Kelsea Ballerini is releasing a poetry book on November 16! The country star gave her fans a visual of the poem “A Rose” on her social media account Sunday, rocking a skin-colored bathing suit. How does the 28-year-old keep herself so fit? Read on to see 7 ways Kelsea Ballerini 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. Routine Is Key
Kelsea revealed to Shape that maintaining a schedule helps her in life. "To be honest, routine always sounded boring, but now it's something that helps me feel like I'm in control of my life. I'm baby stepping my way into it. Little things, like when you get out of bed, make the bed. Get outside for 30 minutes a day. Sit on the porch. Take the dog for a walk. I'm building that into my life, and it's not boring at all. It's really helping me feel that ownership of my life that I need,” she explained.
2. Self Care is Crucial
“I used to think 'me time' was so narcissistic, but now I realize it's necessary,” she explained to Shape. “I have a SoulCycle bike, and I love to do that. I am a hot-bath fanatic. I have all my essential oils, and I do that pretty much every night. I can show up in a more present way when I'm taking time for myself too."
3. She Eats Healthy 80 Percent of the Time
“I've always been an 80/20 person as far as food and drinking. I try to do what's good for me 80 percent of the time. The other 20 percent of the time, I just enjoy my life,” she told Shape. “I run through the McDonald's drive-through once a month, and it's fine. Sometimes I'll have a little too much wine, and that's OK too. I've spent so much of my life feeling guilty for things that I eat or having an unhealthy relationship with food or the gym or whatever. So I just try to be nice to myself and do what's good for me. And when I don't, I start again the next day."
4. She Does Strength Training
Kelsea, who works out with Nashville based trainer Erin Oprea, focuses on simple but effective strength training workouts. “We're on Zoom three days a week and do a lot of strength training intervals, where you alternate two exercises until you've burned that muscle group, then move on. We cram it all into 45 minutes and call it a day,” she told Shape.
5. She Considers Exercise “Empowering”
"I guess I always had this thought that trainers just yell at you until you cry. But with Erin, she definitely pushes me, but she also just makes me feel really empowered when we work out," she told Health. "Afterward, I never feel stressed or exhausted; I always feel good, like I just accomplished something. Erin’s really encouraging like that."
6. She Does Lots of Different Workouts
Kelsea explained to Nashville Edit that the secret to exercise is finding workouts you like. “There are so many different kinds of moving. Going to the gym or running on the treadmill, which I personally hate and tried for years, isn’t the only way to exercise. I love any kind of cycle class because the music is super loud, the lights are dark, and I can shut my eyes and feel like I am at home with my headphones on. I also love Pilates for building long, lean muscle,” she said. “Working out, something I used to dread, is now something that I look forward to because it boosts my stamina onstage and makes me feel much more clear-headed and, in my body, too.”
7. It’s All About Self-Love
“I don’t shame myself if I screw up. I don’t make myself feel bad if I have a cheat meal or even a cheat day,” she told Nashville Edit about how she practices self-love regularly. “I’ve struggled with body image my entire life and knew if I was going to be an artist, I had to figure my" stuff "out. I don’t diet. I like my legs. I hate my stomach. I try not to stress about it. If I start to feel" bad "about myself, I get off Instagram and stop comparing myself to others. I do the best I can.”