Esmeralda Ugalde in Bathing Suit Says "Look at You!"

It might be December, but Mexican actress Esmeralda Ugalde is posting pictures that look like the best part of summer. Ugalde shared a photo of herself wearing a purple bikini and white sheer coverup, posing against a sun-bleached wall in Cancun, Mexico. “Look at you 🌊 💜 I like it!” she captioned the post. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Ugalde 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. Planks

Ugalde loves to work out, and keeps things interesting—her exercise routine includes cardio, ab workouts, and planks, which are a great way to work on core muscles. “Without good core stability, you can be at a greater risk for injury,” says NASM-certified personal trainer Melissa Boyd. “For example, the average person has a 60-70% chance of experiencing low-back pain at some point in their lifetime. This risk is greatly reduced with core training. Strong muscles reduce the stress to the joints they support. Strong core muscles protect the spine—a very common area of injury.”

2. Horseback Riding

Ugalde enjoys the physical and mental health benefits of horseback riding. “Interacting with animals has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol (a stress-related hormone) and lower blood pressure,” says the National Institutes of Health. “Other studies have found that animals can reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost your mood.”

3. Resistance Training

Ugalde is dedicated to regular resistance training sessions at the gym, something experts say is beneficial for bone strength. “Numerous studies have shown that strength training can play a role in slowing bone loss, and several show it can even build bone,” says Harvard Health. “This is tremendously useful to help offset age-related declines in bone mass. Activities that put stress on bones can nudge bone-forming cells into action. That stress comes from the tugging and pushing on bone that occur during strength training (as well as weight-bearing aerobic exercises like walking or running). The result is stronger, denser bones.”

4. Running

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Ugalde loves hitting the treadmill for an indoor cardio workout. “We all know running has many benefits — it decreases stress, it increases cardiac health, it decreases weight, it helps your mind and mood. So those things are going to be very helpful,” says Santhosh Thomas, DO, MBA. “That will allow you to tolerate your running injuries or back issues, if you get any.”

5. Jumping Rope

Ugalde enjoys jumping rope as part of her workout routine. “You can jump rope at a slow, steady pace if you want to use it as low-impact, steady-state cardio or you can increase the intensity with techniques like high knees or double-unders (when the rope passes under the feet twice per jump) if you want to use it for HIIT-style training,” says ISSA-certified personal trainer Mike Matthews. “Plus, if you’re pushed for time and looking for an effective full-body workout, jumping rope is an excellent solution.”