Mercedes Varnado in Workout Gear Shares a New Gym Selfie

Paige VanZant, the mixed martial artist, just posted a new revealing photo on her Instagram. The fighter lounged in a pool wearing a blue bikini, showing off her toned body. VanZant revealed that she had just finished a workout, and didn’t get a photo of it, so she decided to post a revealing photo instead. Read on to see 6 ways Paige VanZant stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

1. She’s A Fighter

VanZant is a professional mixed martial arts fighter and boxer. Naturally, this means she’s in top shape at all times. Boxing and martial arts are a great way of getting exercise, and can help with muscle building and burning calories. A 2017 study in Biology of Sport states that boxing can increase muscle mass and decrease body fat.

2. She Takes Ice Baths

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In this reel from her Instagram, VanZant revealed that she likes to take ice baths to help her muscles recover. Ice baths, while cold, are a great way to help your body recover from a tough workout. Elizabeth Gardner, MD, tells Byrdie that ice baths work well because of the “rapid dilation of the blood vessels also delivers much-needed oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, which in theory should help them to recover after a hard workout.”

3. She Enjoys Time in The Pool

VanZant loves to spend time in the pool, and posts a lot of poolside and swimming photos and videos on Instagram.

4. She Works Out With Her Husband

Sergi Alexander/Getty Images

VanZant and her husband, fellow MMA fighter, Austin Vanderford, like to workout together. They sometimes will work out with the same coach. VanZant posted this video on Instagram of the couple exercising together. She captioned the video, “Couples who workout together stay together.”

5. She Weight Trains

VanZant is a fan of weight training, and she isn’t afraid to do some heavy lifting. Literally. VanZant posted this video on Instagram of herself lifting a large barbell. She captioned the video, “What’s the weight???;) Getting stronger with coach @evertonvoliviera at @americantopteam.”

6. She Does Yoga

Sergi Alexander/Getty Images

VanZant also does yoga. She posted a series of photos on Instagram of herself doing poses on the beach. She captioned the photo, “Sometimes I do yoga.”

Bruna Lima is a well-known fitness model and a prominent ambassador for the brand FashionNova. With a large social media following, Lima regularly shares her workout routines and fitness tips on Instagram. Recently, she posted a gym selfie on her Instagram story, where she posed in a white cropped hoodie and tan shorts, showcasing her dedication to fitness. Lima’s social media is filled with posts about her lifestyle, including her daily supplement intake, workouts, and overall health journey. She offers insight into her routine, like her commitment to lifting weights and building strength post-pregnancy, without the pressure of rapid weight loss. Lima encourages her followers to give themselves grace as they work toward their fitness goals.

1. She Takes Supplements

Lima likes to take supplements. She shared her favorites in the caption of this Instagram post. “Supplements that I take daily ⬇️@keforma_america is all about quality & so I know I’m getting the best😌1️⃣Collagen- I usually take this first thing in the morning as a shot or in my coffee 😋 2️⃣Pre-workout- The CGT Explosion has creatine & glutamine & gives me such clean energy for my workout. 3️⃣Recovery Mass 2.0 in my water at all times. Helps me recover & build muscle mass. 4️⃣Whey Protein- I have a shake at least once everyday! This powder is sooo tasty and blends perfectly.”

2. She Isn’t Pressuring Herself

When it comes to losing the baby weight, Lima is being consistent. However, that doesn’t mean she’s pressuring herself. Lima shared this video on Instagram of herself in the gym. She captioned the post, “Give yourself grace. Give yourself time 💪🏼11 months and I’m finally starting to notice changes. It takes a lot of consistency, following a structured workout plan, and proper nutrition. Make yourself a priority 🤝”

3. She Lifts Weights

Bruna Lima/Instagram

In the previous blurb’s Instagram video, Lima is seen using weights. In it, she is seen doing squats with a dumbbell and weighted machine and using the leg press machine with a weight. According to The Mayo Clinic, using weights has a lot of benefits. “Strength training can help you manage or lose weight, and it can increase your metabolism to help you burn more calories. Strength training may enhance your quality of life and improve your ability to do everyday activities. Strength training can also protect your joints from injury. Building muscle also can contribute to better balance and may reduce your risk of falls. This can help you maintain independence as you age.”

4. She Works Her Lower Body

Lima has amazing legs. Naturally, this means that she doesn't skip leg day. Lima shared some of her favorite lower body workouts in this Instagram video. In it, she is seen doing leg extensions and leg presses. Lima captioned the post, “The last exercises from today’s lower body day with @treinadorkaka KILLED ME😭 Technique is everythingggg I’ve been putting in work and eating to grow. Can’t wait to see my progress in a few months!”

5. She Works Her Core

Bruna Lima/Instagram

Lima has an impressive figure. She shared some of her favorite core workouts in this Instagram video. Lima is seen doing plank single leg crunches, plank dips, bicycle crunches, leg drops, and single leg crunches in a glute bridge. She captioned the post, “The truth is recovering from pregnancy is way harder than I anticipated. These are the moves that helped restore my core. Try each move for a minute & repeat 3x 🔥” Doing core workouts is extremely important. The Mayo Clinic states, “Core exercises train the muscles in your core to work in harmony. This leads to better balance and steadiness, also called stability. Stability is important whether you're on the playing field or doing regular activities. In fact, most sports and other physical activities depend on stable core muscles.”

Fitness influencer Whitney Simmons is sharing her go-to back and biceps workout with fans and social media followers. Simmons, 31, shared pictures and video of herself wearing leggings and a sports bra, using dumbbells and a cable crossover machine. “🔥LETS PULL IT 🥵 back + biceps coming at you straight from @thealiveapp 💦” she captioned the post. “Yesss, let's get it, girl! This workout lineup is fire 🔥,” commented Alexia Clark. Here’s how the trainer stays fit and focused.

1. Weight Training

Simmons says weight training changed her life—but beginners need a plan. “When I started going to the gym, it was such an intimidating place to be, especially for a beginner," she told Life & Style. “Go into the gym with a plan, and start with something that’s dumbbells only… and take those dumbbells to a place in the gym where you feel more comfortable, and you can start weight training at home as well. Buying a pair of dumbbells and doing a dumbbell-only workout at home or in a safe spot in the gym, whether that’s a classroom or just a corner, is an amazing way to get into it and is less intimidating.”

2. Mental and Physical Happiness

Simmons is proud of her success, which is the result of years of hard work and sacrifice. “I have been sincerely shocked by the impact that I have made on women across the world,” she told Forbes. “We’ve built this amazing community that is full of inspiration chasing after the same goal of finding physical and mental happiness.”

3. Living With Psoriasis

Simmons has psoriasis, which she no longer tries to cover up. “The more severe it got, the more I wanted to cover it,” she told Women’s Health. “I have so many women in my DMs who say, ‘I used to cover every inch of my body at the gym, and now I just don’t care. I am going to wear the shorts.’”

4. Gymshark Line

Simmons has a line with Gymshark, inspired by her own approach to style. “My favorite thing to do is just pop on leggings with a pair of white sneakers,” she told Life & Style. “I love my white sneakers, it’s an unhealthy obsession. I love investing in staple pieces that I can have in my closet for several seasons because they don’t ever go out of style. So I wanted to create a range that was going to be a lot of staples, always going to be something that you can go to for several years to come.”

5. Back and Biceps Workout

Here is that back and biceps workout from Simmons in full:

1️⃣ 3x10 single arm bent over row

2️⃣ 3x8 incline bicep curls

3️⃣ 3x10 cable straight arm pulldown

superset 4️⃣ 10 cable hammer curls

5️⃣ 3x10 lat pulldown