Myleene Klass in Bathing Suit Has "Bestest Birthday"

Myleene Klass, the British singer and model, just turned 44 and had the “bestest birthday on a boat,” she captioned some images of herself in a swimsuit. “All aboard for 44! 🍰⚓,” she said before boarding a ship. (She wore an “Epic swimsuit #MyleeneKlassXNext @nextofficial.”) How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Myleene Klass 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 Does Not Use the Word “Diet”

“I used to do that whole thing of, ‘I’m not going to go near chocolate’ and all that happens is that three days later it’s all I’m craving and I just go mental,” she told Women’s Health. “I don’t want to create a negative cycle. I don’t want my children to have a bad body image so I don’t want them to see me sitting there sucking in my stomach or looking at myself negatively. I want them to see me eating well. I won’t use the word diet. I won’t even call a Diet Coke by its name – in my house it’s known as a DC.”

2. She Watches Her Portions

Klass has an Austrian father and a Filipino mother. “You've got to be realistic,” she told Express. “I try and move and I make sure that I watch my portions, that’s what I have to careful with….Filipino culture is minimum two plates, sometimes go up for a third just to show that you’ve enjoyed that meal. But that can play havoc.”

3. She Watches Her Carb Intake

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“Definitely watch your carb intake if you want to lose weight. Don’t cut it out all together but because then you only have to look at a potato and you doomed when you go back on them,” she told Express. When it comes to choosing carbs, “focus on eating fiber-rich fruits and vegetables,” says the Mayo Clinic. “Aim for whole fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables without added sugar.” And: “Choose whole grains. Whole grains are better sources than refined grains of fiber and other important nutrients, such as B vitamins. Refined grains go through a process that strips out parts of the grain — along with some of the nutrients and fiber.”

4. She Wants to Stay Fit For Her Kids

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​​"I want to stay fit for my girls and set an example to them. I want to feel strong," Myleene explained to Hello. "I've incorporated boxing into the workout because I love how it makes me feel afterwards." She even released a fitness DVD, MyBody by Myleene Klass, that reflects her workout strategies. "The way that I approach fitness has definitely changed over the years. When I was in my teens I used to dance all the time. I was in a West End show, so I was dancing seven, no, nine times a week in those shows and it was really easy for me," she said.

5. She Loves Herself the Way She Is

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“I'm not naturally slim. I’m 5ft 5in and I’m not a model. Because I’m not a model, I’ve learnt to make the best of what I’ve got – short legs and bandy arms and a long back and terrible posture, but I don’t wish to be anything else. It’s my points of difference that have made me a success,” she told Women’s Health.