There's no doubt about it: Julianne Hough is a force to be reckoned with. Despite being crazy busy — she's kicking off her third dance tour, Move Beyond, with brother Derek starting April 19 and also in the middle of planning her wedding to hockey pro Brooks Laich — and suffering from painful endometriosis, the 28-year-old "Dancing with the Stars" alum still manages to make her health a priority. We caught up with the bride-to-be as she prepares to hit the road in order to find out her secrets. In addition to staying super active, here are four of Hough's strategies for staying so darn healthy — and happy — all the time.
1. She focuses on clean eating.
"Eating clean is an essential way of keeping my health top-of-mind," Hough says. "I try to avoid foods that come in boxes and always aim to make protein and veggies a part of every meal."
A few of her typical go-tos include green juice, smoothies, quinoa, and brown rice, along with veggies and hummus for a mid-day snack and dark chocolate-covered almonds for dessert.
But Hough is a big believer in eating indulgent foods every now and then, too.
"While I eat clean the majority of the time, I'll reward myself with the occasional cheat meal, too," she admits. "My personal favorite is pizza. You can be fit while still allowing yourself the occasional treat, as long as you're regularly working out and eating healthy foods for the most part."
2. She's all about the H2O.
"Never underestimate the power of hydration!" Hough says.
Staying hydrated is a priority, no matter what's on her schedule. Her morning routine involves drinking a juice or smoothie before working out and then drinking four to six glasses of water throughout the rest of the day.
"Even when traveling, the first thing I do after going through security is fill up my water bottle," she adds. "It keeps me energized and alert while also helping curb any cravings that may come up."
3. She combats stress with love.
"My job changes on a dime and there are often times when my schedule or to-do list becomes overwhelming and stressful," Hough explains. (We can totally relate.)
But how does the dancing queen handle the pressure? When these stressful moments arise, she makes a point to carve out time for the people and activities that fill her heart with joy.
"Whether it's taking Lexi and Harley [her dogs, both Cavalier King Charles Spaniels] to the dog park with Brooks, going to yoga class, or taking a bath, these things always de-stress me and help me to refocus."
4. She makes her beauty sleep a priority.
"Getting a good night's sleep is essential to feeling good and keeping my energy up — and this is especially true for a long day of rehearsals or performances," she says.
But it's not just about quantity, she adds. Quality is key, which is why Hough sticks to a pretty strict bedtime schedule and wears a sleep tracker. (She uses a Fitbit Alta HR, which not only tracks sleep stages, but also heart rate, steps taken, and calories burned.)
"Going to bed at a consistent time not only helps me get enough sleep — I need my eight hours — but I can also feel the positive effects on my mind and body the next day and over time," Hough says. "My schedule keeps me super-busy, especially when I'm on tour, so I set a bedtime reminder on my Fitbit to give me a little nudge when it's time to start winding down."
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