Carmen Electra is 50 and in the best shape of her life. The actress has been a Hollywood fixture for decades, and has never seemed so comfortable in front of the camera. Electra posted a picture of herself in a bright yellow one-piece swimsuit, with the caption “i’ll never give up the #baywatch outfits! 💛 happy #humpday, i know where i’ll be celebrating today! 😏.” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Electra stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don’t miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!
Electra doesn’t obsess about going to the gym, as staying active is part of her lifestyle. “I don’t go to the gym every day. Usually when I’m on break, I’ve already danced a lot so I’m okay for a while,” Electra says. “Sometimes I work out at my house. I’ll do some lunges, something simple like that. Otherwise I’ll go to the gym. I’ve only had one trainer in my life, and I realized that because of my dance background, I already have discipline and I don’t need to be pushed. I think I’ve saved a lot of money too. As a dancer, I’ve never put strict rules on my workout habits and sometimes I just want to go to the gym and do something light.”
Electra feels in control of her career after decades in the industry. “It does feel really good to stand up for yourself,” she says. “I think what we’re going through now is people are finally standing up for themselves and who they are … It’s not always easy to do, but I do respect people that can stand up for who they are and be honest about it.”
Electra doesn’t overcomplicate her health and wellness regimen. “Having a healthy lifestyle isn’t that complicated—you need to exercise, eat right, stay hydrated, get the right amount of rest, and, most important, try to live as stress-free as possible,” she says. “One of the sexiest qualities you can have is to be confident in who you are. You have to accept yourself for who you are, flaws and all. Always be yourself.”
Electra doesn’t follow a specific diet or deny herself what she wants to eat. “I wake up and have a smoothie with strawberries, acai, protein, spinach, wheat grass, goji berries and many other fruits, vegetables, and superfoods,” she says. “For lunch and dinner, protein and vegetables, salads, or sushi is what gets me through the day. Some days, I eat whatever I want as long as I’m exercising enough. My biggest struggle is my cravings for sweets, but I’ve learned to take it easy on myself and get the cravings out of the way so I don’t obsess over them. My ultimate goal is to eat healthy all week and have Sunday as my cheat day where I can eat as much as I want and whatever I want.”
Electra isn’t afraid to say “no” when necessary. “I listen to my body,” she says. “There have been times in my life where I’ve pushed myself so hard to do everything, and I had to learn how to say no. It’s important in dating to say no, in your daily life, and with your friends. I think boundaries are really healthy. When you feel guilty about having boundaries in your life, that’s a problem. People don’t respond to boundaries well; they think that you’re being selfish. But if you’re not taking care of yourself, then you can’t take care of anyone else.”