Kelsea Ballerini says fitness in her 20s was all about looks. Here's what changed once she hit her 30s.

Business Insider

20-06-2025

In her 20s, Kelsea Ballerini says she worked out to look good. Now that she's in her 30s, it's all about feeling good — physically, mentally, and emotionally.
In an interview with People published on Wednesday, the country music star spoke about how her approach to fitness has changed over the years.
"Especially in my early twenties and mid-twenties, the idea of fitness was very much only aesthetically driven, and that was my goal," Ballerini, 31, told People.
Now, she wants to be healthy and have the energy to keep up with her career and the people she loves.
"The goal now is like, can I run around onstage for 90 minutes and have that energy to do it? Can I wake up and take both the dogs on a walk, and make sure that Dibs is going to all of his doctor appointments, and I'm on Zooms in the middle of it? Can I be present for everything that I need to? Can I make time for my friends, for my family, in the middle of all the chaos?" Ballerini said.
While Ballerini practices Pilates to stay in shape, her go-to workout is a good walk.
"Walking is so good for you. It also makes you get fresh air and some good sunshine, and that's so good for your mental health," she said.
Diet-wise, Ballerini follows the 80/20 rule: eating healthily 80% of the time and being more flexible for the remaining 20%.
She also says she enjoys eating at home, and her go-to meal is a chimichurri steak, which she has "a couple of times a week."
However, there's one guilty pleasure she can't give up: McDonald's.
"As a kid, I was such a picky eater, and my parents joke with me, like, 'All you would eat were waffles and chicken nuggets.' So I think it's just probably my inner child craving it still," Ballerini said.
Six health and fitness specialists previously shared with Business Insider five key habits people can adopt in their 30s to boost longevity. They include eating a Mediterranean diet, wearing sunscreen, and managing stress.
A representative for Ballerini did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by BI outside regular hours.