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Issa Rae Poses in Barbie-Pink Swimsuit on "Vacation"

Here’s how this actress stays happy and fit.

Actress Issa Rae is following the Barbie-inspired pink trend for the summer with her choice of swimwear. Rae, 38, shared pictures of herself lounging in the pool in a bright pink swimsuit from Beyoncé's clothing label Ivy Park, with sunglasses and a cold drink. "Vacation brought to you by @weareivypark 🏝️," she captioned the post. "That skin is popping boo ✨💕," commented The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Shereé Whitfield. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Rae stays in shape and the photos that prove they work.

1

Paleo Diet

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Rae switched to the paleo diet after 15 years of being a vegetarian. "I was a big excuse person when it came to exercising and eating right," she says. "I'd have spurts of trying to work out and being good. Then once I fell off, I'd be like, 'Well, there's always next year. Let me make it my New Year's resolution.' But even then, I would still be eating wrong while exercising vigorously."

2

Hiking and Walking

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Rae admits exercise is not her favorite thing to do, so she focuses on hiking outdoors as much as possible. "Let me not put extras on it," she says. "I exercise for, like, an hour each day. My neighborhood has a bunch of hills, so it's walking up hills. Then I alternate between walking and jogging. I hate jogging—you're going in circles, but I recognize that it helps."

3

This Is Her Routine

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Rae follows a routine to make sure she gets everything done. "My routine is getting up at 4, working out, then doing all the work that I have from 5:30 to 9," she says. "Then 9 is breakfast, and then from 10 to 6 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday is writing. Then Tuesdays and Thursdays are dedicated to business, all the calls that I have to do. I'm trying to stay makeup-free as much as I can. I just take care of my skin. This is the first time that I'm consistently using sunscreen when I go outside. I am cleaning, exfoliating and masking a lot, so I'm just trying to keep my skin stress-free."

4

She's a Lark

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Rae works out first thing in the morning to have the best possible start to the day. "This is my sweet spot," she says. "I always felt like I was behind and I was trying to keep up, so this makes me feel like at least I have a handle on what my day's going to be, and the working out aspect. I don't like coming home after a long day and feeling like, 'Oh, I still gotta move my body?' I'd rather just get it out the way. Also, I'm not a night owl. I'm not about that life. I just don't want it to feel like it's impressive when it's just a preference."

5

Exercise As Therapy

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Rae enjoys the therapeutic benefits of time spent alone while working out. "You know those earbuds that you put in your ears? I was running, and one fell," she says. "It was dark outside and I couldn't find it. So I was forced to just be alone with my thoughts, and I was like, 'Oh, I need to do this more often.' Those moments are the most creative. I think finding those moments while also nurturing your body is important."

Ferozan Mast
Ferozan Mast is a science, health and wellness writer with a passion for making science and research-backed information accessible to a general audience. Read more
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