Kelsea Ballerini's workout burnout forced her to try more forgiving exercises

Kelsea Ballerini has always been regimented in her workout regimen, but the country music star recently admitted in an interview with Women's Health that she had to revaluate her intense approach to exercise after she experienced workout burnout. 

In her mid-twenties the singer employed the help of celebrity personal trainer Erin Oprea to help her get in shape. "She trained a lot of the really hot country girls," Ballerini explained. The two became fast friends and the pair began a gruelling workout plan, which consisted of four or five strength-training sessions a week.

However, after five years of the intense approach to exercise the singer found herself exhausted and dealing with workout burnout. Oprea and Ballerini decided the best option was to maintain their friendship, but put their training relationship on hold indefinitely.

"It almost felt like I was punishing myself to become what I thought I was supposed to be, visually, in my industry," Ballerini elaborated.

Kelsea Ballerini workout routine

To relieve her body's fatigue the then 27 year old stopped exercising all together, and began to slowly incorporate physical activity back into her schedule over the course of two years. 

After a few years of careful examination of her workout regimen's effects on her body and energy levels, the singer has finally found a balance that works for her. 

The now 31 year old is dedicated to attending Lagree classes three to four times a week, sporadically attends SoulCycle classes, and walks her dog Dibs. 

"I do [Lagree] as much as I can. I love how it makes me feel doing it — I feel strong," Ballerini told the publication. "Having a good relationship with how I’m moving my body has changed everything for me."

Kelsea Ballerini diet

After dealing with a bit of brain fog and fatigue Ballerini had her doctor run some tests only to discover she wasn't getting enough salt and protein in her diet. 

"[I was feeling] a little weird," she explained. "I didn’t realize that you had to have salt to absorb water."

Now, to optimise her salt absorption, Ballerini adds electrolyte powder to her water in the mornings. She's also made a considered effort to eat more red meat throughout the week and even stashes cabanossi sticks in her purse for emergencies.

"[Cabanossi], cottage cheese, a good steak—that’s my trifecta right now," she told Women's Health.

Before her morning hit of electrolytes, Ballerini usually starts the day with a breakfast of scrambled eggs with chimichurri, and a side of cottage cheese and blueberries.

Once she's done getting her day started off right with a bit of protein and salt, she likes to indulge in a cup of coffee. In fact, the singer loves the stuff so much she's collaborated with coffee pod company The Original Donut Shop on a signature sweet vanilla coffee blend.

By the time lunch rolls around she's usually craving a turkey sandwich, however she's very specific about how it's constructed.

"I do layers of turkey and cheese, with sprouts and tomato. On one side, I put a little avocado. On the other, aioli," she explained, saying that that avocado and aioli must not ever touch.

As for dinner time, Kelsea usually keeps things simple with a meat and veg pairing like salmon with zucchini or a skirt steak with asparagus. But she's also a big fan of mid-week bowls of pasta.

"Cooking feels meditative to me. I’ll put on a podcast or the Rat Pack, and I’ll just disassociate and cook," she explained. "Making something with your hands, then either eating it to nourish yourself or giving it to friends, feels very grounding to me, so I’ve been doing that a lot more."

Main image credit: @kelseaballerini

Overhauling fitness and diets has been a theme in the music industry of late. Lizzo underwent a similar transformation this year too.