When Destiny’s Child first filled our television screens with their voluptuous bodies, it was the late ‘90s and heroin chic was ruling the runways. In a few short years, the word ‘bootylicious’ (meaning: sexy and shapely) had been added to the dictionary and one woman’s shape had helped change the public’s mindset. Beyonce, 30, now flaunting another stunning curve (with her new pregnancy), has made women want to flaunt their bodies again. Here, her tips on how to revamp your workout.
DO push your limits
To be fit enough to handle a world tour – that means singing and dancing at the same time, without sounding out of breath – Beyonce hits the gym every day of the week with her trainer. Those workouts include 100 squats, step-ups and walking lunges (each!). “Don’t think it’s easy, but don’t give up,” she says.
DO have fun
Every woman knows that workouts can get super-dull thanks to all that repetition, which is why Beyonce adds a personal twist to stop her mind from wandering. “I’ll put on a song that I really like and do biceps curls with 3kg weights throughout it,” she told us. “Or, using 2kg weights, I’ll box for the length of an exhilarating tune.”
DO have goals
What’s the point of working hard if you’re not working towards something? Beyonce keeps a painting of an Oscar in front of her treadmill, so she’s literally running towards her next goal. “I look at it, and I’m like OK, I have to stay in shape if I want that to become a reality,” she says.
DON’T cut corners
For more than two months before she goes on tour, Beyonce practices her choreography for nine hours a day while wearing 6cm stilettos. We thought it was hard to get through a day at the office in killer shoes – that’s 603 hours in heels! The star admits, “When I take them off, I’m like, ‘I wish I could just chop my feet off!’”
DON’T despair
“There are plenty of days when I’m like ‘Why do I live like this?’” says Beyonce. “But that’s just life. It’s every job, not just mine. Every moment is not perfect. But there are definitely more good times than bad. You can’t even compare. And when I’m on stage it feels incredible knowing what my body can do.”
