Padma Lakshmi’s Diet & Fitness Secrets to Staying Bikini-Ready at 55! (Exclusive)

Padma Lakshmi is what you get when beauty and foodie collide! 

“Extra’s” Terri Seymour spoke with Padma about returning to the food competition space, this time on her terms, with her new series “America’s Culinary Cup.” 

Padma gets to taste test everything on the show, so what's her secret to staying bikini-ready at 55?

Padma kept it real, saying, “Well, I don’t eat like I eat on the show, you know, at home in my personal life. I just try to go to the gym a lot, and when I'm eating for myself, you know, when I'm not working, I eat mostly plant-based. I don’t eat a lot of red meat. I don’t eat a lot of sweets. You know, I’ll have the occasional glass of champagne or a tequila and soda, but I’m not a big drinker.”

She added, "I mean, I enjoy, but like if I have like a cheeseburger then for the next two days I'll probably just have some steamed fish and vegetables."

As for her fitness routine, she shared, “I work out like two to three hours three times a week.”

Padma shared, "I lift weights or I jump rope. I will box when I can, but my wrist has bee bothering me. It's hard. You know, my metabolism is not what it use to be."

As for the show itself, Padma dished, “I wanted it to be like a big, splashy sporting event!”

After signing off from Bravo’s “Top Chef” after 17 years, she didn’t think she would be back in the genre again.

Lakshmi explained, “I really wanted to create something that was purely about the food." She added, "And it was such fun, I can't tell you, building that gorgeous set, which is very different from any other set you see on television, whether it's a food show or not."

Plus, does Padma think her daughter will follow in her footsteps?