Mindy Kaling in Bathing Suit is "Excited to Model"

Mindy Kaling is showcasing her incredible weight loss journey in a gorgeous blue swimsuit, saying she is excited to show off her new look. “The lowkey romantic gift my friends @traceywigfield and @loulielang gave me was this sexy blue one piece bathing suit which I was so excited to model. You know you have good friends when they’re excited to buy you intimate apparel!,” she captioned an Instagram post. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 7 ways Kaling 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 Refuses To Diet

Kaling is passionate about not being too restrictive with diet, as it usually backfires. "I eat what I like to eat," the actress told ET. "If I do any kind of restrictive diet, it never really works for me. I just eat less of it." Experts agree that severely restrictive diets rarely work over the long term. “At any given time, more than a third of Americans are on a specific diet, with weight loss as a leading reason,” says Robert H. Shmerling, MD. “Most are going to be disappointed, because even when successful, lost weight is frequently regained within a few months.”

2. ...But Portion Control Is Key

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 02: Mindy Kaling attends "In America: An Anthology of Fashion," the 2022 Costume Institute Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

While Kaling refuses to diet, she understands moderation is crucial for health. “I'm never going stop being a foodie. I’m never going be someone who can just have spinach and salmon every day,” Kaling says. “I just am really for the first time in my life, trying moderation, and I love it."

3. She Loves to Walk

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 25: Mindy Kaling arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Focus Features' "Vengeance"at Ace Hotel on July 25, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/FilmMagic)

Kaling makes a point to keep moving throughout the day. “Sometimes I’ll be like, ‘Well, I have four different times today where I have 10 minutes so let’s just walk instead of sitting down and checking Instagram,'" she says. “So instead of it being like one chunk of exercise in the beginning of the day or none at all, I’m now just deciding that I’m going to be a more active person all the time.”

4. She Won’t Do “Punishing” Workouts

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 18: Mindy Kaling, Sex Lives of College Girls on HBO Max attends the Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2022 arrivals on the red carpet at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on May 18, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Discovery)

Kaling understands that when it comes to exercise, it’s important to find something you enjoy. “In my 20s, I thought a workout had to be something that was punishing, like 45 minutes of running and you had to hate it the whole time,” she says. “I don’t have that relationship with exercise anymore.”

5. She Keeps Things Simple

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 12: Actress Mindy Kaling attends the premiere of "Vengeance" during the 2022 Tribeca Festival at BMCC Tribeca PAC on June 12, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Mark Sagliocco/WireImage)

Like most people who instinctively understand what works for their body, Kaling doesn’t overthink her diet and fitness regimen. "Honestly, I didn't really do anything differently. I eat what I like to eat. If I do any kind of restrictive diet, it never really works for me. I just eat less of it... I wish there was something more juicy or dynamic about the way that I've lost a little bit of weight, but that's the way I've done it,” she explains.

6. Workout As Therapy

Kaling appreciates the mental health benefits of exercise. "I love working out," she says. "I don't go to therapy, and I think that's because I get endorphins from exercise. It's such a powerful tool for me mentally. I know that working out is not the path for me to be skinny. For my body type, that entails eating well and making healthy choices. Working out is a way for me to have mental strength, and now, with a kid, it's also time that I have just for myself and to focus on my body."

7. She Was Sensible About Losing the Baby Weight

Kaling continued working out throughout her pregnancy to make post-baby weight loss easier. “I did a lot of yoga and a lot of walking, and I jogged until I couldn't jog anymore,” Kaling says. “I exercised until the morning I gave birth. Also, about a week after I had the baby, I started walking a couple of miles a day. I don't recommend that for everyone, obviously, but I didn't have that difficult of a delivery. All those things were really helpful when it came to losing the weight.”