Nina Dobrev in Bathing Suit Shows "Before and After”

Nina Dobrev, star of The Vampire Diaries and Love Hard, is still enjoying her time away with snowboarder Shaun White, who is enjoying his retirement. “Ever wonder what Clay Aiken’s up to? I think about him all the time…” she asked in one Instagram post, as she’s wearing a white bathing suit and covered in white clay at a spa, the Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection, in Costa Rica. In another set of images from the same treatment, Dobrev shared her “Before” and “After” looks. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 6 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 Did a Clay Cleanse

Clay and mud treatments can have multiple benefits. “Mud baths have been around since ancient times," David Harvey, M.D., a dermatologist and Mohs Surgeon at Piedmont, says. "Some people believe mud baths have spiritual properties. They are also thought to relieve stress, joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis and certain skin ailments. Some people use mud baths simply to unwind and relax."

2. She Pays Attention To Her Portions

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"I used to eat three full meals, and then I would not be able to move after each meal. I would be so full and tired," she told Shape. "Now, I eat all the time, but portion control is what's important for me. I'm eating more in total, but not more at a time. I aim to have the size of my thumb in fat, the size of my palm in protein, and then unlimited veggies. I wish I'd learned this in school."

3. She Does Glute Bridges With Tricep Extensions

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Celebrity trainer, Harley Pasternaak, posted this video on Instagram of herself working out at the gym. In the video, Dobrev is seen doing a glute bridge raise with a tricep extension. Pasternaak captioned the video, “One of my favorite Canadians @nina doing my absolute all-time favorite exercise. Butt and arms. What more do you need?”

4. She Eats Until She’s Full

Dobrev says to Women’s Health that she doesn’t undereat or starve herself. In fact, she does the exact opposite, and eats until she’s full. Dobrev says that this approach has helped her feel better. “You’re happier when your body is full. Your brain functions better, and you’re a nicer person. I would get hangry, I think, because I was so busy running around that I wasn’t the best version of myself.”

5. She Starts Her Day With A Shake

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Dobrev broke down some of her favorite healthy meals to Harper’s Bazaar. She revealed that she likes to start her day by making a healthy shake. Dobrev also revealed her favorite recipe, saying, "I make the same shake for breakfast every single morning. Sunwarrior protein powder, the chocolate flavor, half a banana, coconut peanut butter that I have shipped in from Hawaii, almond milk, spinach, kale, and cinnamon.”

6. She Loves To Cook New Recipes With Her Friends

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Dobrev says that her friends are a big part of her wellness routine. She says that she and her friends love to get together and cook new recipes. "When I have a night off, I like to stay home and watch movies and cook with my girlfriends," she tells Harper's Bazaar. "We'll grab one of the cookbooks off my counter and open a random page and do our best to make the recipe, while destroying the kitchen in the process.”

Nina Dobrev is embracing the winter, in a unique way. Dobrev posted a video on Instagram of herself enjoying time in the snow. In the video, she falls backwards while wearing a winter coat. She then pops up in a red bathing suit. She captioned the video, “My version of a meltdown.” How does she stay so fit while having so much fun? Read on to see 5 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 Snowboards

Making funny videos on Instagram is not the only thing Dobrev loves to do in the snow. She is also an avid snowboarder, and has posted photos of her on the slopes on Instagram. Dobrev is also dating professional snowboarder Shaun White, so the two of them might like to board together.

2. She Works Out With Her Friends

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Dobrev says to Harper’s Bazaar that she loves to work out and go to classes with her friends. “Before dinner we often meet up at a Les Mills (fitness) class together - my favorite is Grit - or a dance class, or go to the gym. We'll detox and then retox."

3. She Makes Healthy Smoothies

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Dobrev broke down her favorite meals to Harper’s Bazaar, where she revealed that she has a go-to smoothie recipe. "I make the same shake for breakfast every single morning: Sunwarrior protein powder, the chocolate flavor, half a banana, coconut peanut butter that I have shipped in from Hawaii, almond milk, spinach, kale, and cinnamon.”

4. She Thinks About Portions

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Dobrev revealed to Shape that she is now a lot more conscious about her portion sizes, and that it has helped her stay alert and active. "I used to eat three full meals and then I would not be able to move after each meal. I would be so full and tired. Now, I eat all the time but portion control is what's important for me-I'm eating more in total but not more at a time.”

5. She Strength Trains

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Dobrev also told Shape that she has started to do strength training exercises, and she’s seeing results. "I actually did not do a lot of [strength training] in the past-I only did yoga and ran in terms of training. Strength training with weights and such a regimented schedule has been new to my life, and now that I understand the way it all works, the science behind it, it's changed everything for me.”

Nina Dobrev, star of Love Hard, knows how to have a good time, especially now that she's traveling the world with her boyfriend, legendary snowboarder Shaun White. The two gallivant. She’s currently on vacation in Dubai, and just posted a series of vacation photos. In one, Dobrev slays by the pool in a black bathing suit. She captioned the post, “Dub-hi / Dub-byeeee dump. Don’t challenge us with a good time, we can accomplish ALOT on a 36 hour layover.” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 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 Has A Home Gym

Nina Dobrev/Instagram

During the pandemic, Dobrev had to find a new way to workout. She says that she decided to build a home gym. “One of the things that I realized when the pandemic started was that I used a personal trainer and relied on a lot of outside sources for my fitness -- especially because I used to be so busy traveling and working," Dobrev tells Shape. "But once I was home, I realized I didn't have much [gym equipment] at home so I went into a mad dash."

2. She Enjoys Working Out

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Dobrev spilled some of her workout secrets in an interview with SELF. She says that she works out on a regular basis, and that she doesn’t work out to lose weight. "I work out to feel good. Exercising gives me endorphins and energy. I do it four days a week." "It pumps up your endorphins. Physical activity helps bump up the production of your brain's feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins. Although this function is often referred to as a runner's high, a rousing game of tennis or a nature hike also can contribute to this same feeling," says the Mayo Clinic.

3. She Trains Harder When She Needs To

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Dobrev says she mostly works out to stay healthy and feel better about herself. However, she does want to look good in some outfits on occasion. When those times come up, Dobrev tells SELF that she eats healthier and trains harder. "I have a flat tummy, but I'm not rock hard. If I'm going to be in a bikini, I'll train more and skip desserts for a couple of weeks."

4. She Remembers Where She Came From

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Dobrev makes sure to stay humble, and does so by being connected to her roots. She tells SELF, "Remembering my roots matters to me. We were on a tight budget growing up, and my parents gave so much to get me where I am. Now, at Christmas, I rent a house in the Rockies and take my family snowboarding." "Skiing and snowboarding are thrilling activities and great workouts. Both sports are excellent cardiovascular exercises that strengthen the heart. Because they are also weight-bearing exercises, they strengthen your bones as they tone your muscles," says the University of Rochester. "Cardiovascular or aerobic exercises also work to reduce your risk for chronic diseases, and lower blood pressure. They also help you maintain a healthy body weight. Through regular aerobic exercise like skiing and snowboarding, you lower your risk of developing conditions like diabetes and heart disease, having a stroke, and perhaps even getting cancer."

5. She Loves Yoga

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Dobrev tells SELF that she loves to practice yoga as a way to stay in shape. "Yoga changed my body 100 percent. It tones everything and leans you out. Dancer's pose is amazing. It works every muscle! And you have to focus. If your mind is somewhere else, you'll fall." "A number of studies have shown that yoga may help reduce stress and anxiety. Yoga can enhance your mood and overall sense of well-being. Yoga might also help you manage your symptoms of depression and anxiety that are due to difficult situations," says the Mayo Clinic.

Actress Nina Dobrev has been seen in a swimsuit this season—whether it’s due to friends sharing photos of her as birthday wishes, her posing in the snow (in a red bathing suit!), or in a new post, from her friend Keleigh Sperry Teller. “Health and wellness guru Nina,” a photo of Dobrev and others in bathing suits was captioned, along with a drink emoji. What are Dobrev’s secrets to staying so fit? Read on to see 5 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 Prioritizes Her Happiness

Keleigh Teller/Instagram

After leaving The Vampire Diaries, Dobrev told Women’s Health that she always tried to prioritize her happiness in life. “I was like, ‘Why am I here? What am I doing? Is it making me happy? What can I do to make me happier?’”

2. She Does Something Different Each Day

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To stay in shape, Dobrev does a lot of different types of workouts. In fact, she says that she aims to do a different workout each day, and that it is paying off. “Doing something different [each day] has been the most fun, and I’ve seen the most benefit because you shock your system,” she told Women’s Health.

3. She Built A Home Gym

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Dobrev previously did a majority of her workouts outside, at the gym, or with a trainer. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to rethink her workouts. “Once I was home, I realized I didn't have much [gym equipment] at home so I went into a mad dash,” she says to Shape. Dobrev then built a home gym, so she could still workout while the gyms were closed. "I'm really proud of my home gym, I use it a lot," she says. "It's really nice to have that flexibility of working out, whether it's really early in the morning before I got to set, or really late a night when I get home from set, or after a long flight."

4. She Makes Healthy Shakes

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Dobrev tells HollywoodLife that she likes to make a healthy shake in the morning, and shared her recipe. “I’m a bit of a creature of habit so every single day after my workout, I make a shake. It’s a delicious coconut peanut butter from Hawaii — this brand called North Shore Goodies, their peanut butter, you can only get it there, you have to ship it, and it’s really expensive but its worth it, I swear! I put that with chocolate protein powder, spinach, 1/2 a banana, almond milk, ice, water and cinnamon. It tastes like a milkshake and feels like you’re cheating, but you’re not!”

5. She Eats Every Two Hours

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When it comes to her diet, Dobrev says that she always tries to have something to eat every two hours, and that this helps with her metabolism. “There was a period of time that I was working with a trainer, who told me you have to eat every two hours, so that your metabolism keeps working,” she explains to Harper’s Bazaar.