Hilary Duff says she stays slim by using a trainer and playing tennis with her love

Hilary Duff confidently showed off her toned figure as she entered Shape’s latest innovation number published Thursday and opened up about her rigorous fitness routine.

The 35-year-old Lizzie McGuire alum, who recently celebrated her husband, Matthew Koma’s 36th birthday, looked incredibly youthful in several photos for the summer-themed issue.

To help maintain her gorgeous body, the mother-of-three works with her personal trainer, Dominic Leeder, and admitted that she “would never work out alone” without him.

Duff revealed that during a meeting with her trainer, the two mainly aim to focus on her upper body as well as “muscle imbalances” and also “mind-muscle connection.”

“This is my first time working out like this, and it’s making such a huge difference, especially with my core and not getting hurt,” the former Disney Channel actress told the outlet.

Focus: Duff revealed that during a meeting with her trainer, the two mainly aim to focus on her upper body as well as “muscle imbalances” and also “mind-muscle connection”

In a previous article shared by Formexercise physiologist and sports nutritionist, Alyssa Olenick, explained the mind-muscle connection when it comes to exercising.

She said it’s like, “Essentially you’re internally focusing on the muscle and or movement pattern you’re trying to perform.”

Hilary also told the publication that as she gets older, she hurts herself or pulls muscles more often. ‘I’ll turn around [to look] over my shoulder in the car to make sure I can change lanes and stick my neck out.”

However, she emphasized that incorporating personal training into her own fitness routine has had a major impact on her life. ‘I walk differently. I keep myself different. I eat better.’

In addition to making time for gym sessions during the week, the How I Met Your Father star has also picked up tennis with her husband, Matthew, who she tied the knot with in 2019.

“I really like that breakout and that little break,” Duff revealed. “It’s a very complicated game and it’s hard to think about other things when you’re playing. It kind of drowns out all the buzz in my head.”

While physical well-being is important in her lifestyle, the actress also strives for a healthy diet. “I love roasting veggies like squash and broccoli.”

She added, “I make chicken thighs, tacos with cassava flour, arugula salads with whatever fruits or veggies I have in my fridge, and Israeli quinoa.”

Cassava flour, often referred to as yuca, should not be confused with the popular houseplant. Instead, cassava is a root vegetable native to South America and a staple crop in many countries in Africa and Asia.

Fitness Regimen: To maintain her amazing body, the mother-of-three works with her personal trainer, Dominic Leeder, and admitted that without him she ‘would never work out alone’

‘Huge difference’: ‘This is the first time I’ve really trained like this, and it makes such a huge difference, especially with my core and not getting hurt,’ the former Disney Channel actress stated

New passion: In addition to making time for gym sessions during the week, the How I Met Your Father star has also picked up tennis with her husband, Matthew

Healthy diet: While physical well-being is important in her lifestyle, the actress also strives for a healthy diet, saying, “I love to roast veggies like pumpkin and broccoli”

While opening up to Shape on its innovation issue, Hilary also touched on the subject of motherhood and its ups and downs. She gushed, “I just love watching my kids mold into their own unique selves.

“I like my noisy household with chaos and craziness and all the love and all the dirt. I love [parenting] with my husband,” the blonde beauty declared, adding that she loves the “pressure” of reaching a goal and then succeeding.

But when it comes to motherhood and raising three kids, Duff admitted that sometimes things don’t go as planned. She shares son Luca, 11, with ex-husband Mike Comrie, and two daughters Banks, four, and Mae, two, with Matthew.

The star recalled a recent case where she accidentally dressed her son Luca in the wrong uniform color for a soccer tournament and missed the memo in a parent message thread.

“But I’ve got two other kids to deal with and three dogs, [Matthew] was out of town, I had just given my mom her 70th birthday, and I was a little hungover…” she explained.

Hilary labeled parenting as both “f***ing hard” and “endlessly rewarding,” while also saying, “I’ve had to get really good at being disappointed in myself.”

“I think when you have a baby, you’re just wired to think you’re loaded with all the answers and all the possibilities, and that we’re still only human.”

When she’s not busy raising her family or focusing on her physical well-being, Duff spends time in front of the camera and most recently played the lead role of Sophie in the Hulu spin-off, How I Met Your Father.

Ready for summer: The photos for the latest Shape Innovation Issue embraced the summer theme

Parenting: While Hilary opened up to Shape on its innovation issue, he also touched on the subject of motherhood and its ups and downs

Only human: “I think when you have a baby, you’re just wired to think you’re loaded with all the answers and all the possibilities, and we’re still just human,” she explained

Family importance: She shares son Luca, 11, with ex-husband Mike Comrie, and two daughters Banks, four, and Mae, two, with Matthew

The second season is still airing on the streaming site, with the final episode scheduled for release next month, on July 11. A few original How I Met Your Mother stars have reprized their roles in the series, such as Neil Patrick Harris.

While discussing what could be the next step in her successful career, the topic of music came up. Her latest album, Breathe In. Breathe Out., was released in 2015.

In regards to whether she had any plans to work on new songs or an album, Hilary admitted, “I don’t really have any plans, but I don’t have any plans not to either.”

She continued that family was still her main focus. “I’m in the family-making phase. I built this and I wanted this so I have to be here to enjoy the joyful and the painful and everything in between.”