Carrie Underwood no longer trains to 'be a certain size'

Carrie Underwood no longer trains to 'be a certain size'

It's no secret that Carrie Underwood takes her workout seriously. Now, in a new interview with People, the singer talks about what motivates her and how her motivation has changed over the years.

"I feel like earlier in my career I trained more to be a certain size or fit into a certain aesthetic that I thought I wanted to be," she told People. (Psst: Underwood won American Idol when she was just 22.) "And now I feel like I'm training more to be strong and have energy and longevity."

Carrie Underwood called these sneakers "the most comfortable shoes" for her sensitive knees

Being a mother of two plays a role in her new mentality. Underwood told the magazine that she wanted to be able to keep up with her sons for many years to come.

“It’s really playing the long game, right?” She continued. "I was training a lot and I was frustrated because it wasn't the results I wanted. I feel like now at this point in my life you're really learning that it's a lifestyle, it's a balance. It's overall take care of yourself."

Training also helps Underwood perform at her best. "It's surprisingly physical being on stage - there's a lot of cardio," she explained. “I walk around in high heels and honestly write songs that don't give me time to breathe.” Have you heard her belt out any of her hits lately?

Carrie Underwood's upper body workout, courtesy of her trainer

How does the “Before He Cheats” singer approach fitness? Under the guidance of her longtime personal trainer Eve Overland, Underwood typically runs on the treadmill, lifts weights and does resistance band exercises, she told People.

“Getting fit and staying healthy is simply a way of life for Carrie,” Overland previously told Shape. "Carrie understands that staying strong, mobile and conditioned is so important in all aspects of her life, on and off stage. Training is self-care and her me time."

As for the nuts and bolts of a typical Underwood workout, Overland says most involve upper and lower body exercises. They work opposing muscle groups (think: chest and back or quads and hamstrings), which “contributed to her amazing strength and sculpted body,” her trainer added.

While she's often pressed for time between motherhood and touring, Underwood finds time to sweat it out when she can. "My current fitness plan is to work out whenever I can," Underwood told Shape in 2021. "The most important thing is to move. If you do that and give it what you have, your day will be better for it."

Curious what it's really like to train like the Grammy Award winner? Find out what happened when Shape's own social media director joined Underwood for a full-body workout she'll never forget.