Athing Mu in Two-Piece Workout Gear is "Gorgeous"

Athing Mu is heating up social media – in her team USA workout gear. In a new social media post shared by the Olympics, the runner looks fit and fabulous in a two-piece running set, and the social media "crowd" went wild. "She's so beautiful," commented one person. "Superstar," added another. How does the athlete approach diet, fitness, and self-care? Here is everything you need to know about her lifestyle habits.

Athing spends a lot of time perfecting her craft: Running. According to the Mayo Clinic, running is great for cardiovascular health, muscle building, and weight loss. "For every mile run, the average person will burn approximately 100 calories," they say. 

Athing detailed her daily routine to Shape. "Taking care of my pug, Bentley—he just turned 1—comes before my routine begins: I take him through his routine before I start preparing for bed. Bentley and I go on a little walk and then I get him his dinner," she told them. Going for a daily walk can be a game changer in terms of exercise, especially at a brisk speed. One study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that walking at a brisk pace for about 30 minutes a day led to a reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, dementia and death, compared with walking a similar number of steps but at a slower pace.

Before bed, Athing watches TV or reads. "If I'm not too exhausted, I turn on Real Housewives. That's my show right now. I'm watching season 7 of Atlanta. Binging shows is part of my relaxation process. I'm also reading If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin. I never really used to read books for pleasure because I always felt like reading was just for school, and I didn't want to do more of that," she said. Now, though, I either read my book or watch an episode of TV to wind down and help me fall asleep. It just depends on my mood. Whichever I choose, though, I usually fall asleep around 10:00 p.m." One Harvard study published in Social Science & Medicine found that people who read books regularly had a 20% lower risk of dying over the next 12 years compared with people who weren't readers or who read periodicals. 

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Athing prioritizes sleep hygiene. "I know I've been getting good sleep because I wake up and it feels time to wake up. I guess that means my body is well-rested," she said. "I think there are a couple things that help me with that: The way my room is set up with the dimmer and air purifier makes it easier to fall asleep, and having practice in the morning followed by time to relax after helps me feel tired enough to fall asleep at night," she continued. "Everything I do to prep for bed is very simple. I've tried to make things complex, but I feel like simple is the way to go—just move along and go to bed. I don't like being too complicated. It's the little things that build up together to make you comfortable."

Routine has been helpful for Athing, especially going from living in a home with a big family to living alone. "I didn't have time to be myself; we were always together," she says. "Now having my own space, I can choose what I want to do, and that's probably why my routine has shifted."