Kendall Jenner is one of the world’s most successful models—not bad for someone who started out as a reality star. The 26-year-old posted a selfie of herself wearing a brightly patterned bikini, showcasing her incredibly toned physique. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 6 ways Jenner 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!
Jenner is a big fan of tea, and drinks it throughout the day. “I usually start my day off with a cup of detox tea,” she told E! News. “I have like 12 cups a day.” “There’s a lot of literature out there on tea and heart health,” says Anna Ardine, clinical nutrition manager at Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “This is a health effect for which there is the strongest evidence.”
“I like running,” Jenner says. “I’ve been trying to get back into it.” “Many dedicated long-term runners do not run because they want to live longer,” says cardiologist Dr. Aaron Baggish. “They run because it makes them feel better on a daily basis. There is a mood elevating, quality-of-life benefit that comes from being a regular exerciser.”
“My beauty secret for fashion week is just getting a good amount of sleep,” Jenner says. “I feel like I at least need about seven hours, eight hours of sleep to function.” Jenner is on to something—proper sleep is essential for health and fitness. “A lack of sleep can increase appetite by changing hormones, makes us more likely to eat unhealthy foods, and influences how body fat is lost while counting our calories,” says Emma Sweeney, Lecturer in Exercise and Health, Nottingham Trent University and Ian Walshe, Lecturer in Health and Exercise Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle. “Sleep should therefore be considered as an essential alongside diet and physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle.”
Jenner incorporates regular Pilates sessions into her workout regimen. “There’s a therapeutic, preventative benefit to Pilates,” says yoga therapist Judi Bar, “because as it’s isolating and relaxing muscle groups, it strengthens them with control and breath.”
Jenner has been riding horses since she was very young, and continues to enjoy it. “Riding a horse for 45 minutes at a walk, trot and canter can burn up to 200 calories,” says Dr. Dennis Sigler, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horse specialist and professor in the department of animal science at Texas A&M University in College Station. “If you do something a bit more strenuous such as cutting or reining, that can come out to nearly seven calories per minute for the entire length of the riding period.”
Jenner’s favorite cheat-day meal? Pizza! “A cheat meal is high in calories and all macronutrients—protein, carbs, and fat—and is not something that would normally be part of a proper diet plan,” says nutritional scientist Eva Lana, MSc. “Weekly cheat meals that are higher in calories and carbohydrates can help raise leptin levels and lower ghrelin.”