Taste the Nation Star Padma Lakshmi Shares Swimsuit Pic Behind the Scenes

Padma Lakshmi is rollerblading in her swimsuit. In a new social media host the Taste the Nation star shows off her amazing body in a yellow bathing suit top and jeans shorts while wheeling around with a Hulu cameraman. "Just a little BTS dump to let you know that @natgeotv will be airing a mini-marathon of Taste the Nation on December 24th, revisiting our friends from Miami, Las Vegas, Appalachia and Washington DC. Whether you're wrapping last minute presents for under the tree, wrapping tamales for Nochebuena, or just cuddling up with your loved ones, tune in on Sunday!" she captioned the series of snaps. How does the 53-year-old manage to look half her age? Celebwell rounded up her top lifestyle habits. 

Padma exercises five times a week for 90 minutes. She spends about 35 minutes doing cardio, like jumping rope for 2,000 strokes) and then adds strength training (lifting weights, classic squats, lunges, and dumbbell curls) two or three times a week. "He's there to watch my form, and he spends most of his time telling me not to do something," she told Women's Health about her trainer Tony. Sometimes she will do even more cardio – 30 minutes on the elliptical, treadmill, or slide board. 

Padma also spends an hour boxing. "Light sparring is good for the soul," she captioned a post of her workout. "This kind of boxing has many health benefits, because it constantly requires you to think, change your position, and change your posture," physical therapist Linda Arslanian, director of rehabilitation services at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's hospital tells Harvard Health."You're swinging your arms, moving the muscles of your arms and shoulders, increasing your upper-body strength. And when you're in the boxer crouch with a wide stance, with your knees slightly bent, you're strengthening your core muscles, back, and legs."

Padma is a big fan of pilates. "I started going to Pilates a few years ago, because my chiropractor recommended it for my back," she told Women's Health. "Pilates changed my body. It made me strong in places I didn't know I needed to be. I have a butt now that I didn't have during my modeling career!"

Padma doesn't skip breakfast. She starts her day with a healthy meal of slices or chunks of papaya with dahi (Indian yogurt) topped with a small drizzle of spicy maple syrup and a sprinkle of cinnamon. "I have to eat in the morning before my workout because I won't make it through my workout if I don't," she told Eating Well. 

You won't find Padma on a dairy-free diet. "I guess I eat a lot of yogurt," Lakshmi told Eating Well. "It helps calm my tummy with spicy food. It also just makes me feel good. I think it's nice to have a little bit with every meal, or most meals, if you can."

"When I'm not in the mood for cooking, but when I'm in LA, I will enjoy a burger," Padma told Mashed about her go-to cheat meal. There are two places she will go. "It's not just anywhere," Lakshmi revealed. "It's either In-N-Out, but I also like Astro Burger's garden burger, the one on Santa Monica Boulevard, not the one on Melrose."Her order? Extra pickles and no onions. "You can tell I'm a burger geek when I'm in LA."

Padma has a helpful trick to avoid overeating: She splits her plate into halves. She fills the first up with 50 percent fruits and vegetables. The remaining half is for simple carbs, starch, and lean protein, she dished to Women's Health.

Padma gains up to 17 pounds every season of Top Chef after gorging on high calorie foods. To get back to normal she does a postseason food detox. "It's no sweets, no red meat, no wheat, no alcohol, no fried food, no dairy except for cottage cheese or low-fat yogurt. But this is a milder version—like, I can fall off the wagon one day a week," she told Health.