Heather Rae Young is reveling over the difference a day can make. “Hard to believe less than 24 hours ago I was soaking in the sun by the water in Cabo, and now I’m laying in bed recovering from vocal chord [sic] surgery,” she writes in her latest Instagram post, alongside a south of the border snap of herself in a swimsuit. “Grateful to have such good doctors, amazing husband taking care of me, and all of my sweet friends for sending me flowers!! I appreciate all of the love from all of you during this time. It was a long time coming for me as I’ve been battling vocal stress for years. After resting for 3 months I was never going to be 100% so surgery was my only route. Some may have noticed the my voice issues when watching #Sellingsunset and #flipping101 but on the road to recovery.” What other ways does she manage her health? Read on to see 5 of Heather Rae Young’s top tips for staying 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. Maintain an Active Lifestyle
Heather has been outdoorsy since she was a kid. “I had a national forest as my backyard. How many people can say that? I would hike down to the creek and swim, go sledding in the winter, and I had a handful of ski resorts to choose from. It might sound dorky, but I love skiing,” she told Super Street.
2. Get “Into” Fitness
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Heather doesn’t have to force herself to exercise. She actually enjoys it. “I'm really into fitness and running—I love kickboxing and dancing,” she told Super Street. “For big health benefits, aim for these numbers: 2.5 to 5 hours of moderate aerobic activity, or 75-150 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity every week. Want to do more than that? You'll get more health benefits. Try to spread this activity throughout the week,” says the Mayo Clinic.
3. Work Out Daily
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Heather makes sure to move on a daily basis. “Fitness makes me so happy,” she added to Women Fitness. “I never look at it like….ugh I have to workout today. I get excited to do it. Right now I do a strength training HIIT class 3-4 times a week. And on the days in between I run 3-4 miles.”
4. Food Prep and Plan Ahead
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Heather sets herself up for dietary success by bringing her own food with her. “I always pack my own food since I am vegan and I always workout no matter what,” she told Women Fitness.
She also loves protein smoothies. “Lunch is usually quinoa salad or veggie salad. I snack in between on nuts or a vegan protein bar (which has little ingredients) And I drink tea in between meals. No coffee, I actually have never tried a cup. I do have a sweet tooth though, so I choose to not even have sugar because once I start i can’t stop.”
5. Take Supplements
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Heather is one of the many stars who uses supplements alongside a healthy diet. “I take fish oil and vitamins daily,” she told Women Health. “Omega-3 fatty acids are derived from food. They can't be manufactured in the body. Fish oil contains two omega-3s called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Dietary sources of DHA and EPA are fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel and trout, and shellfish, such as mussels, oysters and crabs. Some nuts, seeds and vegetable oils contain another omega-3 called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA),” says the Mayo Clinic.