Carrie Underwood Talks About Diet That Made Her ‘Feel Terrible’ and What She Now Eats In A Typical Day
Country music star Carrie Underwood is known for her stellar vocals as well as her commitment to health and wellness. She also has her own fitness lifestyle line, CALIA by Carrie Underwood, and recently released a book with her trainer and nutritionist.
The award-winning singer recently shared a past diet plan that turned unhealthy, and revealed what she turns to for nutrition today.
Underwood and Fisher are ‘a good team’
The Cry Pretty singer stays busy in her career and at home with two young sons – Isaiah, 5, and Jacob, 1 – with pro hockey player husband Mike Fisher. Despite being a famous couple, Underwood insists they are just an everyday family and chooses to leave her superstar status on stage.
“We’re just really normal people and I’m so thankful that we are,” she recently told People. “I feel like if I were the person that I am on stage when I’m at home, I just don’t know if that person would like have too many friends. I enjoy getting to play that role, but you can’t be that big of a personality all the time. Well I guess you can, but it’s gotta be exhausting.”
Though they part ways when it comes to diet plans – she’s a vegan, he’s a meat lover – they balance household chores to accommodate each other’s hectic schedules. “We’re a good team,” she told Women’s Health.
Underwood places a priority on family time, making a point of congregating at the end of the day. “We have dinner together six nights a week,” she shared. “I feel like that’s something really important. What my husband and I talk about more than anything is how to make sure our children have a ‘normal’ childhood. That’s hard with this particular life.”
Past diet plan
The country singer just released her first book, Find Your Path: Honor Your Body, Fuel Your Soul, and Get Strong With Fit52Life, collaborating with trainer Eve Overland and nutritionist Cara Clark. Underwood hopes to inspire women to make healthy choices and offer a guide to wellness. The music star described her own experience with body image and improper dieting, particularly when was on American Idol in 2005 and seeing some negative messages online.
“I shouldn’t care what other people think about me,” the Grammy winner said, realizing that some certain foods she was choosing weren’t beneficial. “I was tired, and I kept buying bigger clothes. I knew I could be better for myself, and I let my haters be my motivators.”
After winning American Idol, Underwood became more calorie conscious and began working out more often, seeing positive results. “I was sleeping better, and I had more energy for our grueling schedule,” she recalled, then revealed that she began exercising more and eating less – as little as 800 calories a day – thinking the adjustments would bring her an even greater outcome.
Despite achieving some weight loss, Underwood’s strategy began to trigger an unhealthy loop of see-saw eating. “I would ‘fall off the wagon,’ then feel terrible and repeat the cycle,” she shared. “Your body is screaming out, I need more calories, I need more carbs!”
Underwood’s nutrition plan today
Now Underwood prioritizes health over weight with and focuses on 45 percent carbs, 30 percent fat, and 25 percent protein. According to Women’s Health, the country singer’s typical meal regimen includes a tofu or egg-white scramble, Ezekiel toast, berries, and coffee before her workout; a Tofurky, tomato, avocado, red onion, spinach, and mustard sandwich at lunch; a green smoothie or protein bar for a snack; and then roasted veggies and a piece of vegan chicken or a tofu stir-fry for dinner. Not one for sweets, Underwood does have one treat she likes to indulge in.
“I do have my vice, and it’s red wine,” she revealed. “It’s good for my heart, right?!”
Underwood’s book Find Your Path: Honor Your Body, Fuel Your Soul, and Get Strong With Fit52Life is on sale now.