Ree Drummond in Workout Gear Says "If I Were Any More Athletic, It'd Be a Crime!"

Ree Drummond is getting her sweat on in her workout clothes. In a new social media post The Pioneer Woman flaunts her slimmed down figure during a rowing session at home. “If I were any more athletic, it’d be a crime!” she captioned the Instagram Reel. “I’m sore watching you!!” commented one of her followers. “This is amazing,” added another. How did the 55-year-old slim down and get into shape? Here is what you need to know about her lifestyle habits, including everything she did to lose 50 pounds since 2021.

1. Hitting “Rock Bottom”

Ree told Entertainment Tonight the motivation behind her weight loss journey. "I have a cooking show, I write cookbooks, I have a cooking website. I have a restaurant, a bakery. So you know, it just kept creeping up and in January of this year, we took my son, Bryce, to college. And I tell this story, but I basically hit rock bottom eating chips and salsa one night,” she explained. “I went a little overboard, but I thought that night, 'I am going to start tomorrow, I am doing something different.' And I just started and I almost lost 60 pounds now." She was also motivated to get into shape for her daughter Alex’s wedding.

2. No Weight Loss Drugs

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In a recent blog post on her website, Ree addressed rumors that she took weight loss drugs, "I did not take 'weight loss gummies' or other supplements." She added that there were "false articles/ads" on social media, adding, "not only does it rob people of money, it also falsely suggests a gummy/supplement can result in weight loss."

3. Not Relying on the Numbers

Ree didn’t rely on numbers during her weight loss journey. "I feel great and that's what matters. The scale was sort of a gauge for me that I was heading in the right direction. And it was never about I have to lose this amount, it's really about how I feel," she said.

4. Strength Training

Ree built her strength via strength training"I feel great, I have, I feel strong. Even when I was thinner, I don't think I ever have been a squatter or a lunger before. Not since my ballet days. So it's really nice to just kind of feel the muscles that I thought were gone forever,” she revealed. According to the Mayo Clinic, strength and weight training help reduce body fat, preserve and increase lean muscle mass, and burn calories more efficiently. Strength training may also help you:

• Develop strong bones
• Manage your weight
• Enhance your quality of life
• Manage chronic conditions
• Sharpen your thinking skills

5. Portion Control

Ree practices portion control. "It changes your whole outlook just having the routine of exercise in your day and, you know, I still eat the foods that I cook my family. I still eat cake. I just eat a Rhode Island-sized piece instead of a Texas-sized piece,” she said.

6. Hiking

Ree hikes. “We made it to the top of Berry Picker. It took three hours, we went 3.8 miles, and we gained 1,838 feet of elevation. It was hard, oh so hard, and I griped a little, tried to quit once, and stopped a lot…but when we reached Eagle’s Nest, I had the very best burger, which I slathered unapologetically with mayonnaise and ketchup. I can’t feel my legs and my hips are killing me, but it gave Ladd and me a great new memory to cherish in our ripe old age. 😭 I love him, and am so happy and grateful he’s here with me. Okay, off to find some Bengay,” she captioned it. According to the National Parks Service, the physical benefits of hiking include:

• Building stronger muscles and bones
• Improving your sense of balance
• Improving your heart health
• Decreasing the risk of certain respiratory problems

7. Rowing

In her recent Instagram post, Ree shows off her rowing skills. According to AFPA Fitness, a rowing machine exercises your upper body as well as your lower body. “The rowing stroke when using an indoor rower is composed of 65-75% leg work and 25-35% upper body work,” they say.