Gymnast Shawn Johnson in Two-Piece Workout Gear "Had to Try This One"
Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson continues to inspire with her dedication to fitness, family, and a balanced lifestyle. The former gymnastics star, who captivated audiences at the 2008 Olympics and later dazzled on Dancing With the Stars, recently posted a playful video with her husband, Andrew East, on Instagram, captioned "Had to try this one." Known for her strong work ethic, Johnson maintains her athleticism through daily stretches and high-intensity interval training (HIIT), sharing with The New Potato, "Gymnastics literally uses every muscle you have." Her balanced approach extends to her diet, with an emphasis on moderation, and staying active with her kids, proving that fitness can be both functional and fun for this legendary athlete.
She Stretches
Johnson tells The New Potato that she does a lot of stretching before she works out. "Gymnastics literally uses every muscle you have," she said. "I stretch every part of my body before tumbling in the gym, beginning with a simple cat stretch. Before running I always stretch my hamstrings so that I won't cramp up while running long distances."
She Eats Healthy
Johnson makes sure to eat healthy. She shared her favorite foods in an interview with The New Potato. "Before my workouts I usually drink a protein smoothie with a piece of fruit," she said. "After my workouts I eat anything from a PB&J to grilled chicken. I always start my day with a cup of coffee and playtime with my dog, Nash. My go-to breakfast would be an egg white omelet, toast with Smucker's strawberry jam, and green tea."
She Believes In Moderation
Johnson shared her approach to eating in an interview with Parade. "I think we live in a world of extremes, especially when it comes to the health and food industry. It's not sustainable," Johnson said. "Even working with nutritionists when I was competing—they were like, 'Let's be real, you're 13. You're going to eat ice cream and chocolate. You can indulge and have fun. Everything in moderation.'"
She Does HIIT
Johnson tells Parade that she likes to do HIIT to stay in shape. "After I retired, I felt like there was this trend where everyone said you had to run to lose weight, and I very quickly learned that was false," she explains. "Intervals and changing up your routine and your workouts is really fun. I went full circle and went back to the gymnastics mentality. I do everything now and it keeps everything stimulating and exciting."
She Plays With Her Kids
Johnson tells Parade that one of her favorite ways to stay in shape is doing things with her kids. "We'll jump on the trampoline or go for bike rides," she says. "For any other busy moms out there: Allow yourself to be a kid and know that's also a workout. Going for a bike ride, playing in the driveway, jumping rope. As adults, we live with this mindset that if we don't go on the treadmill we're not working out. That's not the case."
