Paige VanZant trains for a living, and her stunning physique is proof of the hard work she puts in. The 28-year-old wrestler posted a photo of herself wearing a black bikini as she leaned on a window sill, captioning the shot “🤍IDK.” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways VanZant 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 Lifts Weights
VanZant loves to lift weights as part of her training schedule. “Such exercises improve glucose metabolism, enhance maintenance of healthy body weight, and help improve cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure,” says I-Min Lee, professor of epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “All these factors lead to lower risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, which lowers mortality risk.”
2. She Loves Chicken
VanZant loves her protein—especially chicken. “The fact that chicken breast is a good protein source means it can help support muscle growth with the right nutrition and exercise plan,” says dietician Yan Yin Phoi. “This is relevant whether you’re hitting the gym to bulk up, or trying to reduce muscle losses that come with old age. If you’re doing resistance exercise, consuming the right amount of protein helps to stimulate muscle growth. This may be in the form of chicken breast.”
3. She Swims
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VanZant enjoys incorporating swimming into her workout regimen. “Swimming works the heart and lungs,” says Harvard Health. “This trains the body to use oxygen more efficiently, which is generally reflected in declines in the resting heart rate and breathing rate. It uses the arms, the legs, and other muscle groups in between. This improves muscle strength and flexibility.”
4. She Jumps Rope
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VanZant loves to jump rope, which is a great aerobic exercise. “Aerobic exercise and resistance training are the most important for heart health,” says Johns Hopkins exercise physiologist Kerry J. Stewart, Ed.D. “Although flexibility doesn’t contribute directly to heart health, it’s nevertheless important because it provides a good foundation for performing aerobic and strength exercises more effectively.”
5. She Has a Healthy Body Image
Vanzant has been open about her past battles with eating disorders, and hopes others will be inspired by her story. "I was having different issues with myself and my body," VanZant told BBC News. "I was giving myself an eating disorder to make the weight." Vanzant went down to 115 lbs, which was too much considering her normal weight is 135 lbs. "I recently went up to the flyweight division which is 10lbs (4.5kg) heavier, which is a huge difference,” she says. "I was at a fight where a fellow UFC fighter, Uriah Hall, was cutting weight and he pushed himself just to the brink of death. He had kidney failure and started seizing in the hallway right in front of me. It's because of that I'm like 'I can’t do this anymore'."
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