Nina Dobrev just enjoyed a “Saturday sunrise” from a hot tub. She deserves the break. Dobrev has been jetting around the world—to the Olympic Games, in support of her partner, legendary snowboarder Shaun White, and then to the Super Bowl and now on social—all this while making movies like Love Hard and Redeeming Love. How does she stay so fit while keeping so busy? Read on to see 7 ways Nina Dobrev 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 Does Pilates
“I love Pilates. It makes me feel so good. I go to a studio and/or I have a reformer at home and zoom with my private instructor,” she told The Thirty. Pilates help work your core. Strong abdominal muscles are critical for everything from helping you retain correct posture to protecting you from back injury to making you look sweet in a sweater. In fact, if you were going to work only one body part, that might be the one. Speaking od celebs: Hugh Jackman—the actor who became a fitness icon by playing Wolverine in the X-Men movies—told a story about how he wrecked his back playing sports as a teenager. He had grown really tall really fast, and one day he leapt up to catch a ball and tore a series of muscles along his spine. And what he learned from that experience was to always focus on having a strong core foundation—stronger abs lead to a stronger body, period.
2. She Juices
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“When I’m sick or not feeling great, I’m all about the juices," Dobrev told Well+Good. "It seems like the worse the taste, the better it is for you, so I do ginger, garlic, cayenne pepper, oregano oil—ugh, double ugh— lemon, everything.” Add some aromatics to everything you eat. Adding fresh herbs and spices is an easy way to get the message to our brains that we’re being amply fed—and to take it easy at the dinner table. The smell of a rich plate of food can make your mouth water, but it can also help your belly melt. A study in the journal Flavour found participants ate significantly less of a dessert that smelled strongly of vanilla than the same dessert with a more mild scent.
3. She Jumpstarts Her Day With Coffee
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“First thing I do is make coffee. A strong coffee with almond milk. That and cuddle Maverick,” she told The Thirty. Coffee is the number one source of polyphenols in the American diet, and its caffeine boost doesn’t hurt, either: In a study in the journal Physiology & Behavior, a 3 to 4 percent increase in metabolic rate was measured in subjects after just a single 100 mg dose of caffeine—a little less than what you’ll find in a cup of coffee. Just enjoy your brews without sugar or artificial sweeteners, both of which play havoc with your body and bury your abs.
4. She Drinks Collagen Peptides
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Along with celebs like Jennifer Aniston and Addison Rae, Dobrev adds collagen peptides to her smoothies and shakes. “Taking a collagen supplement is supposed to improve the elasticity of your skin—in fact, a study published in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology found that those who took collagen peptides once daily for eight weeks showed a significant improvement in skin's elasticity,” says our sister site Eat This, Not That! “As someone who is approaching 30 and constantly stressing over crow's feet and forehead wrinkles, I was hoping collagen would help smooth out some of these signs of aging.”
5. She Built a Home Gym During the Pandemic
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Having a place where you feel fit and comfortable is important to working out. Strength training is an essential part of any wellness plan. The more muscle you build, the more fat you’ll burn—all day, every day, even when you’re asleep—and the better chance you’ll have of giving your abs a front-row seat. To do that, you need to work the most muscle tissue you can at the highest intensity possible. Think of exercise as an investment: if you were trying to figure out where to park your money, you’d want to pour the most into the investment that gives the highest yield. Same thing for your workout—put the most effort into the muscles that have the most tissue, and therefore the best opportunity for growth. And let’s face it, your abdominal muscles are never going to be as big as, say, your behind.
6. She Loves Her Dog
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Dobrev mentioned her dog Maverick. “Pets can reduce work-related stress. Two out of three employees say work stresses them out, and 40% say their job gets in the way of their health. Studies show that pets in the workplace reduce stress and improve employee satisfaction,” says the Mayo Clinic. “Pets help manage anxiety. Up to 30% of the workforce could be working from home multiple days per week by the end of 2021, according to Global Workplace Analytics. So, now more than ever, people are struggling with mental health. Pets provide companionship and support.”
7. She Drinks, and Makes, “Clean” Wine
With Julienne Hough, Dobrev runs the clean-wine brand Fresh Vine Wine. They are low-calorie, low-carb, low-sugar, and gluten-free. It recently expanded its distribution to Michigan. The wines “embody deeper connection with active lifestyles,” says Janelle Anderson, the CEO.