Work It Out: Tips From Fitness Divas

J-Hud, Laila Ali and others share their stay-fit secrets.

Jennifer Hudson - It's true that celebrities have more motivation than most to stay in shape (it's part of their job to look good, after all), but that doesn't mean the rest of us can't steal a few of their tips and tricks for ourselves. Jennifer Hudson's body transformation has been nothing short of miraculous, thanks in large part to Weight Watchers, but the singer/actress doesn't rely on calorie counting alone. J-Hud does interval training at her home gym with trainer Harley Pasternak to keep her muscles long and lean. (Photo: Miguel Aguilar/PacificCoastNews.com)

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Jennifer Hudson - It's true that celebrities have more motivation than most to stay in shape (it's part of their job to look good, after all), but that doesn't mean the rest of us can't steal a few of their tips and tricks for ourselves. Jennifer Hudson's body transformation has been nothing short of miraculous, thanks in large part to Weight Watchers, but the singer/actress doesn't rely on calorie counting alone. J-Hud does interval training at her home gym with trainer Harley Pasternak to keep her muscles long and lean. (Photo: Miguel Aguilar/PacificCoastNews.com)

Mo'Nique - Surgery? Starvation? Not for this girl. Mo' lost an astonishing 82 lbs. the old fashioned way, through a sensible diet and lots of exercise. The comedian tweeted her workouts every morning, inspiring many fans to join her fitness journey. Among her techniques: jogging, barre exercises and weight lifting. (Photo: Twitter via Mo'Nique)

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Mo'Nique - Surgery? Starvation? Not for this girl. Mo' lost an astonishing 82 lbs. the old fashioned way, through a sensible diet and lots of exercise. The comedian tweeted her workouts every morning, inspiring many fans to join her fitness journey. Among her techniques: jogging, barre exercises and weight lifting. (Photo: Twitter via Mo'Nique)

La La Anthony - The busy mom and entreprenuer credits 60 Days of Fitness, a diet and exercise regimen created by Game, for her 15 lb. weight loss. Anthony partnered with Rob Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian for the challenge, which involves sixty straight days of intense exercise and a healthy diet of vegetables and lean protein. (Photo: Instagram via Lala) 

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La La Anthony - The busy mom and entreprenuer credits 60 Days of Fitness, a diet and exercise regimen created by Game, for her 15 lb. weight loss. Anthony partnered with Rob Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian for the challenge, which involves sixty straight days of intense exercise and a healthy diet of vegetables and lean protein. (Photo: Instagram via Lala) 

Mariah Carey - By now we've all seen the infamous video of Carey working out in high heels. These days, the diva is taking a more practical approach to her fitness. A spokesperson for Jenny Craig, Carey worked with the company's nutritionist and trainers to devise a 1500 calorie-per-day meal plan and thrice weekly workouts combining cardio and strength training. (Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

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Mariah Carey - By now we've all seen the infamous video of Carey working out in high heels. These days, the diva is taking a more practical approach to her fitness. A spokesperson for Jenny Craig, Carey worked with the company's nutritionist and trainers to devise a 1500 calorie-per-day meal plan and thrice weekly workouts combining cardio and strength training. (Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Raven-Symonè - The actress dropped 70 lbs by ditching the cupcakes and spending at least 30 minutes a day on her elliptical trainer. The weight came of slowly, but steadily, and before long she found herself in the best shape of her life!  (Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)

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Raven-Symonè - The actress dropped 70 lbs by ditching the cupcakes and spending at least 30 minutes a day on her elliptical trainer. The weight came of slowly, but steadily, and before long she found herself in the best shape of her life!  (Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)

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Sail Away - Chaka Khan goes sailor chic for an appearance on the Wendy Williams Show in New York City, where the singer, who was recently diagnosed with diabetes, showed off her new trim physique. (Photo: Enrique Rc, PacificCoastNews.com)

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Chaka Khan - The Queen of Funk opted for a controversial approach to her 60 lb. weight loss — fasting. "I went on a liquid diet for months," the singer admits, adding that she later switched to a vegan diet. The plan definitely raised some eyebrows, but its hard to argue with the results. Chaka has kept the weight off for more than a year! (Photo: Enrique Rc, PacificCoastNews.com)

Jill Scott - Jilly recently joined the 70-pound-down club, dropping the weight after she realized she was unable to climb a flight of stairs. Her secret? Good old fashioned low-fat diet and exercise three times a week. But the real key to her progress, Scott says, is to stay humble and recognize she has a long way to go. "I have a goal in mind and I haven’t quite reached my own personal goal," she explains. "So I’m appreciative of the support but quite frankly I’m not tripping in any sort of way."(Photo: Koi Sojer, PacificCoastNews.com)

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Jill Scott - Jilly recently joined the 70-pound-down club, dropping the weight after she realized she was unable to climb a flight of stairs. Her secret? Good old fashioned low-fat diet and exercise three times a week. But the real key to her progress, Scott says, is to stay humble and recognize she has a long way to go. "I have a goal in mind and I haven’t quite reached my own personal goal," she explains. "So I’m appreciative of the support but quite frankly I’m not tripping in any sort of way."(Photo: Koi Sojer, PacificCoastNews.com)

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Kelly Rowland - A body like Kelly's isn't destiny, she wants the world to know. Homegirl has to work for it. Rowland reveals that she cut all the evils (sugar, white flour and starch) from her diet and got herself addicted to working out. Sometimes, even late at night. The R&B singer shares her workout tips in a fitness DVD she created with trainer Jeanette Jenkins. (Photo: FameFlynet)

Looking Good - Janet Jackson, who just celebrated her 47th birthday on May 16, is a vision in white on the red carpet of amfAR's 20th Cinema Against Aids Gala at Hotel du Cap in Cap D'Antibes, France. (Photo: Splash News)

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Janet Jackson - While it's true Janet has a tendency to yo-yo between higher and lower weights, no one can say Miss Jackson doesn't know how to carve out a six pack. Janet credits her longtime trainer with keeping her motivated, and says she prefers sports-based workouts to hitting the gym. Lastly, she tries to keep things in perspective. "You don't have to be a size zero to be considered beautiful," she says.(Photo: Splash News)

Jordin Sparks - When she landed the title role in the remake of Sparkle in 2011, Sparks new it was time to get serious about getting in shape. The actress says she alternated gym visits with Sensazao, a higher-energy version of Zumba that burns 900 calories an hour, to help her shed over 50 lbs. (Photo: Twitter via Jordin Sparks)

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Jordin Sparks - When she landed the title role in the remake of Sparkle in 2011, Sparks new it was time to get serious about getting in shape. The actress says she alternated gym visits with Sensazao, a higher-energy version of Zumba that burns 900 calories an hour, to help her shed over 50 lbs. (Photo: Twitter via Jordin Sparks)

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Kimora Lee Simmons - When KLS had to drop the baby weight after giving birth to her son Kenzo in 2009, she created the "fabulosity" diet. "It's a little workout, a good diet," Simmons says modestly. "I try to cut out a little bit of the sweets and the junk, but I love that, so it's a little hard." The results, however, are stupendous. The former model looks better than she did when she was walking the runway.(Photo: John Parra/WireImage)

Tyra Banks - How does this former catwalker get into top model shape? By getting rid of cheat days. The TV host and entreprenuer said she had to ditch her favorite ice cream and ribs meals and haul a-- in the gym to get her body back into Sports Illustrated shape. Tyra managed to pull it off — and keep it off. (Photo: Alo Ceballos/FilmMagic)

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Tyra Banks - How does this former catwalker get into top model shape? By getting rid of cheat days. The TV host and entreprenuer said she had to ditch her favorite ice cream and ribs meals and haul a-- in the gym to get her body back into Sports Illustrated shape. Tyra managed to pull it off — and keep it off. (Photo: Alo Ceballos/FilmMagic)

Laila Ali - As a professional boxer, Laila has to keep her body in fighting shape at all times. “Over the years, I've found I get the best results by mixing up my workouts, which also keeps me from getting bored and hitting a plateau,” she says. Her intense workout routine mixes up cardio (usually a five mile run followed by uphill sprints) and strength training (boxing, slow walking with weights and ab workouts). While exercise is certainly a priority, if she misses a workout for some reason, she doesn’t obsess. “I just work harder the next day,” she says. (Photo: Jason Merritt/BET/Getty Images for BET)

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Laila Ali - As a professional boxer, Laila has to keep her body in fighting shape at all times. “Over the years, I've found I get the best results by mixing up my workouts, which also keeps me from getting bored and hitting a plateau,” she says. Her intense workout routine mixes up cardio (usually a five mile run followed by uphill sprints) and strength training (boxing, slow walking with weights and ab workouts). While exercise is certainly a priority, if she misses a workout for some reason, she doesn’t obsess. “I just work harder the next day,” she says. (Photo: Jason Merritt/BET/Getty Images for BET)