Up Close with Jordin Sparks

Huffing and puffing through your jog? Can't eke out more than 15 crunches? Jordin Sparks has a message for you: Stick with it. "When I first started working out, I only had enough stamina to walk," says our August cover model. "But now that I'm exercising every day, I can kick it up a notch--I've even tried CrossFit!"

Lately Sparks has been cranking out one-hour circuit routines (back-to-back sets of resistance moves or cardio bursts). "Eliminating rest periods keeps the heart rate up, says Reebok instructor Jade Alexis. "That helps blast more calories and increase endurance, so eventually every workout will feel easier."

As she prepares to make her film debut in Sparkle (in theatres nationwide August 17, 2012), the pop star reveals her sexy new silhouette on the cover of SHAPE's August issue, on newsstands now. We scored a fat-blasting circuit plan, designed by Alexis for Sparks, that delivers amazing results in a snap. Check it out below, along with more exclusive info such as Sparks' favorite healthy snacks, her go-to workout playlist, and more!