Continued from Maria Sharapova in Shape. Banish the word “diet” from your vocabulary To say Maria enjoys eating is like saying she’s a pretty good tennis player. “Nothing makes me happier than having an amazing meal,” she says. “But I never diet because I need to be strong.”

Maria eats three big meals a day, always making sure to have a balance of both carbs and proteins, and she snacks on fresh fruit along with a slice of ham or some other protein.

And she never denies herself a sweet if she wants it. “The moment someone says I can’t have something, forget it. I want it even more,” she says. “If I crave a cookie, I eat it.”

Practice, practice, practice — even if it’s the last thing you want to do Whether you’re a top tennis star, like Maria, or a runner competing in her first 5K, the truth is that practice is what gives you that special edge. “I don’t love it, because I get impatient doing the same thing over and over,” Maria Sharapova admits.

“But I know there are things in my game that I can improve on. Preparation is what’s going to help me be No. 1.” When she’s not competing, Maria hits the court six days a week, three and a half hours a day. And on match days, she simply warms up half an hour before she plays.

Shake up your exercise routine Playing tennis nearly every day can get boring, so Maria makes it a point to switch up her activities whenever she can. “I bike and do yoga. But my new favorite thing is a salsa dance class called Video-sync,” she says.

The program, developed by J. Marcos at Sports Club/LA in Miami, combines dance and fitness with a focus on core work to build strong abs. The classes aren’t highly choreographed, so Maria can let loose without stressing about getting the steps right. “I love it,” she says. “It’s so energetic and fun!”

Know when to give your body a break “I’m usually go-go-go, but when I hit the wall, that’s it — I’m done,” says Maria. Earlier this year, she injured her shoulder, which forced her to take 10 weeks off from competing. “I try to be smart about it,” she says.

“If my body is tired or injured, I’ll let it rest.” Her favorite ways to de-stress include going to spas (she loves massages) and relaxing on the beach. Shopping also helps her unwind: “I love to shop for clothes and jewelry, especially vintage stuff,” she says.