How Martha Stewart Says She Altered Her Diet to Prepare for Her SI Swimsuit Photoshoot

Martha Stewart is breaking down her diet and workout regimen. 

The 81-year-old lifestyle guru's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover photo was unveiled earlier this week, and now she's dropping her fitness plan for how she prepared for the shoot. 

Stewart received the call in November 2022 and recalled being asked to pose for the cover of Sports Illustrated in just two months–January 2023. While speaking with Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie on the Today show on Mon., May 15, she revealed, "That was a kind of request that I never had before."

During the interview, she described how she prepared for the photoshoot, and while she didn't "starve" herself, she made sure to cut out some things from her diet. 

"I didn't eat any bread or pasta for a couple of months," she revealed, also noting that she made sure to get some sort of workout in while prepping for the shoot that took place in the Punta Cana area of the Dominican Republic. "I went to pilates every other day, and that was great," Stewart said, noting, "I'm still going to pilates every other day because it's so great."

The businesswoman later caught up with Today.com where she revealed that she was quick to say yes when the publication requested for her to be on this year's cover. 

"I didn't really hesitate. I thought it was a good challenge, a good opportunity to show another dimension," she said. "I wasn't nervous at all, I just wanted to make sure I looked good. The camera does not lie," Stewart added. 

"There shouldn't be any limits. Set your limits higher than you think. Embrace the past but absolutely look towards the future and reimagine what you can do," Stewart gushed, explaining, "You can look great pretty much at any age if you put your mind to it."

Next, Martha Stewart Explains Why Age Is Not Important—And Instead What Is