Minka Kelly Talks Diet, Exercise and Love of Her Own Imperfections with Self

Minka Kelly, the latest star to hold Esquire’s Hottest Woman Alive title, is now featured in the latest issue of Self magazine, where she addresses a wide range of topics, including her weight and how she keeps it in check, body confidence and, of course, dieting.

She doesn’t go on diets but she does believe in eating healthy and, most importantly, sensibly. As the stunner puts it, there’s no use in denying yourself the small pleasures in life, such as a treat here and there.

“If you don’t let yourself have things you want, especially when it comes to something as simple as food, you’ll fail and end up being less healthful,” Minka reveals.

Of course, she draws a line when it comes to overindulging. The secret to her incredible figure lies in eating right, having a treat on occasions and plenty of exercise.

“I try to be sensible and have egg whites and oatmeal for breakfast, a salad with protein for lunch, and fish and veggies at night. But once in a while, I have that cheeseburger and fries!” she reveals.

“I don’t want to diet for the rest of my life... I’d rather go for a small slice of real chocolate cake than a bunch of sugar-free cookies. It’s all in moderation,” the actress explains.

Getting plenty of exercise is essential – and Minka can attest that, since she hasn’t gotten on the scales for quite a while. In fact, she doesn’t even have one in her home.

“Exercise is like meditation for me. It’s completely changed my body, my life, everything. I cannot live without it now. When you have such a good workout, it clears everything up mentally, physically, and you just have a better day,” she says.

Minka works out with personal trainer Gunnar Peterson, known for shaping the bodies of such celebrities as Sylvester Stallone, Jennifer Lopez and countless professional athletes.

However, with Minka, part of her charm also comes from her attitude and not just that killer body. The secret is learning to love your imperfections, she says in the same interview.

“There are days when I have less confidence than other days. [Yet] I embrace my imperfections. They are what makes us beautiful,” she explains.