Kim Kardashian in Bathing Suit Does a "Niteswim"
Kim Kardashian has been in the headlines recently, due to the behavior of her ex, but she's now making headlines on her own, posing in a magically blue pool in a swimsuit with the moon shining above her. "Niteswim," she captioned the image. How does Kim stay so fit while keeping so busy? Read on to see 5 ways Kim Kardashian 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 Eats Mostly Plant-Based
"I live a healthy life and try to eat as plant based as possible and drink sea moss smoothies," she told Poosh. Plant-based protein powders are a low-sugar, high-fiber alternative to popular dairy-based supplements. A study by the University of Tampa that compared plant protein to whey found it to be equally as effective at changing body composition and boosting muscle recovery and growth. But with less sugar and a healthier fat profile, plant-based proteins will also improve your gut health at the same time as they're fueling your muscles. Hemp, rice, and pea proteins are all good options; however, you'll want to ensure you're getting a complete protein with a full amino acid profile, which is why a blend that combines all three is superior.
She Doesn't Skip Workouts
Kim, no matter how busy she is, makes time for working out, often posting selfies doing it in the early AM. "When it comes to booty and legs, we usually work out for an hour and a half to an hour and 45 minutes," Kim's trainer Melissa Alcantara told Women's Health. "You want to work out efficiently and be smart about it." Try workouts are built on the concept of metabolic circuits, a combination of cardio and resistance training that strengthens the whole body while also burning as many calories as possible. Each should be balanced to ensure that you work complementary muscle groups, giving one set of muscles a thorough workout, then letting them rest as you work a very different muscle group.
She Eats Some Carbs Before a Workout
"My trainer Mel always says that before and after you train, you should eat simple carbs, like sweet potatoes, and small amounts of fat and protein, like chicken. You should also have veggies with your meals, since you need them to help effectively break down and absorb your protein, fat, and carbs," Kim once said. Before a workout? Great. Before bed? No. Metabolism decreases up to 35 percent during sleep. That means that any extra carbs in your system at bedtime are more likely to get converted to glucose and then stored as fat.
She Does Weight Training
The barbell is the most basic piece of equipment in what gym rats call progressive resistance training but most folks call weight lifting. Nothing could be simpler than a bar with weights slipped over its ends, but it's the barbell's simple elegance that makes it such an invaluable device for exercising the body. Do a workout that utilizes only a barbell to work not only the entire body directly but the abdominals indirectly, too. Try not to rest between two exercises in each superset, but a one-minute rest between each superset and a two-minute rest between circuits.
Working Out in the AM Can Be Great For You
"Her schedule is crazy, and mine is also crazy, so we work out really early in the morning at 6 a.m.," says Alcantara. More and more studies have shown that "fasted" exercise—meaning a workout before breakfast—is a more effective fat-burner than exercise later in the day. The key is to do a light workout before you eat anything—no latte, no Gatorade, no Luna bar or apple or "something small." Once you eat, you give your body a boost of glycogen—the energy that powers your day. So now when you go to exercise, you need to burn off that glycogen before you start to touch your fat stores. But work out before you eat, and your burn will come primarily from fat. A study from Northumbria University found that people burn up to 20 percent more body fat by exercising in the morning on an empty stomach.
She Keeps Her Chin Up
Kim shared a workout photo of herself last week, in the midst of her tabloid turmoil. "Chin up or the crown slips," she captioned it. She's clearly confident. Are you? "Your initial thoughts might not be the only way to view a situation — so test the accuracy of your thoughts. Ask yourself whether your view is consistent with facts and logic or whether other explanations for the situation might be plausible," says the Mayo Clinic. "Be aware that it can be hard to recognize inaccuracies in thinking. Long-held thoughts and beliefs can feel normal and factual, even though many are just opinions or perceptions."
