Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed her secrets to looking so great and maintaining her lean figure.

Writing for The Telegraph, Gwyneth Paltrow said that the key to staying in shape is a consistent exercise regime, regular detoxes and the occasional weekend treat.

Gwyneth Paltrow, 40, is an avid fan of Tracy Anderson – author and multi-platform wellness entrepreneur whose clients also include Madonna and Shakira.

Tracy Anderson and Gwyneth Paltrow are now business partners. Together they’ve produced four exercise DVDs and a book, Tracy Anderson’s 30-Day Method.

Gwyneth Paltrow also reveals that working with Tracy Anderson has completely changed her body.

The actress said: “Still, when I first started working with Tracy, finding motivation was hard. She advised me to think of exercise as an automatic routine, no different from brushing your teeth, to avoid getting distracted. Now it is part of my life.”

Gwyneth Paltrow explains how important routine is and that she exercises Monday to Friday at 10 a.m. and always sticks with it.

She advises people to create muscle tone and boost their metabolism by moving more and says we sit around for too much of the day.

Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed her secrets to looking so great and maintaining her lean figure

In terms of her diet, Gwyneth Paltrow – who famously follows a super healthy macrobiotic diet – says that scheduling in a detox is very important.

After a gruelling schedule and lapse of overindulgence two years ago, Gwyneth Paltrow was left feeling fatigued and faint and a trip to the doctor later revealed that she was anaemic, vitamin D deficient, and that her stress levels were sky high.

Her doctor prescribed an elimination diet banning coffee, alcohol, sugar, eggs, wheat, meat and processed food to clear out her system and help her body heal – and she thinks everyone else should get on board.

Gwyneth Paltrow did, however, warn of the dangers: “I’ve done juice cleanses in the past, and in my twenties I did the Master Cleanse, which left me hallucinating after 10 days.

“Be aware: a juice detox can crash your metabolism and lead to future weight gain.”

To avoid getting distracted from your healthy eating plan, she says you should always keep healthy snacks nearby.

Gwyneth Paltrow loves healthy salad dressings (her favorite being her homemade Mexican green goddess dressing – goat’s yogurt, jalapeño, coriander and honey), which she stores in the fridge for the rest of the week and then drizzles over salads and chicken.

When it comes to monitoring weight, Gwyneth Paltrow believes it’s more important to measure in inches with a measuring tape because weighing yourself can lead to shame and guilt.

Although she maintains that following a healthy, balanced diet is key, Gwyneth Paltrow admits you should always allow yourself programmed treats.

“I often have a glass of red wine in the evening and smoke a cigarette on a Saturday. I love those moments because they are just the right amount of naughty.

“That balance keeps you vibrant. You have to live your life, after all.”