Shakira‘s abs don’t lie! After maintaining a healthy diet and fitness plan throughout her pregnancy with son Milan, Shakira is showing off her perfect post-baby abs on the September cover of SELF — and spilling her fitness secrets.
The 36-year-old singer welcomed her first child with professional soccer player boyfriend, Gerard Pique, on Jan. 22, and tells SELF she looked “like a shar-pei” after delivery. But Shakira worked out to get ready to be on-camera as a mentor on The Voice, just two months after giving birth. On the magazine cover, Shakira proudly lifts up a black tank-top to revealed her perfect, toned abs.
“I did Zumba throughout my pregnancy,” she shares. “That helped me not gain too much weight.” And she kept it up after baby by training privately with Zumba creator Beto Perez for one week, and doing four to five morning workouts a week.
Shakira paid particular attention to her abs, explaining, “Two minutes of ab work isn’t enough.” Though her abs are something to be proud of, the new mom has a different area of her body that she loves. “I’m quite proud of my rear,” she admits. In addition to cardio dance moves, Shakira held a plie and squeezed her glutes 30 times to get her butt in shape.
As for diet, Shakira tells the magazine she ate eight small meals a day — rich in fiber, protein, calcium and iron — that were between 200 and 250 calories each.
Most importantly, however, the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer embraced her body at every size. “I don’t obsess over my flaws, because I see my body as a whole,” she explains. “Besides, I think men appreciate confidence more than perfection.”
For more on Shakira’s workout and diet plan before and after baby, pick up the September issue of SELF on newsstands Tuesday, Aug. 20.