Actress Julia Sundstrom Sandstrom's Top Health Tips!

It’s only been a year since Julia Sundstrom Sandstrom moved to Los Angeles from her native Sweden, but she’s already landed a part in a movie with Al Pacino, Anthony Hopkins and Josh Duhamel. The fresh-faced actress — cousin with movie star Malin Akerman — is clearly not one to wait for opportunity to knock on her door. “I played a girl who flirts with Josh Duhamel in a bar,” she says of her role in the thriller Beyond Deceit, premiering next year. “It was so fun! I worked all night until 7 am, but I had so much energy when it was time to go home that it was impossible to go to sleep. It was a big, crazy movie set and it was an incredible experience.”

When not on set, Julia is still full of energy. A fitness and health fanatic, she works out six times a week and adheres to a clean and sugar-free diet. Here, she shares four life-changing tips for staying fit, losing weight and feeling great.

1. Start The Day Right

I’m a big believer in getting a solid start on your day. Every morning when I wake up, I drink a glass of water with one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Then, I head out for a 40 minute power walk to get my body going. After that, I have breakfast, which is usually scrambled eggs with mushrooms, turkey sausage, kale or spinach, and topped with cilantro. And I top that off with Cholula hot sauce! I drink green tea — coffee tends to dry me out — and sometimes I also add a glass of warm water with ginger and lemon.

2. Mix Up Your Workout Routine

I’m a firm believer in variation when it comes to working out. I do a lot of different things, including running on the beach, yoga, Krav Maga, Barry’s Bootcamp and Cross Fit. I work out five to six times a week, and two of those days are usually yoga. The other four, I mix it up so I’m always challenged and never bored.

3. Eat Six Meals a Day — and Quit the Gluten, Milk and Sugar

I recently changed my diet, so instead of eating three big meals a day I now eat six smaller meals. It has helped me lose a lot of weight, and I have more energy throughout the day. I eat about every three hours, so I never get to a point where I’m starving. I don’t eat any gluten or milk products or sugar, but I do eat lean meat, fish and shellfish.

4. Give Yourself One Cheat Day A Week

My cheat day is not about eating tons of candy! But it’s the one day when I treat myself to something yummy, like raw vegan chocolate cake or a chocolate treat from Hail Merry. They make the most amazing chocolate macaroons, and they’re gluten free and sugar free, so I love to eat those. One of my favorite hangouts on treat days is Cafe Gratitude, where they make the most delicious mint chocolate hip smoothie with coconut ice cream. It melts in your mouth, it’s so good! •