Nina Dobrev: "Starving to Be Skinny Isn't My Thing"

USMagazine, Tuesday, October 16, 2012, 8:00am (PDT)

Nina Dobrev may be pin thin, but it's not because she's diet obsessed.

"Starving to be skinny isn't my thing. When I don't eat, it affects my mood," the Vampire Diaries actress, 23, tells the November issue of Self. "On-set, I fuel up with small meals and I'm always grabbing high-protein snacks, like almonds. Chai lattes with espresso also keep me going."

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Dobrev also recently purchased an ice cream maker, so she's "been making coconut-milk ice cream topped with shredded coconut." The self-proclaimed health nut eats organic foods, "but I also enjoy eating at restaurants and, recently, cooking. I love having dinner parties at my place in Atlanta, where we film."

The Bulgarian beauty also exercises regularly because it provides "endorphins and energy," Dobrev says. "I do it four days a week. I spin with Candice Accola and Claire Holt from the show. Running is my solo time; working my muscles outside in fresh air is therapeutic."

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Dobrev also credits yoga with reshaping her body. "It tones everything and leans you out. Dancer's pose is amazing. It works every muscle," the starlet raves. "And you have to focus. If your mind is somewhere else, you'll fall. If you can't quiet your mind, try downward dog. It makes you concentrate on your breath, which resets you."

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Needless to say, the 5-foot-6 star is pleased with her looks. "I have a flat tummy, but I'm not rock hard. If I'm going to be in a bikini, I'll train more and skip desserts for a couple of weeks," Dobrev tells Self. "But usually, I work out to feel good."

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Nina Dobrev: "Starving to Be Skinny Isn't My Thing"