Sommer Ray Shows Off Amazing Body and Says "Stretch With Me" in New Photos

Sommer Ray is heating up social media with her latest swimsuit snap. The model and fitness personality, who's huge on social media, flaunted her famous curves in the image, reminding fans that “it’s always summer in my little world.” How does the 25-year-old keep herself so fit? Read on to see 6 ways Sommer Ray 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 Was a Bodybuilder

Sommer Ray has been lifting weights since she was 14 and even started competing in bodybuilding competitions at 16. She told Cosmopolitan, "it’s a whole different world where many girls are on steroids, and I didn’t want to do that to my body," about why she stopped.

2. She Refuses to Photoshop Her Body

"If there’s something not permanent on my face like a zit, I’ll smooth it," she told Cosmopolitan. "If I take a photo at a bad angle, I just won't post it. I don't Photoshop my body because it would feel like a false advertisement."

3. Her Workouts Are Intense

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Sommer is serious about fitness, working out five times a week for up to 90 minutes. She spends two days on her lower body. "If my glutes are sore, I tell myself, 'I probably shouldn't work them today,' " she says. "I just listen to my body." Other than that, she mixes up her workouts. "There’s not a certain exercise or specific workout that’s beneficial," she says. "I switch it up every day and try to make it fun, because as soon as it feels like a job, you don’t want to do it."

4. Her Diet Is Protein Rich

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Ray told Cosmopolitan that she eats a whopping 70 grams of protein per day to keep her glutes built. She starts the day with a protein shake and eats five more small meals throughout the day. Because Ray tries to eat 70 grams of protein a day to maintain her glute muscle mass, she starts most mornings with a protein shake, the first of six small meals throughout the day. Grilled chicken, veggies and steamed white rice is one of her go-t0 meals, but she will also indulge in In-and-Out Burger (without the bun) or turkey from Jersey Mike’s. For carbs, she eats starchy veggies and whole grains.

5. She Cheats on the Weekend

Sommer isn’t all work and no play. Occasionally she will have a drink, like tequila, or eat to her cravings. "If I want a slice of pizza, I have a slice of pizza. I want to look good, but I also want to enjoy life," she explained. “If you feel less deprived by eating that piece of cake, or burger and fries, and don’t feel you have to order one of everything off the menu, it could lead to better long-term outcomes,” says Julia Zumpano, RD, LD of the Cleveland Clinic.

6. Confidence Is Key

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"I don’t want to motivate women to look like me — I want them to love themselves the way I do," Ray told Cosmopolitan. "Society puts on pressure to look and be a certain way — you're your best when you are confident in yourself." "Rather than talking about physical attributes of your child or others, instead praise his or her personal characteristics such as strength, persistence and kindness. Avoid pointing out negative physical attributes in others or yourself. Don't make or allow hurtful nicknames, comments or jokes based on a person's physical characteristics, weight or body shape," says the Mayo Clinic.

Sommer Ray, the fitness model and influencer, shares a lot of photos on her Instagram; it's literally part of her job. But sometimes she blends business with pleasure. For example, just shared a ton of selfies from a day she spent at the beach—a bunch, in fact. Ray posed with her hair wet, while wearing a tiger-stripe bathing suit. She captioned the photo series, “Here's 9 variations of the same photo lol.” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 6 ways Sommer Ray 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 Wants To Promote a Healthy Lifestyle

For Ray, being a fitness influencer and model isn’t just about posting workout videos and photos of her toned body. She also wants to promote a healthy lifestyle and methods. "I just want to promote a healthy, natural lifestyle,” she told Forbes. Ray says that she especially wants to inspire young girls. “I want girls to know that I’m for them,” she said.

2. She Takes Days To Recover

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While Ray’s workout schedule is intense, she does make sure to take days to recover. She says that she doesn’t want her body to get too sore or injured. "If my glutes are sore, I tell myself, 'I probably shouldn't work them today,' " she says to Cosmopolitan. "I just listen to my body."

3. She Switches Up Her Workouts

Even though Ray is a fitness influencer, she does get bored of working out sometimes. She says that the solution to this is switching up her workouts. "There’s not a certain exercise or specific workout that’s beneficial," she says to Cosmopolitan. "I switch it up every day and try to make it fun, because as soon as it feels like a job, you don’t want to do it.”

4. She Isolates Her Muscles

Ray broke down her favorite exercises and workout routines to Cosmopolitan. She says that she likes to do exercises that target and isolate her muscles. Ray says that this is how several exercises are supposed to be done, and that this can be a lot more effective. "If you do any exercise right, with the right form, you learn to isolate your muscles," she says.

5. She Doesn't Give In To Society’s Beauty Standards

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Ray tells Cosmopolitan that she doesn’t feel pressure to give in to the beauty standards society has for women. She says that she wants her followers to do the same, and not feel like they have to look like her, or someone else. "I don’t want to motivate women to look like me — I want them to love themselves the way I do," she says. "Society puts on pressure to look and be a certain way — you're your best when you are confident in yourself."

6. She Gives Into Her Cravings

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Ray tells Cosmopolitan that she tries to eat a healthy diet, but she doesn’t deprive herself too much. She says that she does indulge once in a while. "If I want a slice of pizza, I have a slice of pizza. I want to look good, but I also want to enjoy life.”