One look at Carrie Underwood and maybe next time you'll think before you cheat leg day.
Because right now, the newest American Idol judge is probably slow squatting with her longtime trainer Eve Overland. And she's probably getting fit AF.
"Carrie has been so consistent," the Nashville- and Atlanta-based pro raved in an exclusive interview with E! News about the singer she's been sweating alongside since the mid-aughts. "For her, it's just part of who she is. There's not one ounce of her that doesn't love fitness. It's in her DNA now. Or always has been."
Which means that even when the eight-time Grammy winner is in Las Vegas, where her Resorts World residency will take place intermittenly until next April, she's carving a path to the gym.
"If she gets her workout in, her performance and everything is going to be better," explained Overland. "So she has made it a priority, especially on busy days."
Because when the pair are in Sin City, where Underwood has shows Oct. 25 and 26, or on tour, they make the most of their time away from home.
With Underwood not pulled away to tend to Isaiah, 9, and Jacob, 5, her sons with husband Mike Fisher, "We take that time and we use it," Overland says of putting 90-minute workouts on the books. However, she stressed, "I don't want people to think that we're just doing HIIT workouts" for an hour-and-a-half straight.
Rather, "We talk about life," said the pro. And whether they're chatting about their shared community-powered fitness platform Fit52, a new fitness study or even, as was the case before Overland's chat with E!, scary movies, "We take our time, we focus on form, we enjoy that time together and do good solid work. Because a million sloppy reps is not going to help your physique or any sort of strength gains."
But what does build Underwood's body of work is committing to the basics.
Whether she's sweating with her longtime trainer on the road or at home where "she works out as soon as the kids go to school," noted Overland, the singer's workouts revolve around very basic strength moves.
While Underwood's routines are structured to be a particular challenge for her with heavier dumbbells, "If you are not there, you're still able to do the exercise, because those basic exercises are what are the most functional, the most bang for your buck," explained Overland. "The squats, the deadlifts, overhead press, a push, getting your body weight off the floor is important."
However, she stressed, "It's nothing mind-blowing. We put some spice into it because it's fun, but anyone can do her leg workout."
Literally anyone with access to a phone or computer, plus this link to start a free 30-day trial.
Because among the offerings on fit52 is an option to do Underwood's lower-body routine, made up of supersets of two to three exercises, like heel-elevated dumbbell squats to a dumbbell cross-over step-up to touchdowns where you literally jump from leg to leg, sinking your hips back so that you can touch the floor.
Overland cautions that committing to Underwood's moves likely won't turn you into the Idol victor ("I've been trying for 15 years!" she joked), crediting the singer's genetics and the fact that "her nutrition is on point" for her overall physique.
But those that undertake a new fitness regimen will likely be blown away by the results.
"If you go from zero to anything, that is kind of where the magic happens," Overland explained of notching victories from even small changes like taking walking breaks at work, parking further away from your destination, using the stairs or latching onto a form of movement you love, like Underwood does with gardening. "Find an activity that is movement-related, and then once you're consistent with that, then maybe you can pepper in an app."
The cornerstone of fit52 is the card game Overland introduced to Underwood back in 2010.
"Each suit represents a body part," she explained of using hearts for lower body, diamonds for upper body, clubs for core and spades for cardio. With an exercise assigned to each suit, you have a ready-made and relatively enjoyable way to get your squat on.
"Finding something fun and having it fresh and random and new, but still being consistent is where fit52 fits it in," explained Overland.
And with options ranging from true beginners to those brave enough to attempt the more advanced moves in Eve's Path, "There's a place for everyone," insisted Overland. "It's accessible. You can pick your equipment. You can do it with nothing, you can do it with plenty of things."
Plus, even if you only have five minutes to spare, she added, "We got something for you, because any little bit is better than nothing."