You’ve seen their amazing arms, gorgeous gams and fit, flab-free stomachs splashed across pages of fitness magazines. They’re the women who inspire us to be both fit and healthy through proper diet and exercise.
Here’s how they get their awesome bodies – and continue to be some of the most popular role models for collegiettes everywhere today.
Carrie Underwood
Before Underwood became the superstar she is today, she made headlines on Season Four of American Idol. But her time spent traveling and rehearsing with the show introduced her to an unhealthy lifestyle. She ate out all the time and was too busy for exercise, causing her to gain 20 pounds.
Her eating habits and lifestyle have changed dramatically since then, landing her on the cover of several major fitness magazines. She works out in the mornings, carries around a notebook to log her daily food and drink choices and is also a vegetarian who loves carbs like pasta and pizza – but makes sure to limit them in her diet.
Instead, she sticks to snacks like almonds, vegetables and hummus, almonds and apples. Some of her other favorites include Hostess 100-calorie packs, Subway sandwiches and Kashi cereal.
To maintain her fit figure, she takes Krav Maga (a type of martial arts) classes. She also follows an intense 90-minute workout four to six times each week. The routine begins with 10 to 15 minutes of walking, then jogging on a treadmill, stretches on a mat with a foam roller, followed by push-ups, pull-ups, lunges, jump squats and step exercises and ends with more activity on the treadmill, crunches and stretches.
Jessica Biel
If we had Justin Timberlake as our fitness partner, we’d probably exercise as hard as Biel, too.
Her killer arms, courtesy of tough plank intervals, capture everyone’s attention on the big screen. To avoid falling into a workout rut, Biel keeps her routines fresh and challenging with all types of athletic adventures and workouts, like circuit training with heavy lifting, which strengthen her different muscle groups. She hikes, bikes, turns to yoga twice a week to lengthen muscles, plays volleyball on the weekend and attends dance classes. And she even took a trip up Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2009!
But she also knows she must pair her awesome workout regimens with a good diet. She typically eats complex carbs early in the morning, and snacks on fruit later in the day. For dinner, Biel sticks mostly to fish and veggies. She also makes sure to not deprive herself when her sweet tooth kicks in. The key for Biel, however, is enjoying those indulgences in moderation.
“I think she is a really positive body image for girls to look up to,” said Kelsie Johnston, a University of Florida junior. “She portrays realistic expectations for young women, and shows us that health and fitness is not all about calorie-counting.”
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Beyonce Knowles
You’ve seen her rocking body shake it to “Single Ladies” on stage in front of millions. Twelve-hour choreography rehearsals – in sky-high heels – teach her the moves she needs for her music videos and concerts. So it’s no surprise Knowles knows exactly what it takes to keep in top shape.
While dance tones all the right spots on this queen of rhythm, she also finds ways to add more cardio to her workouts. Five days a week, Knowles hits the gym for 30-minute sessions on the elliptical or bike to keep the pounds off her famously curvaceous body.
For her diet, she eats lots of green vegetables, and avoids red meat, bread and alcohol. Although she considers chocolate her cheat food, she combats the calories with lots of running.
This combination of healthy food choices and intense workouts helped her make headlines earlier this year. Just weeks after giving birth to her daughter, Knowles revealed a post-baby body free of extra weight – and inspiration to women everywhere.
Jennifer Lawrence
For the character of Katniss Everdeen in the recent high-action box office hit “The Hunger Games,” directors wanted an actress who could amp up the fight scenes. Lawrence took on the challenge and proved she could kick her already in-shape body into even better condition with an intense six-week fitness program.
Her daily routine consisted of lots of cardio, exercises that increased her endurance and activities that elevated her metabolism. She focused on sprinting at the track and riding stationary bikes. The result? A leaner Lawrence, perfect for the role.
“She has such a strong body, but I definitely think she needed that for this movie,” said Nicole Martinez, a University of Florida sophomore. “I think her dedication to the role really shows her commitment to being fit, and I admire that.”
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Ashley Greene
You know her as Alice Cullen from the “Twilight” series, but she’s also known for her toned arms, trim legs and all-around fit body.
Greene said she’s always been athletic, but had to shape up even more for the hit movie “New Moon,” just like several of her costars. Through early Pilates sessions six days each week, she transformed into a fierce female vampire.
Now she has a personal trainer to help her mix up her workouts. Greene does cardio sometimes, but mostly turns to mountain biking, martial arts and kayaking for her exercise of choice.
She also makes sure to eat healthily with fish, egg whites, vegetables and chicken as the main ingredients of her diet. Greene relies on portion control to maintain her figure and makes sure to give into weaknesses for her favorite snacks when temptations become too much.
Follow in their Footsteps…
We can’t all have personal trainers to keep us motivated while exercising after a long day at school, or personal chefs to whip up balanced meals when our convenient frozen meals just won’t cut it.
But by looking to fit celebrities like these women, we can find the inspiration we need to develop healthy lifestyles as collegiettes. Increase the intensity of your workout, try an activity you’ve never done before and always remember the ultimate goal: a fit, healthy and happy you.