Hilary Duff in Bathing Suit Says Hi From the Beach

Known for her iconic role as Lizzie McGuire, Hilary Duff has been seen in multiple movies over the years like A Cinderella Story and Cheaper By The Dozen. And now she's got a starring role at the beach in a swimsuit, with hubby, singer-songwriter Matthew Koma. "Petition to get Matt to change his clothes," she captioned a funny snap. "On day 4 of this...." How does the How I Met Your Father star stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Hilary Duff 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 Doesn’t Deprive Herself

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She doesn’t deprive herself and really strives for balance. "I am really being healthy right now, and for the first time in my life, I am actually really enjoying it,” she said. “I was about to start shooting again, so I started to count my macros. I’d never done that before, but I love it!” Focusing on macro nutrients, there are three essential areas of focus which include protein, carbs, and fat. This diet involves measuring your daily intake of those three things, plus alcohol.

2. She Works Out

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She makes an effort to work out 4 to 5 times a week. "I don't really love to work out," she said. "I just do it because I have to." Her trainer talks about the importance of beginning and ending her workouts with a little cardio on the treadmill. Between the treadmill cardio, Duff said, "I do a lot of strength-training stuff. A lot of jumping, medicine balls, dead lifts, hip thrusts. I'm a pretty strong little gal."

3. She Has Go To Snacks

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It’s important to have go-to snacks when you’re hungry, so she’s got her list of them. Some of her favorites include cottage cheese mixed with dark chocolate covered almonds, strawberries, cheese roll ups, nuts. Occasionally she’ll reach for a slice of pizza, a burger, or a margarita.

4. She Aims To Stop Eating After 6PM

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She tries to stop eating after 6 PM. "Before I got to New York to start shooting for two weeks, I stopped eating after 6 p.m. It's impossible. It's so hard," Hilary said. "I would be in bed by, like, 8. I had to or else I would be like tempted to creep downstairs and be a little mouse." She likes to sip on bitter tears like dandelion root tea what’s a pinch of honey in it.

5. She Has What She Wants In Moderation

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Duff really appreciates this kind of lifestyle, leading to not feeling deprived. “Every time I've dieted before and cut carbs and sugar, there's been such a daunting feeling of 'I'm being deprived, I'm being deprived.' I'm a really balanced person, and I like to have freedom.” She said about her love of macro counting. It’s good for her because she doesn’t really have to cut anything out.