Beyonce Body Secrets

Beyonce Shares Her Body Secrets… or, at least, that’s what Self Magazine says. Wanna hear them? Here are a few highlights from the interview:

She puts in the work. To get a tour-worthy body–one that can handle singing and dancing at the same time–the star works out five days a week with her trainer. Those workouts include 100 squats, step-ups and walking lunges (each!).

She makes it fun. An upper body workout can get boring with all those repetitions, so Knowles added her own twist. “I’ll put on a song that I really like and do [biceps curls with] 5-pound weights the whole song,” she told us. Or, using 3-pound weights, she’ll box for the length of one track.

She knows how to motivate herself. What’s the point of running, if you’re not running towards something? Knowles keeps a painting of an Oscar at the gym, so she’s literally running towards her next goal. “I look at it, and I’m like OK, I have to stay in shape,” she admits.

She’s consistent. From the beginning of rehearsals on January 19 to the start of her tour on March 26, Knowles practiced her choreography for nine hours a day, seven days a week–while wearing 5-inch stilettos. Think it’s tough to make it through the workday? That’s 603 hours in heels! The star admits, “When I come home and take them off, I’m like, “Oh, my God! I wish I could just chop my feet off!”

She understands the importance of confidence. Transforming into Sasha Fierce is more than putting on a teeny-tiny costume and sky-high heels. To become her alter ego, Knowles rehearses her sexy walk. “It’s about self-esteem,” she instructs. “It’s in the hips. Lean back, stretch your neck, keep your shoulders low, point your toes and cross one foot in front of the other.” Anyone can do it!

“To me, it’s sexier when it doesn’t look like you go to the gym. If you look like you’ve been spending a lot of time in the gym, then it just looks like you spend a lot of time in the gym. (laughs) So I never want to get to that point where it’s not natural. I think it’s important to feel like a woman, as well as look like a woman.”

“When I’m completely overwhelmed and tired, comfort food helps. I’ll want to have some ice cream. Or when the tour is behind, I’m like, I just want some Krispy Kremes! [Because] there’s too much good food out there to never indulge. When I’m off, I feel like I’ve earned [the right] to eat what I want, and I give myself a certain amount of time.”