With a 10-month-old son, an upcoming album, and an activewear line [1], it seems as though Carrie Underwood [2] can do it all. We know what it takes to get that rocking figure [3] and clearly, her postbaby body tells all. At 32, Carrie takes serious care of herself, whether it's finishing up Tabata paired with a three-mile run [4] or squeezing in a workout at the playground [5]. So it's no wonder she's the covergirl of Shape magazine's November issue [6], to hit newsstands on Oct. 20. Read on for quotes from the country superstar on flat belly-tips, postpartum weight, and more.
On her postbaby weight: “After I had Isaiah, my goal was to take control of my body again. I was lucky: I gained only 30 pounds, which is the recommended amount, and I exercised throughout my pregnancy. I did have a C-section, which meant waiting six weeks before working out. Within 20 days, though, I was able to begin walking slowly on the treadmill and around my neighborhood. It felt so good to be active! Now we box and we hike trails, among other things. I like to continually mix up my routines to stay motivated.”
On how she gets her figure: “My favorite workout is Tabata, which I can do at home in about a half hour. I’m in love with it! It’s hard, but it really works. I choose seven different exercises, like squats, lunges, or pushups, and do eight rounds of each – 20 seconds on, 20 seconds off for eight rounds. It really revs up my metabolism. When I’m done, I can handle anything.”
On waking up with a flat belly: “I’m vegan and I love bread, but recently, I started making dinner a breadless meal. I’ll have a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, and I’ll make a sandwich on Ezekiel bread for lunch, but in the evening I’ll have protein and vegetables and no bread. When I wake up, my belly is flat!”
On what she looks for in activewear: “Since I exercise almost every day, I like wearing clothes that look just as good on the street as they do at the gym. I’ve always been an athletic-wear fanatic, but everything I owned was either super-functional and not cute, or really frilly and not right for my workout. I need exercise clothing that I can actually work out in but that also looks great if I meet a friend for coffee afterward. That’s why I created Calia . . . and now I wear it everywhere.”
On staying balanced: “I think it’s important to sit quietly every day for 10 minutes. In the morning, I enjoy my cup of coffee and plan the day in my head to be ready for it. And sometimes at night, I sip a glass of red wine and just relax. I’ve learned to give myself a break.”