Emmy Rossum's Hot-Body Secrets
1Emmy Rossum has no shame. She'll fess up to being an idiot in Spin class, wear a funny knit raccoon hat and openly admit that she looks crazy fit these days. It's understandable—such unapologetic confidence comes with having a career that is taking off. Besides starring in Showtime's hit drama Shameless, she has a new movie, Beautiful Creatures, out February 13, and a new album, Sentimental Journey. But despite the übersuccess, Emmy couldn't be sweeter or funnier. We got her to spill a few secrets.
Left: Bra, Jill Stuart, $198; 212-343-2300. Pants, Kate Spade New York, $198; KateSpade.com. Earrings, Apt. 9, $18; Kohls.com. Watch, TAG Heuer, $1,800; 201-368-0710
2Class up your routine.
"I like Physique 57, Burn 60 and SoulCycle or Flywheel, because I get positive energy from the people around me. You just can't be the slacker. And I raise my hand like an idiot whenever the instructor asks if anyone is new to the class. I'm, like, 'Yep, I'm the loser who hasn't been here before.' At least I'm not going to screw myself up by doing it wrong!"
Left: Bra, Jill Stuart, $198; 212-343-2300. Shorts, Milly, $195; MillyNY.com. Earrings, $385; CourtneyLeeCollection.com
3Lifting weights = hot-body shortcut
"When I want to drop weight quickly, I cut back on my cardio and do a lot of weights instead. It's counterintuitive, because you would think, I should stay on the treadmill for five hours. I also cut out all fruit and eat a lot of protein and vegetables. My go-to moves are walking lunges, leg raises and my favorite: four sets of 15 ballet pliés, holding 8-pound weights."
Left: At a benefit for children, 2010.
4Still, a half-assed workout is better than nothing.
"If I've had a meh workout the day before, and I'm still not feeling it, then I'll do another meh one that day, too. I think you should just do something every day."
Left: At the 2008 Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute gala.
5Feel the burn now.
"I'm working on my obliques. I do that standing straight up, holding the 8-pound weights and bending to the side. I'm going for that indent—my friends are, like, 'OK! We get it! You don't have to go all Terminator on us.'"
Left: Dress, Ralph Lauren Black Label, $1,598; RalphLauren.com. Earrings, $385; CourtneyLeeCollection.com
6And set a weirdly awesome long-term goal.
"I don't want to do the Ironman or run 10 miles, but I do want to go up into space one day. It costs [hundreds of thousands] right now, but I hope eventually it will be $500. And I want to make sure my heart is fit enough to handle the trip when I'm 50."
Left: Rockin' red at the Academy Awards, 2005.
7Laugh loudly and often. (It's the funnest ab workout there is.)
"I'm extremely focused. But as focused as I am, I'm silly as well. I'll have friends over [Justin Chatwin, Jake Abel, Shay Mitchell], and we'll drink a bottle of wine and play silly games like charades. Oh, they get very loud."
Left: At the Golden Globes, 2005.
8Know what keeps you Zen.
"I don't always make my bed. If my life is in a state of chaos, then I have to make it. But if I'm happy in my life, then I'm OK leaving a little chaos in my house."
Left: At Donna Karan's fall runway show, 2012.
9Enjoy cheat days—not just one!
"When I was filming Beautiful Creatures, I ate 1,500 calories a day—nutritionist Carrie Wiatt sent me meals from L.A. But I also gave myself two cheat days a week. I'd eat a steak and fries, an ice cream sundae and then go to Pinkberry. Of course, then I'd wake up the next morning and go, 'Oh, great, I'm eating one poached egg and a green apple. Shoot me in the face.' But it was totally worth it. Now I can gain back those 6 pounds that I had lost to do the movie."
Left: Beautiful Creatures is your new fit-speration.
10When it comes to food, do what you gotta do.
"I was raised on a macrobiotic diet, so I was more interested in eating the junk food that other kids were eating, although I'd have to make sure my mom didn't know. My mom has never owned a saltshaker. Now I have to sneak these contraband little salt packets from take-out restaurants into her house so that I can salt my food."
Left: At the Fashion's Night Out benefit, 2009.
11Be the best version of yourself.
"I'm not going to wake up like Gisele tomorrow. That's just not going to happen. She's a genetic freak—and stunning. I'm a human being. I'm fit because I make it a priority and it's part of my job. I also try to stay confident, so 5 pounds up or down doesn't affect my brain."
"I don't like a guy if he doesn't like my animals. I have a dog, Cinnamon, and a cat."
12Seriously, that number on the scale isn't everything.
"Right now I'm probably in the best shape that I've ever been in, although I don't consider 'best shape' to necessarily mean the skinniest. I've been fatter and I've been skinnier than I am right now, but I'm more at peace than ever."
Left: At Marchesa's spring 2010 show.
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