Emmy Rossum Covers 'Self' Magazine February 2013

Emmy Rossum shows off her flat tummy on the cover of Self magazine’s February 2013 issue, out on newsstands now!

Here’s what the Shameless actress had to share with the mag:

On lifting weights: “When I want to drop weight quickly, I cut back on my cardio and do a lot of weights instead. It’s counterintuitive, because you would think, I should stay on the treadmill for five hours. I also cut out all fruit and eat a lot of protein and vegetables. My go-to moves are walking lunges, leg raises and my favorite: four sets of 15 ballet pliés, holding 8-pound weights.”

On having an awesome long-term goal: “I don’t want to do the Ironman or run 10 miles, but I do want to go up into space one day. It costs [hundreds of thousands] right now, but I hope eventually it will be $500. And I want to make sure my heart is fit enough to handle the trip when I’m 50.”

On enjoying cheat days: “When I was filming Beautiful Creatures, I ate 1,500 calories a day�”nutritionist Carrie Wiatt sent me meals from L.A. But I also gave myself two cheat days a week. I’d eat a steak and fries, an ice cream sundae and then go to Pinkberry. Of course, then I’d wake up the next morning and go, ‘Oh, great, I’m eating one poached egg and a green apple. Shoot me in the face.’ But it was totally worth it. Now I can gain back those 6 pounds that I had lost to do the movie.”

For more on Emmy, visit Self.com!

Also pictured: Emmy Rossum leaving NBC after promoting the third season of Shameless on Tuesday (January 15) in New York City.