Our girl Mary J. Blige is showing the world that 25-year-olds have got nothing on her. The 42-year-old singer is looking as fit as ever on the cover of Shape magazine's December issue and in it she talks about how she maintains her toned body, her diet choices and why she had to quit drinking after Whitney Houston passed away.
"My main exercise is cardio," Blige says of her workout routine. "The treadmill is fine, but running outdoors gives me the best results. I try to log six to eight miles a week. I could be in the worst mood, but when I do my cardio I feel much, much better."
Blige, who's changed her fitness regimen to better suit her body as she ages, also enjoys strength training and swimming.
"At first it was very hard, but once I got in the water and figured out how to breathe, it was so liberating," she says.
As for her diet, the singer has removed gluten and dairy from her meals, chooses low-carb options and decided to stop drinking alcohol after Whitney Houston passed away.
"Others may be able to drink and have a great time, but it doesn’t work for me at this point," she says. "I haven't had a drink in a year and three months. I had quit for a long time but started again about five years ago. I'm off it completely once more, and now I feel stronger than ever."
Find out what else Blige had to say about her healthy choices when the December issue of Shape hits newsstands November 25.
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(Photo: Courtesy of Shape Magazine)