Events That Inspired Her Work Outs

Many celebrities have been jumping on the Ozempic train to jumpstart their fitness journeys, but Kyle Richards prefers to avoid quick fixes.

Still, many of the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star’s followers couldn’t help but wonder if she’d turned to weight-loss pills when she showed off a slimmer figure in 2023.

“Sometimes I turn my cheek the other way and ignore it, but I work really hard and it really bothers me, and I would like to be able to be an inspiration to people,” Richards told Extra in 2023 while denying rumors that she had taken Ozempic. “So don’t think I took the easy way out. Like, follow what I’m doing and you’ll see changes.”

After undergoing breast reduction surgery in 2022, Richards had to press pause on her workout routine for eight weeks. Following a European vacation full of indulgence, the star found herself a bit heavier than normal.

“By the end of the trip, I didn’t recognize myself. I had also just lost my best friend to suicide, and I wasn’t taking care of myself. And (it was) making me feel more depressed,” she told US Weekly in 2023.

Richards then decided to up her workout game and transform her body. Wondering how she did it? Here’s everything she’s shared about her fitness routine and diet.

She cut sugar and carbs from her diet

After returning from her European vacation in 2022, Richards recommitted to eating a healthier diet.

“So after we left, I said, ‘That’s it. I’m not going to have bad carbs — no sugar, no pasta, no bread, no alcohol. And I’m going to work out every single day,'” she told US Weekly.

After weighing in around 132 pounds after her vacation, the star said she was down to 117 pounds in December 2023.

She works out for her mental health

Like many people, Richards used to see exercise as a means to an end and a way “to lose weight.” Things have changed, however.

“Now it’s for me — first and foremost, my mental health. The fact that it makes me look good is just a bonus,” she told US Weekly.

During an episode of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” that aired in October 2023, Richards elaborated on the role her fitness routine had played in supporting her mental health as she navigated marital issues with her husband Mauricio Umansky (the pair is now separated) and prior drama with her sister, Kathy Hilton.

“When you go through painful times in your life, it changes you as a person,” she said, per People. “My sister, feeling let down by my friends, feeling disconnected from my husband — you have to find an outlet.”

When it comes to her workouts, she likes to ‘shake it up’

Like many of us, Richards needs to vary her workouts to avoid a fitness rut. During an Amazon Live session in January 2023, she elaborated on her diverse workout plan.

“My workout routine, I shake it up. I do something different every day. I do the Peloton, a very long extensive ab routine (and) I’m now doing weights. I always did light weights, but now I’ve increased the weights I’m lifting,” she said.

The star has also dabbled in hot yoga and works on her core every day.

After reaching her weight loss goals, Richards told US Weekly her goals shifted to maintenance.

“(I) need to change up my workouts because my body has become accustomed. I have this trainer — CoryG Fitness on Instagram — and he’ll email me a routine. You have to keep changing it constantly, otherwise the progress will halt,” she said.

She’s seen the ‘most results’ from running

Richards may switch up her workouts regularly, but running is always in the rotation.

“Running is where I’m seeing the most results with my body,” she said during an Amazon Live session in January 2024. “And I’m really enjoying pushing myself to see how much faster I can run and how much farther, really, to set more goals for myself in that sense.”

The reality star also revealed that she switches out her running shoes regularly to get the most of her workout, adding that she feels like “new shoes make me run faster.”

She works out most days, even when she’s away from home

Consistency is key in fitness, and Richards works in a sweat session almost daily, even when she’s traveling.

“I make the commitment every day. If I have to take a 5 a.m. flight, fine, I have to skip my workout at my house, but I can always do abs in my hotel room,” she told US Weekly.

Daily workouts may sounds like a lot, but there’s a method to Richards’ madness.

“I just plan on every day and that way in case something comes up and I miss it, that’s the day I miss. But I try not to,” she explained during a 2024 Amazon Live session.

She eats a balanced diet and prefers to eat at home

Protein is one of the key elements of Richards’ diet.

“Breakfast is either a protein shake with a banana or oatmeal with berries. For a snack, I like apples and peanut butter or string cheese. I eat raw nuts when I want something crunchy or a healthy popcorn,” she told US Weekly in 2023.

For lunch, the star typically noshes on “chicken or grilled fish on salad.”

“At night, I eat a lot of salmon, halibut, chicken paillard with arugula and lemon. I like eating at home so I know what’s going into my food,” she added.

When asked if she’s following a keto diet during an Amazon Live special in 2023, Richards offered the following response.

“I am not following the keto diet,” she said. “Just basically, I eat protein, vegetables, fruit and carbs once in a while. But I do eat fruits and vegetables all the time, and I really love cereal.” 

She says it’s ‘never too late’ to get in the best shape of your life

For Richards, age is just a number, and at 55 years old, she’s in amazing shape.

“I think back to when I was in my 20s and 30s, and I look better than I did then, and that’s after having four kids,” she told US Weekly. “It’s definitely never too late.”

She gave up drinking and has ‘never felt better physically’

Drinking high-calorie, alcoholic beverages regularly can make it challenging to lose weight, and it can also affect the way your body feels.

“After two glasses of wine, I’d wake up and feel (like I was) dragging. Like, ‘I’m going to skip my workout today. I’m tired, and I feel like having In-N-Out.’ It was a domino effect,” Richards told US Weekly in 2023.

The star was “never a big drinker,” but said she “started seeing results pretty fast” when she gave up alcohol in July 2022.

“I don’t see myself drinking again. I love the way I feel and look,” she said.

On her one-year anniversary without alcohol, Richards reflected on how being sober has positively impacted her life.

“All I know is I have never felt better physically or been more clear mentally,” she captioned an Instagram post.

She drinks a lot of water

Whether you want to stay hydrated during a workout or feel full in between meals, drinking enough water is a simple, time-tested solution. And it’s one that Richards swears by.

“I drink a lot of water because it’s basically my only drink cuz I don’t drink sodas and I don’t drink alcohol. And I don’t like to just have sugar for nothing so I wouldn’t just order something like fruit juice cuz you’re not getting any of the benefits of the fruit,” she said during a 2024 Amazon Live session.

Richards admitted that plain water can be boring sometimes, so she likes to drink it with lemons on occasion and said she notices a “big difference” in her skin and body when she stays hydrated.

When it comes to using fitness equipment, she recommends starting with the basics

As you’re developing a fitness routine, you have to walk before you can run, and Richards gave her followers some sage advice about this topic when asked what equipment is necessary to get started.

“I think you start with the basics,” she said during an Amazon Live session in 2024.

Richards said a treadmill is one of her must-haves, especially for rainy days where she can’t run outside, and a Peloton bike. In addition, the star suggested getting dumbbells and resistance bands.

She’s tried wellness apps to keep track of her fitness goals

In October 2023, Richards revealed that she uses a wellness app to monitor her health and wellness goals.

“Keeping track of your goals, and progress towards them, has been key to my success,” she captioned the post.