She’s sampled chili, pancakes and a whole lot of steak on this season’s Top Chef, but Padma Lakshmi is miraculously avoiding weight gain and breakouts. How? By boxing. “A poet introduced me to it,” she tells PEOPLE of the sport, which she’s practiced for 10 years. “I just found it was a great workout, very gratifying.”

Lakshmi — who hits the gym two to three times per week with a trainer, and uses the speed bag, jumps rope and does calisthenics — credits boxing with her trim figure, as well as her glowing skin. “I think that sweating a lot and getting your circulation going influences your skin a lot, and helps everything rejuvenate itself,” she shares. (Regular facials, some Shiseido foaming face wash and a light moisturizer help, too.)

The former model showcases that skin — and her best boxing form — in Danskin’s “Move for Change” campaign, which also features Hilary Duff, Jenny McCarthy and Christie Brinkley. “The photo shoot was great,” she says. “It turned out to be a fun day.”

Lakshmi’s involvement with Danskin benefits her charity of choice as well; the company makes regular donations to the Endometriosis Foundation of America, a cause close to her heart. And that symbiotic relationship makes the star even happier. As she says, “It was a really great opportunity to partner with a brand that I’ve always loved, while raising awareness about my foundation at the same time.”

–Kate Hogan

CHECK OUT THE STARS’ BEST WINTER WORKOUT LOOKS

She’s only 24 years old, but Kristin Cavallari definitely thinks about the future … of her face. “No one’s ever told me I needed to get a facelift or anything,” she tells xojane.com. “Never say never, but I don’t think I’ll ever get Botox because we don’t know the long-term side effects, and I just don’t think that can be good for you.”

In fact, the starlet has yet to cosmetically alter herself at all … teeth excluded. “The most I’ve done is Crest Whitestrips,” she jokes.

Cavallari, a practicing vegan (“Realistically it happens 50 percent of the time,” she says) who hits the gym at least four times a week, says she “craves” healthy food. “If I don’t eat healthy food I don’t feel good,” she shares.

The starlet admits that her workouts — combined with a light diet and intense Dancing with the Stars training — did once take their toll. “At one point I got too skinny and my manager had to say something to me,” she reveals. But with DWTS behind her and a trainer helping her with cardio and weightlifting three times per week, she’s on a healthier track.

She’s sure to stay hydrated, too; the former Hills star says that “as cliché and old school as it is, I think drinking a lot of water really helps” keep skin clear — as does washing your face at night “no matter how tired you are.”

When she’s going glam, Cavallari prefers to use Armani foundation and mascara, NARS “Orgasm” blush and Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner (“It doesn’t move,” she raves). But for a day out in Los Angeles, her makeup is minimal. She shares, “The most I wear is a little bit of foundation and mascara.”

SEE WHAT STARS WEAR TO WORKOUT

We know how she got that rockin’ bikini body, but how does Gwyneth Paltrow maintain her outer glow?

“For me, sleep is a major thing,” she said Saturday during an appearance on Ask Dr. Brandt on Sirius XM Radio. “I don’t always get it, and when I don’t, I look like I’ve been hit by a truck.”

Other beauty secrets Paltrow lives by include drinking lots of water, taking vitamins “religiously” and having at least one cup of coffee — with almond milk — each morning. She follows that with a glass of homemade green juice, consisting of kale and her favorite farmer’s market goodies, and eats a lean protein with veggies for lunch. But she allows herself to cheat once in a while.
“Dinner is where I really go off the rails,” she admitted, saying that when she eats out she indulges in French fries and red wine. But at home, she cooks healthfully for her family, and tries to avoid gluten and dairy.

Another way the mom of two stays on top of her health? By detoxing twice per year. Paltrow said she’s a fan of the Clean Program, an elimination diet that lasts for three weeks and allows a daily lunch. “I find it very rejuvenating,” she said. “It’s like being high.” In between detoxes, she sometimes picks up a five-day juice fast, too.

To round out her wellness plan, Paltrow sticks to workouts with her trainer, Tracy Anderson. And with a near-nude scene coming up in her new film, Thanks for Sharing, the actress is feeling more confident than ever. “Now, I’m my own body double,” she boasted.

Tune into Ask Dr. Brandt every Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on Sirius XM.

–Kate Hogan

STUDY STARS’ HAIR AND MAKEUP MUST-DOS

She’s generally all about costumes and alter egos, but in the October issue of Harper’s Bazaar, Lady Gaga proves she’s just as fierce without all the props. “Whether I’m wearing lots of makeup or no makeup, I’m always the same person inside,” she tells the magazine, posing barefaced on the cover. “I think what has been lovely about my relationship with the public is that they expect something unexpected from me.”

And despite managing to consistently shock fans and critics with her getups — she even sported protrusions on her cheekbones last time she graced the cover of the mag — when it comes to her own self-image, she says she’s quite comfortable in her own skin. “I’m very free-spirited,” she says. “Even when I was a kid, I used to run around naked with the babysitter, driving her crazy.”

When the star isn’t running around the world or making a statement on the dance floor, she stays in shape with other activities. “I do yoga, I do Bikram and I run, and I eat really healthy. You know, my work sort of feeds me. I keep in shape by working hard.”

Courtesy Harper’s Bazaar

–Kim Peiffer

VOTE ON STARS’ MAKEUP CHANGES

In the video above, Victoria’s Secret models flaunt their toned physiques while showing off some pieces from the new collection. “The VSX collection is great because it’s stylish and functional,” model Erin Heatherton tells PEOPLE. “Victoria’s Secret are bra experts, so I’m very excited that they are now offering sports bras … that keep me comfortable during my workout!”

So is she already stepping into the workout wear to prepare for the annual Victoria’s Secret fashion show in November? Heatherton says she’s not feeling the pressure yet — but she’ll amp things up in the fitness department soon. “Right now I’m taking it easy, and having a little vacation,” she said. “Leading up to the show I’ll start running and riding my bike and doing tons of yoga and Pilates.” Score your own Victoria’s Secret model body by shopping the collection, available on the site now. Tell us: What do you think of the new VSX Collection?

–Kim Peiffer

GET MORE STAR FITNESS TIPS HERE!

Work it, ladies! Hilary Duff and Top Chef‘s Padma Lakshmi are breaking a sweat with Jenny McCarthy and Christie Brinkley in Danskin’s new “Move for Change” campaign, which debuts in magazines this fall.

Sporting looks from Danskin’s activewear line, each woman is photographed doing her daily fitness routine: Duff hits the trails; Lakshmi throws punches in the ring; McCarthy practices yoga; and Brinkley dances on stage in Chicago. The hope is that the campaign will show women everywhere that they can easily be fit and fabulous and follow a healthy lifestyle.

“The Danskin campaign is women of all ages — 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s — what they like to do to stay in shape and how they keep fit in mind, body and soul,” Duff said in a statement. And according to Lakshmi, the gear itself is timeless, too. “Danskin is a great brand that we’ve all grown up with,” she added.

To promote its healthy (and helpful) message, Danskin is donating money to each star’s favorite cause, too, including Duff’s Blessings in a Backpack, Lakshmi’s Endometriosis Foundation of America, McCarthy’s Generation Rescue and Brinkley’s Ellen P. Hermanson Foundation.

For more from the campaign, visit DanskinMove.com.

–Kate Hogan

Courtesy Danskin

LEARN HOLLYWOOD’S ON-THE-GO FITNESS TRICKS

It’s safe to say that Anne V is having a moment. After steaming up the pages of Sports Illustrated‘s swimsuit issue seven years in a row, she’s nabbed fashion campaigns alongside Gabriel Aubry and actor-turned-designer, Kellan Lutz.

And though she’s professionally good looking, the 25-year-old model still wrestles with bouts of insecurity. “There is a certain weight I feel comfortable in,” she tells PEOPLE. “The thing is, with Sports Illustrated, they want the whole voluptuous, soft body. Sometimes I’m not comfortable with that.” Her remedy? A spray tan, last minute toning and a healthy dose of confidence. “You can be the most beautiful girl in the world,” she says, “but without confidence, no one will notice you.”

That self-assuredness came into play while posing alongside Lutz in the racy Abbot + Main by Dylan George ad campaign. “Our shoot was a little sexual,” she admits, relying on her actor’s instinct to convey the mood. “It’s great working with an actor, because the theme of the shoot was what it was,” she says. “He put his whole heart in it.”

So how does boyfriend, Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine, feel about her on-camera trysts? “He knew what he signed up for,” she laughs before adding, “He has a million girls drooling over him.”

–Justine Harman

CHECK OUT OTHER CELEB SHAPE UP TRICKS IN ‘STARS’ WORK OUT SHOUT OUTS‘

Many Hollywood actresses spend hours in the makeup chair, getting themselves primped and prettied when they are headed for a night out on the town. But not Whitney Port! She hits the floor for some muscle-pumping moves instead. “Push-ups get me pumped,” Port told PEOPLE at the debut of Superdry USA’s South Street Seaport store on July 13. “I’ll do them before we go out at night.” After all, it’s all about fitting in fitness whenever you can, especially for a world traveler. Port, who recently got back to the United States after spending some time in London and Dublin, says she’s “hardly exercising” when she travels, “which is not so great.” So she compensates by squeezing a little exercise into her daily schedule, even if it’s while she “listen[s] to music and [has] a drink” before hitting the bar or club. Her friends have even come to accept her unusual nighttime routine. “Before it was like, ‘No, please don’t do that,’” laughs Port. “And now it’s just like, ‘Okay, go for it!’” Tell us: What do you think of Port’s pre-party fitness regime? –Hannah Kay Hunt

SEE OTHER STARS’ FITNESS TRICKS IN STARS’ WORKOUT SHOUT-OUTS!

Audrina Patridge is in a bikini just about every day of the week, and it’s all because of one trait: confidence. “I don’t even think twice about wearing a swimsuit because it’s always been a part of my lifestyle,” she shares in the July issue of SHAPE. “But I have girlfriends who are so afraid to show their bodies, they won’t take off their towels at the beach or pool. It’s a shame because everyone can look good in a suit.” Patridge, who started swimming at age 4, credits her bikini-ready body to lots of outdoor activities — biking, beach volleyball and hiking or running with her pup Lady — plus an intense exercise routine, outlined on SHAPE.com. But you don’t have to work out as hard as she does to work a two-piece. Patridge first recommends choosing a bathing suit that flatters your own figure. “So many women will buy one they see a celebrity wearing, thinking it’ll look good on them too,” she says. “Be open-minded. Even if you think you know what works on your body, you may be really surprised by the results.” To get her beach-girl glow, the Audrina star uses self-tanner, and is always sure to protect her skin with sunscreen. She keeps her hair summery year-round, too, by washing it only twice per week and using dry shampoo on the days in between. To fix flyaways, she rubs Moroccan Oil onto her ends. “It smells really wonderful,” she says, “and I have less breakage when I comb my hair.” And to give her body a little boost, she does a quick series of squats and sit-ups before hitting the beach. “I like to get the blood flowing to those areas,” she explains. “I feel tighter and stronger, and it gives my skin a nice rosy glow.”
SEE MORE STARS IN SWIMWEAR IN ‘BEACH PATROL!’

It took a cleanse and some cellulite busting, but Khloé Kardashian Odom says she’s finally feeling bikini-ready. “I went on a Quick Trim cleanse for five days, and I was crazy,” she told PEOPLE in Bel Air on Saturday at a pool party celebrating swimsuit designer Shay Todd. “No food, nothing. I was so proud of myself for doing it. I don’t know how I did it for five days … [but] I lasted.” The reality star, who attributes her fine form to hikes and Pilates, too, recently took the Nivea ‘Good-bye Cellulite, Hello Bikini! Challenge,’ a program combining fitness, nutrition, skincare and style to help women reduce the appearance of cellulite. But that doesn’t mean she always feels perfectly pretty in her swimsuits. “Sometimes I’m just not in the mood to be in a bikini,” she shared, adding, “one-pieces don’t … have to be ugly.” Kardashian Odom had the chance to design her own suits when she and her sisters collaborated with Beach Bunny last year. “I love that I had the opportunity to make one-pieces that are still fun and stylish, and they’re not for an older woman,” she said. “They’re so fun and glamorous, we call them ‘photo shoot bikinis’ because that stuff you can wear in a photo shoot. They’re amazing.” And while working with her sisters — again — could’ve caused some drama, Kardashian Odom says the process was super smooth. “We work well together,” she explained. “We have fights, but it’s the best thing. Having three different body types, three different total fashion ideas … it’s so cool because [with Beach Bunny], I feel like we hit so many different demographics and body types.” –Reporting by Jessica Wedemeyer

SEE MORE BIKINI-READY STARS IN ‘BEACH PATROL’

She brought high style to the gym last year with her line of New Balance activewear and now, supermodel and fashion mogul Heidi Klum has partnered with Amazon.com to launch an exclusive line of sneakers for the brand. The Heidi Klum for New Balance debut footwear collection includes two of the company’s popular silhouettes, each in three bright hues. “We all need a good pair of sneakers whether it’s for running to the gym or running to the store,” Klum said in a statement. The shoes will retail from $80-$90 and are available now on Amazon.com; Klum will reportedly launch more footwear this fall. Tell us: Will you buy Klum’s new sneakers? –Kim Peiffer

STUDY TIPS TO LOOK AND FEEL LIKE A STAR!

When it comes to showing off their perfectly toned physiques, the female athletes of the Nike “Make Yourself” team are not shy — and why would they be? From tennis star (and bride-to-be!) Maria Sharapova (second from right) to Australian surfer Laura Enever (third from left) and Algerian-French dancer Sofia Boutella (third from right), these toned stars are sharing their inspirational life stories, fitness routines and goals to encourage women all over the world to overcome obstacles and improve their lives, too. This latest campaign from the program (which started in 2010) was shot by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz and will appear in digital and print media beginning in July. Tell us: Does seeing these athletes inspire you? –Kim Peiffer

GET STARS’ WORKOUT SHOUTOUTS HERE!

Since snowboarder Hannah Teter spends her days bundled up on the pipes, you might not think fashion is on the forefront of her mind. But in reality, the Olympian has given input on virtually every item she’s wearing, from her jacket on down to her socks. The gold medalist, who rides for Burton, recently told PEOPLE that a perk of her job is weighing in on the company’s clothes, gear and accessories. “Burton’s whole thing is rider-driven, so everybody on the team, we go to roundtables and give feedback and bring samples of things we’d like to see in the line,” she explained. “We try stuff on and say, ‘This didn’t work from last season, can we see it differently next year?’” And though Burton products skew toward the snowboarding clientele the company represents, lately, the brand has expanded, offering cute tops for summer (above), luggage, a kids’ line and even some eco-friendly looks. “I really love the Green Mountain Project line, which is their line of recycled fabrics and organics,” Teter, who’s “pretty much vegan,” shared. “They’ve been doing it for a couple years now, and I usually wear it when I compete. It’s nice to be a part of that.” Teter — teammates with Shaun White, who has his own collection for the brand — says that though her plate is full for now, she would consider taking some stylish steps after her snowboarding career ends. “Burton’s definitely going to be my starting point,” she said. “But I think someday, it’d be fun to be out in the fashion world more.” –Kate Hogan

SEE CELEBS’ ATHLETIC GEAR IN ‘STARS’ SPORTY SPRING STYLES’

Jordin Sparks‘s now-infamous bikini shot set tongues wagging when in hit Twitter earlier this month. But the former American Idol says she was just sharing a shot of her cute new swimwear. “I was actually taking the picture because I liked the bathing suit,” she told reporters Saturday at KIIS FM’s Wango Tango concert in L.A. “I mixed and matched it. The top was from Target and the bottoms were from Old Navy, and I was like, ‘Oh, they match!’ So I took the picture.” The new suit — which prevents tan lines, Sparks said — is just one way the singer is flaunting her newly slimmed physique. “In December, something just kind of clicked,” she explained. “Instead of talking about being active I decided to just go do it.” The singer, who lives in Arizona, took up hiking and Zumba, too. “Being able to just stand and dance and not realize I’m burning calories … is just the most amazing thing,” she said. Now happy to show off her waist — “usually a cinched belt works well,” she shared — the singer isn’t shy to reveal her other favorite body parts, too. “I love my smile,” she added. “It took ten years of orthodontics!”

SEE MORE STARS’ SEXY BIKINIS IN ‘BEACH PATROL: SPRING BREAK’

Lea Michele is trading in her singing pipes for a pair of running shoes! The Glee star is partnering with Nike’s Training Club app, a free full-body exercise program for iPad, iPod and iPhone, to launch an exclusive workout routine. The 15-minute sweat session, one of more than 60 on the app, provides moves specifically designed by the star to serve as an inspiration for women to get fit. In the clip above, Michele shows off some of her favorite moves (including yoga poses and lunges) and talks about her own routine. “My schedule is so crazy, I barely have time to work out but I need to because it makes me feel good,” she says. Michele designed the moves specifically to maximize her workout, getting the most out of time between takes on Glee or free moments while traveling. She’s hoping that her involvement with the app will make it easier for her — and other busy women like her — to bust a move on the road. “The great thing about the application is that if I’m in a hotel room in the middle of nowhere and there’s no gym or anything like that, I can work out by myself,” she says. Spoken like a true soloist! Tell us: Will you download Michele’s workout app? –Kim Peiffer

READ MORE IN ‘STARS’ WORKOUT SHOUT-OUTS’

Though she admits to loving food — and eating lots of it, too — Gwyneth Paltrow happily flaunts her fabulous bikini body on the May cover of SELF. In an interview about her new cookbook, My Father’s Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family & Togetherness, the actress opens up about her eating habits — she went macrobiotic for a while after her dad, Bruce, was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998 — and shares some of her favorite recipes. But getting a swimsuit-ready figure hasn’t necessarily been easy for the Country Strong star. “I never thought that I’d be considered to have a good body,” she admits. “I was bony up top and kind of dumpy on the bottom. But my trainer, Tracy Anderson, completely changed my legs, butt, arms and stomach. I feel better than ever, too.” Paltrow, who does 45 minutes of cardio five days a week, supplements her workouts with “muscular structure work” — toning, realigning and lengthening. Throughout the day, she fuels with raw almonds, coconut water and juices, but doesn’t deny her cravings, either. “I say I always eat right, but last night, I had fried clams, pasta with duck sausage and two glasses of red wine,” she admits. “When I want to lose, I eat less pasta, bread and potatoes.” Calling her butt her problem area, the actress says she skips workouts when she’s on vacation, but enjoys feeling strong and healthy after breaking a sweat. “I saw a shot of myself in Barbados and was, like, all my hard work paid off,” she shares. “I’m 38, I have two kids, and I feel good.” For more on Paltrow’s diet and exercise routine, pick up the May copy of SELF or visit self.com. 

SEE MORE STARS ROCKING BIKINIS IN ‘BEACH PATROL: SPRING BREAK’

Watch out, Kim Kardashian! When it comes to fitness footwear, there’s some new competition in town. Eva Mendes is hitting the pavement as the spokesperson for Reebok’s EasyTone, the brand’s answer to the new trend in toning sneakers. “I’m a big walker, and I’m also a person that doesn’t always have time to go to the gym,” the actress told PEOPLE at a recent EasyTone photo shoot. “We all walk throughout the day. It’s just a great way to kind of get a workout while you’re doing your basic daily errands.” Mendes, who ran track on her high school and college teams, says she’s been a fan of Reebok since her teen years, when she rocked a pair of the brand’s pink hi-tops. But now, she’s moved past making a fashion statement, and instead appreciates the way the sneakers have shaped her lower legs. “Once you’re wearing them, you do feel your calves working,” she explains. “I love defined calves.” So how does the actress keep her well-loved EasyTones in tip-top shape? She keeps a pair in every color. “I have a lot,” she admits with a laugh. –Jessica Wedemeyer

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Model Irina Shayk may have wept when David Letterman unveiled her Sports Illustrated cover yesterday, but she wasn’t the only one surprised: Simon Southwood, co-owner and designer of Sauvage swimwear, was also shocked to learn one of his bikinis was front and center on the bestselling issue. “I couldn’t sleep because of this!” he exclaimed. “It was just thrilling. It’s the ultimate, really, to get your suit on the cover.” Out of hundreds of thousands of suits shipped to the top-secret locations, six Sauvage suits made it into the pages, and the $165 pink-and-yellow triangle suit ended up making the cover. Southwood says the secret to Sauvage’s success in the mag is that they walk the line between sexy and tasteful, both in their special suits for Sports Illustrated and their everyday swimwear. “We try to be sensuous and stylish at the same time,” he said. “We want you to feel glamorous when you put on our suits, just like the photos you see in SI.” See more at sportsillustrated.com, or pick up an issue, on stands now — and if you’re ready to shop for your own bikini, visit everythingbutwater.com and enter our exclusive code SI2011 at checkout for a free water bottle with purchase! -Alex Apatoff

SEE MORE STARS IN BIKINIS IN OUR BEACH PATROL GALLERY

ESPN Broadcaster Erin Andrews is lacing up her running shoes as the new face of Reebok’s ZigTech campaign. The Dancing with the Stars alum and Good Morning America correspondent will join athletes including Peyton Manning, Sidney Crosby, John Wall and Chad Ochocinco. “I have been athletic all my life, and I’m thrilled to be working out in the same footwear and apparel that helps these athletes perform at the top of their game,” said Andrews in a statement. And while she’s offered us a first look at some behind the scene photos from the set of her shoot in Los Angeles, you can see the whole campaign–which will include TV, print and an online component–when it kicks off this spring. “Erin Andrews is the perfect fit for our women’s ZigTech footwear and apparel collection because she is a passionate sports and fitness enthusiast who is inspirational to women nationwide,” said Reebok’s Head of Women’s for the US, Kristen Olson. “It takes extreme energy to be Erin, and Zig technology is just what she needs for working out.” Erin will be the first female to take part of the campaign. Tell us: What do you think of Erin as the new face of Reebok ZigTech?—Kim Peiffer

Courtesy Reebok

SEE WHAT OTHER STARS ARE WEARING TO THE GYM IN STARS’ SPORTY STYLES!

Heather Morris so convincingly plays ditzy Brittany on Glee, it’s hard to imagine that in real life she is an accomplished dancer who enjoys volunteering and knitting. Yes, knitting. Turns out the choreographer-cum-star is a serious multi-tasker: “I hate having downtime!” she admits in the February issue of Teen Vogue. And though she portrays an über self-conscious teenager on the hit show, in real life, Morris’s beauty routine is far more relaxed than that of your average Cheerio. How does she keep her flaxen do shiny? “I just wash it, end of story,” she reveals in the behind-the-scenes video below. Favorite products? The Flirt! brand ambassador is particularly loyal to the cosmetic line’s mascara. “I don’t need false lashes when I wear it,” she says. Another must have: ungoopy lip color. “Like most dancers, I love lip stains! We hate gloss because hair gets stuck in it.” To hear more about Heather’s laid-back philosophy on keeping her body and mind healthy (hint: exercise is paramount), check out the video below. And for more beauty–and success!–secrets from the Gleek herself, visit teenvogue.com or pick up the February issue, on newsstands today. –Justine Harman

CHECK OUT MORE CELEB FITNESS TIPS IN STARS’ WORKOUT SHOUT-OUTS!

Sasha Eisenman for Teen Vogue