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Kristin Davis reveals her secret weapons for having a healthy body and mind in Hollywood
By: Chris Isaak
We all know and love her as the super-stylish (and oh-so-conservative) Charlotte on Sex and the City, but Kristin Davis is so much more. The busy actress is currently starring in Deck the Halls, alongside Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito, and is being honored as one of Shape's Women Who Shape the World (learn more about her recent trip to Africa on page 146). We also found out that Kristin is as realistic about her body--and as shy about flaunting her assets--as the rest of us. "I was a wreck before the Shape shoot," Kristin confesses. "I love my body, but I typically don't show it off like this in public!" At 41, Kristin has come to accept her shape for what it is. "I'm a curvy girl. I'm never going to be the thinnest person in Hollywood, but the truth is, I don't want to be," says Kristin, who offers these tips to get a healthy physique--and a healthy attitude.
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY
At the root of Kristin's positive body image is a balanced attitude toward food. "I went through periods when I said I can't have this or I can't have that," she admits. "Now I don't deprive myself." Her advice? Eat what you want, but in moderation. "My main issue is to never let myself get too hungry. I make sure I eat every three hours or so, mostly proteins, good carbs, and veggies and salads." And when her sweet tooth kicks in? "I love M&Ms! These days, if I want some, I have them. And by giving myself that permission, I found that I don't crave sweets as much anymore."
SHAKE UP YOUR EXERCISE ROUTINE
"Don't do the same thing over and over," says Kristin, who got burned out on going to the gym several years ago. "I was completely bored by the repetition." To keep things fresh, she varies her exercise as much as possible. She does Pilates three times a week at the Mari Winsor Studio in Los Angeles (see "The Flat-Ab Revolution," right). "My teacher changes my routine all the time to keep me interested," adds Kristin. She also does yoga. In fact, when Kristin first moved to L.A. more than 15 years ago, she studied yoga and even taught at her own studio. Practicing yoga and Pilates, plus hiking the Hollywood Hills with her two dogs, Momma and Sam, keeps her in her best shape ever. "My philosophy is to do something wherever I am. As I get older, I realize how important it is to work out--for my bones, my posture, my ligaments, everything!"
GET A HOBBY TO HELP YOU STAY BALANCED
Ask Kristin what she does to relax and you'd think you were talking to Martha Stewart. "I love baking," she says. "My specialty is sugar cookies dipped in dark chocolate." Another favorite tranquility trick? Knitting hats and scarves for her friends and their babies. "I don't do booties, though," she says, laughing. "They're too hard." But Kristin's ultimate relaxation tool is fresh air. "Getting into nature is key. Even when I lived in New York for Sex and the City, I always made sure to head to Central Park every day for some outdoor therapy."
THE CDs SHE'S OBSESSED WITH
- Corinne Bailey Rae self-titled debut
- Anthony Hamilton Ain't Nobody Worryin'
- Dixie Chicks Taking the Long Way
- India.Arie Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
- Joni Mitchell any album
On top of the world
About an hour away from Portland, Oregon, is Mt. Hood, where we shot Kristin for our cover. It gets an average of 430 inches of snow a year, but it's actually an active volcano (it hasn't erupted since 1907). "The view is breathtaking," says Shape's creative director Dimity Jones. "After the shoot we drank hot chocolate in front of a fire before heading down the mountain to 90-degree weather. It was surreal."
RELATED ARTICLE: A few of Kristin's favorite things
Delux Flush Sticks ($26; sephora.com)
"It's like you have no makeup on, just a little color in your cheeks."
Tod's boots ($695; Tod's boutiques nationwide)
"These boots are casual and cute, not too designery."
Nars Monoi Body Glow II ($59; nars cosmetics.com)
"This is glorious stuff. Musky and decadent."
Prada bag ($1,195; select Prada stores, 888-977-1900)
"I am a Prada-holic. This bag's got a '50s feel to it that I love."
RELATED ARTICLE: THE FLAT-AB REVOLUTION
There's a reason some of Tinseltown's hottest bodies swear by Pilates. "You rarely do more than 10 reps per move, but by the end of class you'll have completed about 30 exercises and hundreds of repetitions," says Janet Lee, who heads up Shape's fitness department.
The moves help firm and flatten your abs from every angle, the key to that belly-baring look. In addition to boosting your body confidence, Pilates also improves your posture and flexibility. (For a total body-firming Pilates workout, check out Shape's Pilates DVD, $14.98; shape boutique.com). With a workout like this, who needs crunches?
Source: Find ARticles
