Golden Bachelor Star Kathy Swarts Shares Swimsuit Photo “Beating the Heat”

1. Lots of Walking

Swarts walks five miles every single day, a habit which is incredibly beneficial for both mental and physical health. “Walking is a great form of cardio,” says Erin Connolly, MD, family medicine doctor at Geisinger. “Even for people who don’t enjoy cardio or can’t do higher intensity cardio because of joint pain Being outdoors surrounded by nature and sunlight is a natural way to improve your mood and can help with seasonal depression. Anything above 5,000 steps per day is a good place to start."

2. 50 Books a Year

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Swarts is a huge bookworm, getting through 50 books a year. "Read something new and different,” says Angela Buttimer, MS, NCC, RYT, LPC. “This is one of the forms of positivity: Cultivating interest and curiosity in new topics. For example, if you're curious about meditation, read a book on the topic… Reading about people who are different from us can help us understand another person's life experience and give us gratitude for our own life experience. It's also helpful to read books about people who have gone through the same things we have. They may have a way of describing their experience that helps us articulate our own experience."

3. Pickleball Please

Swarts is one of many people obsessed with playing pickleball. Pickleball is a great form of cardiovascular exercise that helps get your heart rate up,” says Kaitlyn Jacobson, Physician Assistant at Renown Urgent Care – Ryland. “It can lead to better cholesterol and blood pressure levels, lowering your risk of heart disease. Since pickleball is a low-impact sport and easy on the body, it’s a great way to get movement in and maintain healthy bones, joints and muscles. By playing pickleball, you’ll reduce the rate of bone loss and help conserve bone tissue.”

4. Kayaking and Skiing

Swarts is happiest when she’s being active in the great outdoors, and considers couch potato behavior in a man to be a major red flag. “Kathy loves any activity that puts her in the great outdoors like kayaking, hiking and skiing,” reads her official bio. “She wants nothing more than to go on the adventure of a lifetime with the hopes of finding a love that will be life-changing. We hope so too!”

5. Happy Family

Swarts is mother to three children and a devoted grandmother to two grandchildren. Research shows spending quality time together with family and friends is important for health and happiness. “With the right kind of activities, spending time with family can positively impact physical well-being,” says Dr. Todd Thatcher, DO, CMRO. “For instance, families who eat home-cooked meals together tend to have a better diet than those who don’t. Participating in outdoor activities like sports games, hikes, or gardening together helps to improve fitness. There’s even evidence that time with family can boost the effects of exercise and other healthy habits. It improves heart, brain, hormonal, and immune health. Being with family can also encourage one another to maintain healthy lifestyles.”