The 23-year-old R&B singer, Ciara, says there's no reason why working out can't be fun.  Growing up with military parents she embraced exercising during her adolescent years participating on the high school track team and on the cheerleading squad.  

With her upcoming tour of her latest album, Fantasy Ride which will be released in February, she shares with Women's Health Magazine her workout tactics that get her in fighting shape.

Train--and eat--like you mean it. "When I was younger, I would play around. I would work out and then eat a burrito afterward. Now I take it seriously--no salt, low salt. It's strict, but when I follow those rules, I see results." Working with her trainer, Sean Moon, for an hour a day five to six times a week and being more mindful of what she eats has worked. "A lot of people don't realize that when you're trying to lose weight, or just trying to stay fit, 85 percent of it is what you eat, and 15 percent of it is how you work out," she says. "And listening to that voice in your head that says, 'I'm gonna get me a burger--I just went to the gym, so it will be OK,' is a bad idea. You can ruin your whole day with a big cinnamon bun. I'm taking that into account now."

Make Madonna your workout buddy. Normally, Ciara works out to music. "I like up-tempo songs," she says. "Madonna has a lot of those--her newer stuff, especially, has a cool vibe." Ciara also gets a great workout rehearsing dance moves for her tour. "I want to get into different things like tap and ballet." But, she says, you don't have to be a pro to reap the fat-burning rewards of shaking your booty. "Dancing--however you do it, even if it's in your living room--is a great workout."

But don't you dare deprive yourself. An occasional visit to the Cheesecake Factory (Ciara's favorite splurge spot) isn't going to kill you. "Food is fun. And for those moments when you want to enjoy yourself, don't beat yourself up. I have moments when I want to eat pizza or a hamburger--I'm not going to drive myself crazy."

OK, I have to point this out because maybe I'm not reading something correctly....in Ciara's response to "Train Like You Mean It," she said not to eat a burger because it can ruin your whole day - yet she says don't deprive yourself....hmmm, I guess she means that you can't abuse the excuse of I just went to the gym so I can eat whatever I want - what do you think? 

Continue to read more of Ciara's workout tips.