Jessica Alba doesn’t get enough credit for having one of the best – and healthiest-looking – bodies in Hollywood. She really strikes a great balance of looking fit, athletic and lean without ever looking “too skinny” or too bulky. So Alba is an obvious choice for the cover of the newest issue of Shape Magazine. Her body looks amazeballs, but I have qualms about her hair on the cover shot – yikes. As one would expect from Shape Magazine, the conversation is mostly about workouts, body image, confidence and food. I hate myself a little for finding it interesting.

Her athletic body: “I attribute my athletic body to the martial arts, gymnastics, dance, and strength training I did while filming Dark Angel. That’s made me strong and really set the bar.”

She has to work out: “I have to break a sweat or I don’t feel like I’ve gotten anything done. When I only have 30 minutes, I’ll do a series of burpees, mountain climbers, squat jumps, planks, and a few sun salutations. But I’m not going to lie. Working out sucks. Which is why I love taking classes, because I’m surrounded by other people and that keeps me motivated and accountable. These days, I do power yoga with light weights in a 105-degree room, so it’s a mix of hot yoga and strength training. I also spin. The key for me is good music, like 2 Chainz, Lil Wayne, Rihanna, Jay-Z, Beyonce?.”

Motherhood & confidence: “I wasn’t truly confident about my body until I had my daughters, Honor, 7, and Haven, 3. I felt more comfortable in my own skin after they were born. Plus, if I want them to be happy with their bodies, I need to walk the walk.”

Peaceful mind: “When I need to zone out and quiet my mind, I listen to a meditation podcast from the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center. Each one is literally just three minutes long, so I can go into a bathroom stall or do it in my car. But I’m really intrigued by Transcendental Meditation. Everyone I know who does TM has this inner peace and a glow. I want that.”

Popcorn addict: “I’m addicted to popcorn. I eat it throughout the day. I’m a scatterbrain with lots of things to do at once, and eating popcorn helps me concentrate. It’s my way of dealing with my mind wandering off.”

[From E! News]

I don’t get the popcorn thing? But maybe that’s because I’m not a grazer. If I grazed on popcorn or nuts or whatever throughout the day, I probably wouldn’t be able to stop. I need real meals, like a delineation between “now I’m eating” and “now I’m not eating.” Otherwise I would just eat constantly.

As for her workouts, that’s why she has such a great body, because she’s doing so many different things. And I admire her for it, because you would have to take me hostage at gunpoint to get me to do hot yoga or 30 minutes of burpees and planks. I’ll just stick to cycling, walking and weight machines, thanks!

Photos courtesy of Shape.