MMA Stunner Julianna Peña in Tight Athletic Apparel is 'Gettin Some Work In'

Follow Your Passions

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Julianna discusses how she ended up in MMA. “When I was 19 years old, my sister asked me to join a women’s cardio kickboxing class with her and I needed to lose some weight, so I joined the class. It came naturally to me and I wanted to explore it more. I immediately fell in love with it. And when I eventually started winning fights, the joy combined with the rush of winning solidified my obsession for MMA,” she told Athleisure Magazine.

Eat Protein and Carbs Before Exercising

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Properly fueling up before and after a workout “is a key factor” in muscle development, explains Julianna. “Eating foods that keep my blood sugar levels consistent throughout my workout has also been a key aspect of increasing endurance. As a rule, my preworkout meals are always prepared with protein and low-to-medium GI [glycemic index] carbohydrates,” she told ESPN. She usually makes a chicken breast with roasted sweet potatoes, caramelized onions and garlic broccoli and eats it 60 to 90 minutes prior to exercising.

Go for a Run

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Julianna recommends running “I love to run. All my workouts are what I do for and in camp,” she says. Why should you pound pavement? The Mayo Clinic maintains that running is great for cardiovascular health, muscle building, and weight loss. “For every mile run, the average person will burn approximately 100 calories,” they say.

Lift Weights

Strength training is also great, per Julianna. Aside from running, “strength/conditioning/lifting weights are others that I do. I train 2-3 times a day except on Sundays when I’m not in camp. I train MMA a few times a week but not nearly at the pace I do while I’m at camp,” she told the magazine. The Mayo Clinic adds that strength and weight training help reduce body fat, preserve and increase lean muscle mass, and burn calories more efficiently. Strength training may also help you:

• Develop strong bones
• Manage your weight
• Enhance your quality of life
• Manage chronic conditions
• Sharpen your thinking skills

Swim

Julianna also has a favorite aquatic workout. “I love to swim,” she says. Swimming is a good way to get regular aerobic physical activity, according to the CDC. Just two and a half hours per week of aerobic physical activity, such as swimming, bicycling, or running, can decrease the risk of chronic illnesses. In addition to the many physical benefits, there are multiple studies supporting the mental health benefits of swimming as well.

Do Yoga

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Another one of her go-to workouts is “yoga if I get the time,” she adds. Harvard Health cites the many benefits of getting your zen on. “Researchers found that people who practiced yoga for at least 30 minutes once a week for at least four years, gained less weight during middle adulthood,” they said. “People who were overweight actually lost weight. Overall, those who practiced yoga had lower body mass indexes (BMIs) compared with those who did not practice yoga. Researchers attributed this to mindfulness. Mindful eating can lead to a more positive relationship with food and eating.”