Vocal powerhouse Christina Aguilera has opened up about her recent weight loss and revealed that she has managed to shed the pounds by not being too strict on herself.

The beauty posed for a recent photoshoot with Maxim, in which she cut a slimmer figure, and told the Huffington Post that allowing herself to have days off from working out when she needed them seemed to be the key in getting into such great shape:

"If I can squeeze in a workout, great. If not, that's OK, too."

Aguilera added that having a five-year-old son, Max, has been beneficial in getting her to work up a sweat: "Running around with him all day is pretty good exercise."

The hitmaker also spoke out about how she helps herself to feel sexy and told Maxim that she loves to wear casual clothes as feeling attractive is best when it comes from within: "Trying too hard to be sexy is the worst thing you can do. Sexiness should be effortless. I'm such a down-to-earth girl, I'm comfortable in just a jersey and boy's underwear."