LSU Gymnast Alyona Shchennikova Shares Swimsuit Photo as "It's Cold Outside"

Alyona Shchennikova is heating up a cold day in her swimsuit. In a recent social media post the LSU gymnast shows off her incredibly toned figure in a bathing suit while spending time outdoors on a chilly day. "Baby, it's cold outside," she captioned the series of Instagram snaps. Aside from spending lots of time training in the gym, how does the college athlete stay in shape? Celebwell rounded up some of her top health habits. 

Alyona loves to swim. "Lake Dayzzz," she captioned a photo of herself taking a dip. Swimming is a good way to get regular aerobic physical activity, according to the CDC. Just two and a half hours per week of aerobic physical activity, such as swimming, bicycling, or running, can decrease the risk of chronic illnesses. In addition to the many physical benefits, there are multiple studies supporting the mental health benefits of swimming as well. 

Alyona also hits the trails when she has free time. In a recent post she posed at the top of a hiking trail in front of the Hollywood sign. According to the National Parks Service, the physical benefits of hiking include:

• Building stronger muscles and bones
• Improving your sense of balance
• Improving your heart health
• Decreasing the risk of certain respiratory problems

Walking (in her bathing suit!) is part of Alyona's self-care routine. "Fall in love with taking care of yourself. mind. body. Spirit," she captioned a post. 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.

Another one of Alyona's go-to outdoor exercises? Biking. "Just a happy girl and her bike," she captioned this post. The Cleveland Clinic explains that biking, a low-impact aerobic exercise, is great for building muscle, improving strength and flexibility, and improving balance. It can also boost mental health and help other health conditions, including arthritis. 

Alyona indulges in hot water therapy, which she does in her recent post by taking a dip in the hot tub. Soaking in hot water is good for your health. Baths, identical to jacuzzi soaks, have been linked to better sleep and even found helpful to minimize anxiety and depression. One recent study even found that they may even boast cardiovascular benefits.