Laia Sanz is training hard – in her workout gear. In a new social media post the motorcycle racer shows off her super fit figure in a two-piece exercise set while getting her body ready for her sport. “A bit about my trainings this week,” she captioned the Instagram post. How does she approach diet, fitness, and self-care? Here is everything you need to know about her lifestyle habits.
HIIT Workouts
Laia is a fan of HIIT workouts – high intensity interval training.. “I want to do quality sessions, meaning they don’t have to be very long. I do high-intensity series of 60-70 minutes, with very short stops in between exercises so I keep a pretty high heart rate,” she told Clubs 1. “A Dakar bike is very demanding, so I have to focus on all areas: the legs – as you get up and down a lot – but also the arms and back, core strength… All body parts are very important.” There is lots of research backing up the benefits of HIIT workouts, including body fat reduction, improved cardiovascular function, and mental health. It is also time effective.
The “Scarecrow” Exercise
Sanz maintains that “The Scarecrow” is her standout exercise. “I started doing it when I was riding in trials. I have to do small jumps while I push a weight to the front and up. It is pretty intense as I use the arms, back and legs,” she told Clubs 1.
Hiking
Laia enjoys hiking during her downtime. “Nature, friends & sport,” she captioned a post. According to the National Parks Service, the physical benefits of hiking include:
- Building stronger muscles and bones
- Improving your sense of balance
- Improving your heart health
- Decreasing the risk of certain respiratory problems
Fueling Up with Food
Laia fuels up with food and has to plan ahead. “It’s very difficult to eat when you have to wake up every day at 3 am. But it’s key for me now. I make small sandwiches and I take bars, nuts and fruits with me. I have it all in my jacket and I eat during the day, before the start and when refuelling,” she says.
Cycling
She also rides bikes and motorbikes regularly. “On my motorbike, I tend to do two one-hour series, but it depends on where I am and what’s the terrain like.” The Cleveland Clinic explains that biking, a low-impact aerobic exercise, is great for building muscle, improving strength and flexibility, and improving balance. It can also boost mental health and help other health conditions, including arthritis.
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