37 Health Habits That Mariah Carey Lives By To Look Ah-Mazing At 49

She focuses on eating well Although she works out a ton, Carey said in a 2012 interview that her diet is what's really responsible for her ability to get or stay in shape. 90 percent of losing weight is my diet, she said. Samir Hussein - Getty Images

She takes a pass on sugar Carey reportedly avoids overdoing it on sugar, and it's been great for her. The secret to her success has been the one thing she cut out almost completely, and that is processed sugar, a source told Hollywood Life . Remember: Things like fruit and milk contain natural sugars, whereas candy and cookies and cereals often have added sugars. Foods with the natural stuff generally also have other important nutrients, like fiber, so not every food with sugar is necessarily something to avoid. But overdoing it on added sugar can lead to low energy and weight gain. FilmMagic - Getty Images

She ignores her age Part of aging gracefully is just being comfortable and stress-free about who you are and where you're at. Carey is great at maintaining this mindset: I think I have to remain eternally oblivious to age. Honestly, when you put a number on it yourself, its just like, Why? Why do that? she once told People . Scott Legato - Getty Images

She checks in with a nutritionist When Carey recently wanted to get in shape, she consulted a nutritionist for help, a source told Hollywood Life. Working with a professional can definitely help build healthy eating habits that may make it easier to be healthy for the long haul as you age. (Obviously, this is not something everyone can swing financially.) Samir Hussein - Getty Images

She doesn't stress about birthdays Want to be ageless? Stop counting the years going by, duh. Carey told The Observer magazine that she's not big on tracking birthdays. She doesn't count years, but I definitely rebuke themI have anniversaries, not birthdays, because I celebrate life, darling, she said. Steve Granitz - Getty Images

She has fruit when sweet cravings strike Carey cut out chocolate and other sweets from her diet, a source told Hollywood Life. "When she has cravings, she eats a little piece of fruit, like some blueberries or mangos," the source said. Steve Granitz - Getty Images

She avoids the processed stuff A source told Hollywood Life that Carey is working out regularly and eating clean, whole foods with a focus on vegetables. Romain Maurice - Getty Images

She watches her carb intake When Carey wanted to lose weight, she cut out carbs and bread. "As a result, she has lost a ton of weight and is looking and feeling great, a source told Hollywood Life. Obviously, that's extreme and not ideal for everyone. But if you do want to drop a few pounds, it may be a part of your diet to look at more closely. Barcroft Media - Getty Images

She still enjoys wine Her one guilty pleasure, that she will never stop enjoying, is her wine. She likes to sip on a glass of red or white at the end of a long day and thats something that Mariah will probably never change, a source told Hollywood Life. NBC - Getty Images

She works out when she can Carey is kinda busy. So, she strives to work out three times a week, according to Us Weekly . See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram mariahcarey@Instagram

She eats often Instead of doing three big meals a day, Carey aims for several smaller meals throughout the day, according to Us Weekly. Noam Galai - Getty Images

She eats organic Carey focuses on having plenty of organic veggies, meat, and fish, a source told Hollywood Life. Bravo - Getty Images

She goes for walks "Mariahs never been a huge fan of going to the gym, but she always forces herself to go for a brisk walk everyday, even if its on the treadmill, a source told Hollywood Life. Raymond Hall - Getty Images

She uses sex to get her heart rate up Get down and dirty to look and feel your best. Mariahs favorite form of exercise has always been sex, a source told Hollywood Life. She loves nothing more than working up a sweat with [her boyfriend] ... every morning, which is obviously something hes very happy to help out with! JB Lacroix - Getty Images

She embraces her shape "I think people expecting everybody to be this thin is ridiculous," Carey told Oprah Winfrey . "It just isn't reality." Part of aging gracefully? Just loving who you are, inside and out. MediaPunch/Bauer-Griffin - Getty Images

She switches up her workouts Carey told Oprah that her workouts usually last for 60 to 90 minutes and combine cardio with resistance training. MediaPunch/Bauer-Griffin - Getty Images

She likes to tone specific body parts To tone her arms, for instance, Carey told Oprah that she uses her own body weight and stretches to sculpt long, lean lines. Mondadori Portfolio - Getty Images

She goes for a dip Carey is big on swimming. "What's great about working out in the pool is the water acts as resistance," she told Oprah. "You're actually exercising twice as hard without feeling it." See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram mariahcarey@Instagram

She goes easy on the oil and butter Carey gave Oprah a peek inside her fridge and shared some tricks from her chef-slash-nutritionist Patricia Gay. Among other things, Patricia tries to cook Carey's food without using oil and butter. Steve Granitz - Getty Images

She tries not to overdo it on snacking Carey told Oprah that Gay also helped her curb her snacking. And, as a result, she lost weight. Kevin Winter - Getty Images

She has small bites of her favorite treats Carey told Oprah that she has a few bites of her favorite foods here and there, just to get a little treat in. Moderation is key; don't deprive yourself! Randy Holmes - Getty Images

She doesn't worry about the scale number "For me, it's not about a number on a scale," Carey told Oprah. "It's not about necessarily even a size. It's about feeling good and being comfortable in your own skin. Right now, I feel really great. I feel better than I've ever felt." Steve Granitz - Getty Images

She isn't afraid to flaunt it "Typically, I throw on some PJs or perhaps some boxers and a little tank and call it a day," Carey told Oprah. "But if we're feeling extra good about ourselves after our little diet, we might select another type of ensemble." Steve Granitz - Getty Images

She learns from her past One of her tricks to staying mentally healthy: Carey told Oprah that she's learned from her previous relationships. Among other things, she said she learned that "I had to allow myself to feel worthy of being loved and not just live vicariously through success." Kevin Mazur - Getty Images

She loves fish Gay likes to serve Carey fish on the regular, the singer revealed to Oprah during a tour of her fridge. Gobble up those omega-3s! Heidi Gutman - Getty Images

She likes soup Vegetable soup, always a winner," Carey told Oprah during a tour of her fridge. "You can eat as much of this as you want. Samir Hussein - Getty Images

She gets rid of temptation Carey told Oprah that she tries really hard to keep tempting stuff, like butter, out of her fridge. And, if people try to sneak it in, she asks them to remove it. "Its just a little bit tempting," she said. Marc Piasecki - Getty Images

...bBut she never totally denies herself what she wants Gay told Oprah that Carey can have a taste of butter and similar foods here and there. Everything in moderation, she said. Marc Piasecki - Getty Images

She has fun with her food While learning to make pizza on one of her #MomentsWithMimi episodes, Carey decided to make her pie in the shape of a heart, as one does. See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram mariahcarey@Instagram

She has a sense of humor with working out Carey got lots of attention for a video of herself "working out" in heels, but she told ET it was a total joke. "I remember the first time I did this on Cribs and everyone was like, 'Oh my gosh, she's working out in heels! What is she doing?' I was just like, 'Let me just do this for laughs and, you know, I don't know if they took it seriously or whatever." Marc Piasecki - Getty Images

She does fitness in the ocean Carey told People that she'll use time in the ocean as a workout. Im getting it in, she said. Tommaso Boddi - Getty Images

She gets cardio in with her pup Carey told People that she likes to take long walks with her five Jack Russell terriers as part of her fitness routine. See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram mariahcarey@Instagram

She doesn't hesitate to get help for her mental health Until recently I lived in denial and isolation and in constant fear someone would expose me, Carey told People of keeping her bipolar disorder diagnosis a secret for years. It was too heavy a burden to carry and I simply couldnt do that anymore. Carey said she finally decided to seek treatment and is now in therapy and taking medication. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin - Getty Images

She tries to be consistent ...Even if you're not 100 percent into your healthy eating habits. "I've been pretty consistent with this bleak diet that I am on," Carey told E! News . Vera Anderson - Getty Images

She knows her limits and listens to her body For example, Carey told Access Hollywood that pregnancy was really hard on her body, and shes decided not to have more kids as a result. "I really don't know if I can make it through after what I went through, it was really tough," she said. Carey listens to her needs and doesn't let society dictate her choices. Nicholas Hunt - Getty Images

She isn't afraid to try something different Carey told The Guardian that she sometimes bathes in milk. "Sometimes I use milk as a beauty treatment. I dont want to give away all my secrets," she said. (Wacky, but you do you, girl!) See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram See the original post on Instagram mariahcarey@Instagram