Sydney Sweeney in Two-Piece Workout Gear Looks Unrecognizable as "Christy Martin"

Sydney Sweeney is getting into character in workout clothes. In a new social media post the actress flexes her guns while revealing to her followers that her next role is as Christy Martin, a former boxer. “Over the past few months, I've been immersed in training to bring to life the story of an incredible woman—a true champion who fought battles both inside and outside the ring. Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and hope, and I’m honored to step into her shoes to share her powerful story with you all,” she captioned the Instagram photos. How does she approach diet, fitness, and self-care?

1. Water Skier

Water skiing has been a hobby of Sydney’s since the “moment I could walk,” she told Women’s Health. “It’s my favorite.” In terms of physical benefits, “It’s a lot of upper body strength, it’s balance, it’s core, it’s legs—you get tired really fast,” she says. “I see such a change in my body after an entire summer of [skiing]. My arms are stronger, more sculpted. My abs are rock solid. But I never look at it as a workout because it is so much fun,” she said.

2. Hydration

Sweeney told the Hollywood Reporter that she only drinks water and that she has never even tried coffee and doesn’t drink alcohol. “If I’m celebrating, or it’s a very rare occasion, I’ll have a Shirley Temple,” she said. According to the Mayo Clinic, hydration is important for a variety of reasons. Water helps get rid of waste through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements, keeps your temperature normal, lubricates and cushions joints, and helps protect sensitive tissues.

3. Martial Arts

“I’m trained in mixed martial arts,” Sydney told Marie Claire. “I started when I was 14 and did my first competition at 18. It was a grappling competition against all guys a weight category above me, and I got first place. Those guys were probably saying, ‘Oh, we didn’t want to hurt her,’ but they were definitely trying. Everyone broke a sweat!” Studies confirm that the practice helps with balance, cognitive function and psychological health in addition to weight loss and physical fitness.

4. Reading

“I love to paint, and I love to read,” she said. “Those are the activities that are just for me.” Why should you pick up a book? According to a Harvard study published in Social Science & Medicine, people who read books regularly had a 20% lower risk of dying over the next 12 years compared with people who weren't readers or who read periodicals.

5. Try New Workout Classes

Sydney also enjoys dabbling in new workouts. In a recent post she reveals that she has been doing the solidcore workout, calling it “the most insane workout ever.” The pilates-based method is a low-impact, high intensity workout. According to the Mayo Clinic there are lots of benefits to the workout, as it “strengthens the body's inner core while increasing its flexibility resulting in improved overall health.” It can also promote longer, leaner muscles, injury prevention, relief from stress and back pain, enhanced athletic performance, and heightened mind-body awareness.