C.J. Perry in Bathing Suit Says "You Stole My Heart"
C.J. Perry is falling in love with Puerto Rico – in her bathing suit. The Total Divas star declares her appreciation for the island nation in one of her latest social media posts, having fun in the sun in her swimsuit. "#PuertoRico 🇵🇷 you stole my ❤️ #Thankyou @hoteltonight @condadovanderbilt for the amazing experience," she captioned the Instagram post shared with her millions of followers. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 6 ways C.J. Perry 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!
She Gave Up Veganism
C.J. used to follow a meat and animal product-free diet, but had to ditch it when she started wrestling in 2013. "When I was a vegan, I was 15 lbs lighter than I am now," she told WomensHealthMag.com. "I was too light. It's not safe to wrestle like that. I needed more meat on my body."
She Eats a Lot of Protein
In order to bulk up, C.J. eats lots of protein, usually from animal sources like meat and eggs. She starts her day with five eggs at breakfast with some oatmeal, at least half of an avocado, and some tomato. "I have to have protein and carbs," she says.
She Limits Dairy
C.J. continues packing in the protein for lunch. An average mid-day meal for her would be steak or fish with a side of sweet potatoes and veggies. If she is on the road she might order a burrito bowl at Chipotle: brown rice, pinto beans, chicken, a double-serving of fajita onions and peppers, guacamole, salsa, and cilantro. However, she always skips cheese and sour cream. "I LOVE cheese," she told Women's Health. "Feta cheese is my kryptonite." However, she tries to limit how much cheese she eats because it can be constipating. "I'd rather get my fat from the avocado," she adds.
She Eats Protein-Packed Snacks
C.J. continues packing in protein throughout the day. "I always have a protein shake after my workout," CJ says. "I love a good Quest bar," she adds. "If you heat it up in the microwave it literally tastes like a brownie."
She Eats Protein at Dinner
Steak or salmon paired with a carb like sweet potatoes or brown rice with lots of veggies is C.J.'s go-to dinner. Her favorite veggies are squash, green beans, and grilled red peppers but she also loves salad. "Growing up in Russia, we'd have salads that have a lot of fresh tomatoes, cucumber, dill, onion, and olive oil with feta cheese, olives, and lemon. That's literally my favorite salad," she told Women's Health.
She Loves Sweets
"I am more of a dessert person," CJ says. "I don't have a cheat day. If I really want an Oreo before I go out and wrestle, I'm going to have it and it's going to be fine," C.J. told Women's Health. She loves ice cream, especially chocolate or mint chocolate chip with hot fudge sauce. "My husband is Bulgarian and his mom makes this delicious thing called banitsa made with phyllo and cheese and it's just so delicious, I could eat the whole pan."
