Elsa Patakys 50: Diet and Fitness Secrets Unveiled!

Aside from her glittering Hollywood career, is widely admired for her healthy and balanced lifestyle. 

The Spanish actress continues to look incredibly youthful as she celebrated her 50th birthday on Saturday.

She's not shy when it comes to flaunting her envy-inducing physique to her 6.1million followers - nor is she one for keeping her diet and fitness hacks a secret. 

As the wife of Thor icon , 42, Elsa has adopted a heavily gym-focused lifestyle to maintain her appearance.

The couple married in 2010 and share three children together: daughter , 14, and twin sons Sasha and Tristan, 12.

While they both share an equal passion for health and fitness, the pair are always working out solo.

Elsa often documents her workouts and bikini snaps on her Instagram, as well as sharing her tips and tricks to stay trim.

The model follows a primarily plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins to fuel her body. 

Her go to lunch is a hearty, leafy salad enriched with avocado, nuts and seeds, drizzled in olive oil.

While she tries to avoid processed foods and sugar, Elsa allows herself a few 'cheat' days now and then. 

'I make sure I eat as balanced and healthy as I can, although of course I have my cheating days', she told Harper's Bazaar. 'I do love cooking fresh fish in the oven or the grill, although my favourite moments are to cook and bake with my children.'

'We always try to do it once every few weeks – from pizzas in the oven to yummy cookies.'

Over the past year, Elsa has been obsessed with a type of HIIT workout called Norwegian 4x4 technique.

'Four rounds of four minutes, at 85% to 95% of your maximum heart rate – to maintain my VO2 max [a metric linked with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and increased longevity],' she told Women's Health UK.

She added: 'I have three kids who keep me active. But I also train pretty hard. I go to the gym at least three times a week to do a mixture of weights and cardio.'

As well as high-impact workouts, Elsa is a longtime fan of yoga which she says has made a 'big difference' to her body.

'It's also for your mind', she told Marie Claire. 'At the end you have that moment of laying down and five minutes of like [does an exaggerated exhale]. Kind of like a meditation. I think that's really important for your brain and to come down. 

'At the end of the yoga, it's just good for me to lay down and think about nothing… or try to [laughs].' 

Mental fitness is her main focus when it comes to looking after her health and wellbeing.

After she puts her children to sleep, Elsa says she tries to mediate for 10 to 15 minutes a day to 'unwind'.

When Elsa isn't working out in the gym, you will often see her horse riding with her children in Australia, where she resides.

Elsa has had a long-standing passion for the horseback riding for as long as she can remember.