1. Lots Of Protein
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Rodriguez’s diet is very protein focused, which helps to build muscle and burn fat. “I eat a lot of free-range chicken,” she says. “I eat a lot of salads. I gravitate towards broccoli, spinach, beets — beets are great. As far as sustenance goes, I feel I need that protein like fish or chicken to give me the boost."
2. Building Muscle
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Rodriguez says she “chiseled” her body for her role in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. "Lots of push-ups, lots of sit ups," she says. "There's lots of lifting weights. During COVID you could get lots of frustration so I kind of got [producer] Jeremy [Latcham] to hook me up with a punching bag by my trailer. That helped a lot with the stressful days. I had a blast training. I gained about a good 10 pounds of muscle for it."
3. Marine Warfare Training
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Rodriguez went to boot camp to train for her role in Battle: Los Angeles, to the admiration of fellow actor Jessica Alba. “I want to know: Who sculpted that body?” Alba once told Rodriguez. “‘She doesn’t have any cellulite, not an ounce of fat! What is going on?'” Rodriguez explained, “I was in boot camp before that. I had three weeks of intensive Marine warfare training.”
4. Running and Jump Rope
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Rodriguez is known for playing tough characters—and sculpting her body into whatever the role requires. “It was intense — just imagine waking up every morning, running for 2 ½ miles, then after that (you) jump rope for a half hour, then after that you’re moving around in the ring,” she says of her preparation for Girlfight. “You get out, you hit the speed bag … and you spar, and then after that, you’re doing calisthenics. While you’re doing the sit-ups you’ve got this 20-pound sand ball thrown on your stomach.”
5. Weight Training
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Rodriguez’s trainer Magnus Lygdbäck says he focused on weight lifting to encourage the actress to put on 20 pounds of muscle. Lygdbäck trained Rodriguez for an hour a day five days a week, and included cardio and core exercises. "The scale went up 20 pounds and she didn't gain fat," Lygdbäck said.
6. Healthy Diet
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Rodriguez enjoys eggs or a protein smoothie for breakfast, then another protein smoothie, chicken salad, or more eggs three hours after that. Lunch usually consists of quality protein such as fish, chicken, or beef, and she makes sure to include lots of vegetables in her diet, complex carbs, and healthy fats from nuts or avocado. "[Avocados are] packed with good fats and fiber, which means they help you stay full longer," says Charlotte Roberts, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with Cedars-Sinai. "They're also a great source of vitamins."
7. Fighting Workouts
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Rodriguez has specific training for fight sequences, such as in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. “The biggest one was the Holga fight, which you see a little bit of in the trailer,” she says. “I worked with the team for a month, just developing and fine tuning the sequence. They did a wonderful job, training five people to do their sequences, and shooting at the same time.”
