8 things Meghan Markle did to get the perfect body

Talk about body goals!

Meghan Markle lives a busy life. Having been in the spotlight since she landed the role of Rachel Zane in Suits back in 2011, the actor is also juggling a long-distance relationship between London and Toronto with Prince Harry, and still manages to fit in philanthropic work as an ambassador and advocate for the UN and various charities. And what’s more, she looks great while doing it all. As

compiled from Cosmopolitan, here is how Meghan manages to maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle.

 Doing yoga

"Yoga is my thing," Meghan said in an interview with Best Health. Explaining that her mum is a yoga instructor, she started the discipline as a child and has continued doing it ever since. And there's no doubt she loves it. "There are so many benefits that come with the practice of yoga... increased flexibility and muscle strength, greater happiness, increased mental focus, a greater ability to relax, decreased anxiety and better sleep. That practice is in my blood," she says.

Running

“As I’ve gotten older, running has become hard on my knees, so I can’t run outside the way I used to," Meghan added. “It used to be a regular part of my work-out routine. I used to run all the time, but I typically get picked up for work at 4:15am on a Monday, so there isn’t much time for jogging and I would rather have that extra hour of sleep.”

Speaking to Shape, the actor explained that she gets a lot more from running than just the fitness side of it. "I love running but I think you have to find a workout routine that really speaks to you beyond trying to get goals for your body. For me, I need running as much to clear my head as for keeping in shape."

Avoiding foods that make her feel sluggish

"I definitely try to eat as clean as possible. I definitely just try to avoid the things that I know are going to make me feel lethargic or sluggish," she stated. “I eat mostly just fish and veggies but I am also a foodie."



Not depriving herself of the things she loves

Proving she's just like any one of us, Meghan mentioned, "I could eat French fries all day. And I love pasta. I love carbs – who doesn’t love a carbohydrate?" However, she’s conscious of what she eats when she is filming. “I try to eat vegan during the week and then have a little bit more flexibility with what I dig into on the weekends.”

Self-motivation

Meghan usually tends to work out on her own, saying she'll "do DVDs at home or go for a run by myself.” But this obviously requires the motivation to get up and do it. "I think if you can self-motivate, that's half the battle.”

Speaking to Women's Health UK, the starlet explained what it is that encourages her to be active so often. "My health, my state of mind, the feeling you have after a workout; all of this drive me to step onto my mat or go to the gym. Sometimes the idea of working out sounds absolutely dreadful, but I always remind myself of how good it will feel afterward. Euphoric, almost!"

Making time to relax

Now this is one we can get on board with. She might work hard, but Meghan also remembers it's important to chill once in a while. "I give myself the luxury of downtime," she told Women's Health UK. "We are all so incredibly busy and juggling so many things but I always take an hour to just decompress, watch mindless TV, snuggle with my dogs and enjoy a glass of wine. That's all part of the investment. It's a balance."

Drinking green juices

She opts for a natural source of energy every time. "I think trying to go for coffee or things like that only end up hurting you in the end, so [I like] to get a really good natural source of energy, like a great green juice. Something that just gets right into your system is a nice pick-me-up," she said.

Home cooking

"I love to cook, so every day I'm cooking something, even if it's just making a pesto that I can put in the fridge for later in the week or any little component that you feel like you can take some pride in. I think is really important versus going out to eat, for me," revealed Meghan. The fresher, the better as far as she's concerned.

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