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Ten Celebrity Fitness Tips

We compare ourselves to them, envy their perfect abs, and wish we had their lives. Maybe that can't happen, but we can steal a few of their tricks for staying in shape! Celebrities know a ton of secrets for getting in top shape, plus they work with the top fitness trainers to stay that way. We share ten top tips from the stars.

Kristen Bell

Fits in Fitness

Kristen says she can rarely find 30 minutes straight to exercise, let alone get to a gym. Her solution is to fit exercise into smaller time slots. When she's on a movie set, Kristen will "run up and down the stairs in-between takes", or "pick up whatever object is around" and do arm presses. All these mini workouts add up to constant exercising throughout the day, and Kristen never has to do a long workout. Good for the body, and the schedule... smart!

Penelope Cruz

Follows Her Passion

Penelope says her fitness philosophy is simple. "Workouts aren't just about burning calories." As someone who has danced for years, Penelope keeps fitness fun by doing dance workouts, and going dancing with her friends whenever she gets the chance. Doing what she loves keeps her motivated, and it feels less like exercise.

Rachel Bilson

Uses Self-Control

Rachel is refreshingly real about the challenges of looking good. She says, "I hate it when people say, 'I don't work out, and I eat whatever I want.' I'm not that person." Rachel tries to be good to herself, but listens to her body, and tries to keep things in balance. "I eat what I want, but if I start to see a problem, I'll do something about it. I'll eat healthy for a few weeks."

Mischa Barton

Fitness With Fido

Mischa's secret to staying slim involves her pet pooch. A devoted pet owner, Mischa takes her dog on a walk every day, rain or shine. Making exercise feel like fun, instead of something she has to do, is crucial to Mischa. "It's rare that I get in the mood to go and deliberately exercise, it has to be for a reason." Having a pup who waits at the door for her every day, is a great motivation for getting moving and burning calories.

Jessica Alba

Uses Music to Motivate

Jessica's killer body doesn't happen without a ton of hard work. "Every day, I do 10 minutes on the treadmill, 50 lunges and crunches, and 10 minutes of running." But Jessica isn't a robot - she says she can get incredibly bored during workouts, and does "anything that keeps me from wanting to kill myself when I am in the gym". Her favorite remedy? "Listening to my music on level 100."

Reese Witherspoon

Mixes Things Up

Reese's secret for staying motivated to exercise, is to keep shaking things up. Every day, she tries to add something a little different to her exercise routine, whether that's taking a different route for a run, or doing crunches outdoors instead of in her living room. Reese got this tip from her celebrity trainer, who taught her you have to change things up.
"Otherwise, your body gets bored and you stop seeing results."

Mandy Moore

Listens to Her Body

Mandy likes a lot of sleep, and knows she functions better when she hits the sack within a few hours of dinner. "I'm an early bird, so lights out for me is 10 pm if I have it my way." People tease her sometimes, but Mandy sticks with what makes her feel best. "When you feel better about yourself and your body," she says, "you walk with a little more confidence and life is good."

Jessica Simpson

Gets On the Ball

Jessica keeps her curves under control by using a stability ball in her exercise routine. This inexpensive piece of equipment helps Jessica to maintain her form while she sculpts her legs and butt, with challenging moves such as wall squats. Jessica also tries to avoid eating too much bread when she's working out a lot, and "curbs" her sweet tooth by snacking on sugar-free Jell-O.

Jennifer Garner

Eats Healthy Snacks

Jennifer feels that eating healthy snacks is super-important. "They are the fourth meal of the day and you gotta have them." Jennifer snacks on fruit, nuts and high-fiber crackers throughout the day, to keep up her energy. She says munching on healthy stuff keeps her from reaching for junk food, and improves her mood. "You need the brain power from nutritious healthy snacks."

Christina Milian

Makes It Fun

Christina makes a big effort to enjoy the exercise she does, and that pays off. "I like working out. It's something fun for me, like shopping. It's really weird to say that, but I do enjoy it!" Christina also keeps it real by allowing herself to eat what she wants, in moderation. "I don't feel guilty. I love hot dogs, which are so unhealthy, but I have them on occasion so I don't feel deprived."