Badminton star Carolina Marin is known for her tough attitude and incredible work ethic. All that hard work clearly pays off though—Marin has a muscular physique even most athletes would be envious of. The 29-year-old posted a series of photos of herself wearing a bright red swimsuit, posing with a parrot and in front of a beautiful waterfall. “Dreams come true ✨,” she captioned the post. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Marin 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 Prioritizes Training
Marin says her athletic schedule makes it difficult to have a social life. “My life is really hard, nobody can understand how tough it is,” she says. “For example, when I met my boyfriend, the first thing I told him was about my tough life because he has to understand. All of my friends, they too understand... I don't have too much time to be with them. I cannot go outside in the evening because I have to sleep early, I have to rest and be ready for training the next morning. These are the rules for my friends, my boyfriend and all the people who are around me.”
2. She Eats a Healthy Diet
Marin doesn’t diet, but she is sensible about what she eats. “At the Olympic village, there was an ice cream parlor. And a lot of players ate there,” she says. “I couldn't believe it, as at that time they were in competition. So the day after I won, I ate one ice cream, but never during the time when my event was going on. My diet is generally not very strict. I know what I have to eat, chicken, protein, a bit of carbohydrates. I know exactly what I have to eat. Things like cake, ice cream are not part of the menu.”
3. Yogurt for a Snack
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Marin enjoys healthy yogurt for a snack on the go. “Yogurt offers many health benefits, particularly yogurt that contains live, active bacteria known as probiotics,” says Nutrition and Wellness Educator Jenna Smith. “Probiotics are the ‘good bacteria’ that help maintain a healthy digestive system. Yogurt is a rich source of calcium, which aids in building strong bones and teeth. It also provides protein, which is supplied in even greater amounts in Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is yogurt that has been strained, thereby doubling the protein content, and producing a thicker texture.”
4. She Drinks Aloe Juice
Marin enjoys the many health benefits of aloe juice. “Aloe is an unassuming plant,” says registered dietitian Beth Czerwony, RD. “It doesn’t really look like it’s all that special. But it can actually provide a lot of benefits. Many people having muscle aches are often low in calcium and magnesium. Drinking aloe vera juice could replenish these if your diet is low in them.”
5. She Trains Hard
Marin says she never stops training, and people can’t imagine how much work goes into it. “Nobody can imagine how tough my training is,” she says. “My team (coach, trainer, physiotherapist and mental coach) know of course. Maybe my family knows a bit too. But they cannot imagine how hard I train. They live in my hometown and I live in Madrid. I cannot tell you my training details though.”
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