Tracee Ellis Ross in Bathing Suit Gives "Attitude"

Tracee Ellis Ross is giving off “ATTITUDE ATTITUDE ATTITUDE.” That’s how she captioned her latest Instagram post, of her giving lewks at the camera in a white bathing suit, hot steam surriounding her. It was a behind the scenes look at a photoshoot. The 49-year-old star of Black-ish loves feeling “gorgeous” and we’re the luckier for it. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Tracee Ellis Ross 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 Has This Rule About Eating

“I have a rule about eating. It has to pass two tests: Not only taste good in my mouth, but it also has to feel good in my stomach. So a lot of foods that are good in the mouth, 10 minutes later? I'm cursing myself. Potato chips don't do that, french fries don't do that—they're fattening as hell, but whatever. But cake? I feel bloated, I get, like, hives from the sugar, and I feel like I'm having an anxiety attack. Ice cream? I can't swallow; I feel like I have glue in my mouth,” she told Health.

2. She Engages Her Abs When Working Out

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“If I’m working out, I remember to engage my abs to stand up straight, and I have an open heart,” she said. “My body physically being strong has helped my heart and my mind be able to do the things that they want to do,” she told the New York Times.

3. Here’s a Great Abs Exercise

Grab a medicine ball, 5lbs to 20 lbs, depending on your strength. Sit with your knees bent and heels on the ground. Hold the medicine ball with both hands in front of your abdomen. Make sure that you engage your stomach muscles and now in a controlled but athletic fashion, turn your shoulders so that the ball lowers and touches the floor, now turn your shoulders and bring the ball to the other side. Continue twisting without stopping until you’ve touched the ball to the floor 30 times on each side.

4. She Loves Feeling Gorgeous

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“I love looking gorgeous,” she told the New York Times. “I love feeling gorgeous.” She added: “I’ve been a speaker upper my whole life,” she said. “Absolutely. Especially in the protection of my image.”

5. This is What She Learned From Diana Ross

This is what she got from her legendary mother, Diana. “My business mind, my work ethic. And I got her courage—courage of self, courage to be who I am. My mom is like that: Who she is is who she is. I got it from seeing her do it—seeing a woman unapologetically being herself and it working. There was no shaming of me being me. I had to work on that a lot, because I'm a large personality, so I had to own my specificity and love it. But the example of what that can look like—I see it more and more—I got from my mom. I love getting older,” she told Health.