Shirley Ballas in Bathing Suit Says "Thank You"

World famous ballroom dancer Shirley Ballas is nicknamed the "Queen of Latin" and at 62, the British star clearly has no plans to slow down. Ballas took a break from her nonstop Strictly Come Dancing schedule to share a sweet happy birthday message with her friend Nathan Grundy on Instagram. "You are a gifted human being but what stands out is your shining beautiful kind heart," Ballas captioned the photo of herself wearing a bright bathing suit, posing next to Grundy by the pool. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Ballas 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!

Ballas' go-to breakfast is both healthy and delicious. "Avocado, a boiled egg and brown toast is my all-time favorite breakfast," she says. "Avocados are high in fat with 60 percent of this being monounsaturated fats, which research suggests helps to protect against heart disease and lower blood pressure," says registered nutritionist Jo Lewin. "They are also an excellent source of potassium, folate and fiber, all of which benefit the heart and cardiovascular system." 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqPvh-8Befp/According to Ballas, her mother still cooks her favorite meal as a treat. "My mum spoils me," she says. "A fully baked dinner, salmon, and baked veg. My favorite clean food. She may be 81 but I love spending time with her. She still spoils me and I'm eternally grateful." Salmon is a great choice of protein, experts say. "Oily fish plays an important role in dampening the effects of inflammation, which is key to helping manage a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes and cancer," Lewin says. "Studies suggest that eating more oily fish like salmon could help lower levels of the markers that indicate inflammation."

Like many other people, Ballas had a hard time taking care of her health during pandemic lockdowns but is getting back into a good routine again. "I struggled during the pandemic, that's for sure, but I'm doing yoga again now and I'm on my 33rd class in a row without stopping," she says. "I'm also doing a plant paradox diet. It consists mostly of plant-based foods such as nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables. It's all about healthy eating and not dieting. Diets don't work. I've yo-yoed all my life."

Ballas has a much healthier relationship with food these days. "Until five years ago, I always looked at food as the enemy," she says. "I'm still cautious about what I put in my mouth but I've educated myself. When I was a dancer I did all these miserable diets. I was up and down and could never find a balance. When someone restricts what they eat, they have these huge [mood] swings. I had issues. It was an emotional rollercoaster. Now that I take probiotics and eat better, I'm in a much better place."

Ballas hasn't always enjoyed her experiences in the dancing world, but finally feels happy and content on both a physical and emotional level. "Oh, I am getting all emotional, but for me Strictly is like going to Disneyland," she says. "I don't have to worry about bullying, don't have to worry about how I look, everyone at the BBC is totally encouraging and supportive – more than they realize. It's given me back my hope and self-acceptance. In the past few years I've been starting to sort it out [Ballas has been head judge since 2017], but for many years I had counseling just to get through the weeks."