? As an example: "Consider adding a Step Up with biceps curl into shoulder press,” says Eat This, Not That! For Abs author Mark Langowski. “Grab a set of dumbbells that are 50% of your max weight for biceps curl or shoulder press. So if you use 30 lb’s to do biceps curls, use 15 lbs here! Stand holding the weights at your side, feet about a foot apart, with a bench or 2-foot-high box about two feet in front of you. Step onto the box with your right leg and, and as you step up, curl the weights up so they are in front of your shoulders. Now lift your left leg onto the box and, when both feet are on top of the box, press the weights over your head. Step down and repeat the exercise, now with your left leg stepping up. Total of 16 reps. (8 each leg)"

5. She Hits the Treadmill

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"Begin by doing your workout on a treadmill. Over time, as you learn how your body reacts and what each level of intensity feels like, you can begin to take the workout outdoors or transfer it to a bike or other type of workout equipment," says Langowski. Consider the following intervals as you get your feet wet:

Duration: 0-3 minutes, speed 3.5, incline 8

Duration: 3-6 minutes, speed 6.5, incline 0

Duration: 6-7 minutes, speed 3.8, incline 15

Duration: 7-8 minutes, speed 7.5, incline 0

Duration: 8-10 minutes, speed 6.0, incline 3

Duration: 10-11 minutes, speed 3.8, incline 15

Duration: 11-12 minutes, speed 7.5, incline 0

Duration: 12-15 minutes, speed 3.8, incline 15

6. This is Her Skincare Routine

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Crawford created the Meaningful Beauty line to care for her skin. “Part of the reason I created Meaningful Beauty was to have a simple skincare routine that I knew was giving me everything I needed. Nothing much has changed during these pandemic days. I always use the Youth Activating Melon Serum (and now eye serum) and then top off with Meaningful Beauty Anti-aging Day crème with Environmental Protection—this protects my skin from blue light exposure from all my Zoom calls) and of course an SPF of 30,” she told W.