Tracee Ellis Ross is 49 and thriving. “I feel the sexiest I’ve ever felt. Even with all the working out, it’s just a little softer. My [backside is] bigger. My [chest is] bigger. A lot changes as I’ve gotten older!” she says. The actress posted a photo of herself on Instagram wearing a red bikini, captioning the snap “FAUX LOCS in the vineyard.” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Ross 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!
Ross is a longtime devotee of the Tracy Anderson Method. “A mash up of this morning’s @tracyandersononlinestudio live stream class,” she captioned one Instagram video. “I did my best, did a lot of giggling and talking to myself and made some variations as best I could on the moves I couldn’t do (being extra careful). As you all know I love me some @tracyandersonmethod. I love the workouts and have been doing it for years. It keeps me strong and long with a little jiggle. Just like I like! We are usually in a 98 degree studio. My makeshift home space is not nearly as hot but this is working and wonderful. I’m so grateful. Thank you Tracy for your spirit and care. I miss the beautiful energy of our studio space, the Tracy team and all the regular members. As usual, sending deep gratitude to all those working in essential industries and wishing everyone joy, love and health. Leggings by @carbon38.”
Lunch usually consists of “hard-boiled egg with quinoa (seasoned with olive oil, salt and pepper) and sautéed zucchini mixed with crushed Brazil nuts.” Eggs are a great lunch choice, says registered nutritionist Jo Lewin. “Whole eggs are nutritionally rich, supplying almost every nutrient you need,” Lewin says. “They are useful sources of some of the hard to get nutrients like vitamins D and B12 as well as the mineral iodine. Eggs are regarded as a ‘complete’ source of protein as they contain all nine essential amino acids, which we must obtain from our diet. Furthermore, if you choose brands enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, due to the diet the chickens are fed, you’ll benefit from higher omega-3 fatty acids as well as fat soluble vitamins such as vitamins A and E.”
A typical dinner for Ross is “broiled steak with olive oil, salt, pepper and oregano, and a side salad of arugula with apples, onions, olive oil and lemon.” “Red meat has been an important part of the human diet throughout human evolution,” reads an article published by Cambridge University Press. “When included as part of a healthy, varied diet, red meat provides a rich source of high biological value protein and essential nutrients, some of which are more bioavailable than in alternative food sources.”
Ross prefers to eat an early dinner over a late one. “My favorite meal of the day is an early dinner/late lunch between 4 and 6 pm,” Ross says. “I love going to one of my favorite restaurants once a week to have a glass of wine and a delicious meal.” Eating dinner three hours before bedtime at the very latest is ideal, says registered dietitian, MS, and LDN Rachel Swanson. “This recommendation is part of a bigger, and much more sophisticated, biological picture. The benefit of an early dinner has to do with the fact that as the day winds down, the body needs less food for energy and should be entering a fasting state. Capping your intake more than two hours before bed allows for an extended overnight fasting window to take place—the essential downtime your body needs to facilitate detoxification and cellular repair.”
“I asked to see a therapist at 12 years old,” Ross told The Cut. “And I think it’s really important to know that therapists are professionals; they are bound by law. That does not mean you should talk to everybody, and that does not mean you should share things before you feel safe enough to share them, and that does not mean just because you’ve met with a therapist, they’re the right therapist for you. There is an evolution and a growth happening within our community that is lessening the stigma of getting help. It’s the same way you wouldn’t try and do your accounting by yourself.”