Carrie Underwood has been working for "10 years" to develop abs after she was branded "fat".

She recalled: "Back when I was on American Idol, I was a bit heavier than I am now.

"That was the first time I was exposed to the public talking about me, so it was impossible not to look online and see what they were saying.

"Apparently I was fat. Of course I wasn't, but sometimes words people choose are not the nicest."

The star is aware that parts of her body will never be the same again after having Isaiah, but she is close to developing "real" abs.

She said: "There are things that are never going to go back - let's face it. I am starting over with a new set of rules.

"But that said, at this point in my life, I have more of a shot at having abs. I feel like I have been working 10 years to have abs, so I am on the verge of real, you-can-count-them ones. Maybe."

Carrie admits she has been looking after herself more as she has got older, and has developed a penchant for working out on hills.

Speaking to Us Weekly, she added: "I feel much better now at 33 than I did when I was 20 because I take better care of myself.

"I like squats, lunges. If I go for a jog and I meet up with a good hill, I will lunge up the hill and that will burn them out."