Valentina Shevchenko in Workout Gear Says Hi From Antigua and Barbuda

Valentina Shevchenko is known for being an MMA Fighter. She recently took a trip to Antigua and Barbuda. Shevchenko shared some photos from the trip on Instagram. In them, she posed by a historical cannon and took in the scenery. Shevchenko wore blue workout gear, looking stunning. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Valentina Shevchenko stays in shape and the photos that prove they work.

1. She’s Focused

Shutterstock

Shevchenko shared her approach to fights with Yahoo Sports. She says that she makes sure to be focused. “The most important how-- as a definition of the champion and the average fighter-- how you can control your emotion. If you can turn it into the way you have to. You have to really focus, and do your best in the training, in your job, in everything. This is like defying you as a fighter, defining you as a person. But if you're thinking, oh, looks like my body is not ready today, looks like my mind is ready. I better go do something else. This is your definition. This is really like say like what type of fighter you are.”

2. She Doesn’t Set Goals

Shevchenko tells Yahoo Sports that she doesn’t like to set goals. “You know I kind of feel that when the person tries to set goals like and follows his goals, it's just like it's not good. It's not good for the internal feeling that one can have. Because you have this pressure and you are thinking, oh no, I have to rush in some way, or I have to do that, I have to like another thing. And if something is not going as they planned, they are so frustrated. They try and do crazy things. They're starting to act like, literally, like you're thinking like, what they are doing. It's not how it's supposed to be. And that's why I don't like it. I don't like to set goals.”

3. She Makes Sure To Train

Shevchenko shared how she makes sure to still train when she doesn’t want to with Yahoo Sports. “You know, during the training camp it's very hard. It's very hard. Recently I was asked, ‘When is the last time you feel that you don't want to train, that you're waking up in the morning and you don't want to train?’ And I say that this is like a very common feeling during the training camp because it's hard. And really, you are kind of like, oh no, but then you like starting to understand and your mind take it over because it's like saying you have to train because you are prepared for the important fight. It's a normal thing that's happening.”

4. She Knows What She Wants

Shevchenko knows what she wants. She tells Yahoo Sports that this helps her with fights. “It's like knowing what I want. What is number one for me. And to be able to get rid from all unnecessary things, and like to focus only one thing that's really important, to be successful in martial arts, to be dominated as a fighter. And just to prepare for each fight is if it's my best fight.”

5. She Hikes

Shevchenko enjoys going on hikes. She shared these photos on Instagram of herself hiking the Pacific Coast Highway. Ace Fitness states that hiking has a lot of benefits. “Being in nature decreases anxiety and includes some benefits such as an increase in cognition and affect, or feelings and emotions. Being in nature may also provide the opportunity to be more mindful and present to the moment you’re experiencing, which has been shown to reduce stress and blood pressure.”

Valentina Shevchenko, the MMA Fighter, is the UFC 275 winner. And she celebrated by breaking out her bathing suit. In a recent photo on her Instagram story, Shevchenko sat by the pool. She wore a pink bikini, looking amazing. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Valentina Shevchenko 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 Recovers

Valentina Shevchenko/Instagram

Being a UFC fighter, Shevchenko has to be in shape. Her schedule is extremely intense, and it can take a toll on her body. She tells Women’s Health that she makes sure to save her energy and makes time to recover. "My trainings are super intensive and super difficult," she says. "That's why you try to save your energy as much as you can."

2. She Goes Outside

Presley Ann/Getty Images

Shevchenko makes time for herself. She revealed what her go-to way to recover was to Women’s Health. “Just being in nature,” she said. “Recharging enough to get back."

3. She Eats A Balanced Diet

Shutterstock

Shevchenko, being an athlete, has to watch what she eats. However, she tells Women’s Health that she believes in balance, and isn’t super restrictive with food. "I can eat everything," she says. "But I think the main idea is balance."

4. She Does Partner Weight Work

Josh Hedges/Getty Images

Shevchenko does use weights when she works out, however, it’s not in the traditional way. She tells Women’s Health that she does partner work with weights. "You do the same as working with weights, but something that actually will work good for you in a fight," she says. "It's hard work and nonstop.”

5. She Does Neck Exercises

Hans Gutknecht/Getty Images

Shevchenko keeps her whole body in shape. Including her neck. She posted this video on Instagram of herself doing neck exercises. She captioned the video, “Some more neck exercises in combination with bridges and sprawls.” "To prevent or reduce stiffness and pain, try simple neck stretches throughout the day," says the Mayo Clinic. "For the first stretch, lower your chin to your chest while keeping your shoulders nice and straight. Hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds. You'll feel tension in the back of your neck. Relax and slowly lift your chin to the starting position. Next, rotate your head to one side while keeping your shoulders nice and straight. Hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds. You'll feel tension in the side of your neck and your shoulder. Relax and slowly return to the starting position. Turn your head to the other side and repeat the stretch. Next, tilt your head so that you're moving your ear toward your shoulder. Don't bring your shoulder up to your ear. Hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds. You'll feel tension in the side of your neck. Relax and slowly return to the starting position. Tilt your head to the other side and repeat the stretch."

Valentina Shevchenko is an extremely successful fighter. Her skills have even landed her role in the film Bruised. Shevchenko has been posting a lot of vacation highlights on her Instagram recently. In a new photo, Shevchenko posed by the lake at sunset. She wore a dark green bikini with paisley patterns. She captioned the photo, “Issyk Kul lake.” Read on to see 5 ways Valentina Shevchenko 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 Horseback Rides

Mike Roach/Getty Images

Shevchenko loves to spend time outside. She shares a lot of outdoor photos on Instagram. One thing she likes to do is go horseback riding. She shared this reel of herself going for a ride. She also shared this set of photos of herself going for a ride to celebrate Kyrgyzstan’s Independence Day. Shevchenko posted this reel of herself going for a ride on her recent vacation, captioning it, “Mountains of Issyk Kul lake. Kyrgyzstan. September 2022.”

2. She Hikes

Presley Ann/Getty Images

Another outdoor activity Shevchenko likes to do to stay in shape is going on hikes. She did a lot of hiking on her recent trip, and shared a bunch of highlights on Instagram. Shevchenko posted this set of photos of herself hiking in the mountains and by the lake. She also shared this set of photos of herself hiking in Lake Issyk-Kul, captioning it, “Amazing nature of Kyrgyzstan.” Shevchenko also shared these photos of herself hiking with friends, captioning it, “Mountains of Issyk Kul lake.”

3. She Does Partner Work As A Form Of Strength Training

Jeff Bottari/Getty Images

Being a fighter, you might think that Shevchenko does a lot of weight training to stay in shape. However, you’d be wrong. Shevchenko tells Women’s Health that she does a lot of partner work for her strength training, as it helps her in the ring. "You do the same as working with weights, but something that actually will work good for you in a fight," she says.

4. She Prioritizes Her Recovery

Chris Unger/Getty Images

Shevchenko’s career requires a lot of physicality, which can take a toll on her body. She tells Women’s Health that she prioritizes her down time, and uses it to recover. "My trainings are super intensive and super difficult," she says. "That's why you try to save your energy as much as you can." Shevchenko says that she likes to spend time outside and go to a physical therapist as a way to recover.

5. She Learns A Lot Of Martial Arts

Naturally, Shevchenko does a lot of martial arts. She tells Women’s Health that she learns a lot of different forms. "Fighters, they have to know how to box, have to know how to kick, how to wrestle, how to grapple, everything," she says. "They have to do it, not just okay, they have to do it in perfection. For me, martial arts, it's kind of [the] same as religion, because you have to believe in what you are doing and your temple is your dream.”

Valentina Shevchenko is showing off her powerful physique in her two-piece workout gear. In a recent Instagram post, the MMA champion flaunted her incredibly fit body while training, dressed in a black sports bra and shorts emblazoned with her name. She also posed post-fight. "There's no discussion, Valentina is the best female fighter on the planet 100% 🇰🇬🐐❤️," commented one fan. Known for her rigorous discipline and intense workout routines, Shevchenko takes her preparation for fights to a whole new level. How does the UFC star get ready to step into the octagon? Here’s everything you need to know about the methods Shevchenko uses to stay on top of her game.

1. She Doesn’t Drink Water During Training

In a recent Instagram post, Shevchenko showed off her beautifully toned physique wearing a black sports bra and tight black workout shorts with her name on her upper thigh. The MMA star keeps in shape in various ways, including not drinking during training. “When you are drinking water, you are focusing on that you’re tired,” she said in an ESPN interview. This is a way to kind of develop your champion mindset.” She drinks water before or after training but never during.

2. She Has a Balanced Diet

In an interview with Women’s Health, Shevchenko shared she doesn’t hold back from eating anything, but the key is moderation. "I can eat everything," she says. "But I think the main idea is balance." According to the World Health Organization, a healthy, balanced diet combines different foods, such as protein, fruits and vegetables, legumes, and “staples like cereal.” The site states a well-balanced diet “protects you against many chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Eating a variety of foods and consuming less salt, sugars and saturated and industrially-produced trans-fats, are essential for healthy diet.”

3. She Trains Nonstop

Shevchenko trains two to three hours a day to prepare for a fight. She told Women’s Health, "It's hard work and nonstop.” However, she takes a day off to rest when she has Saturday fights and does light training the morning of. "It's like a 40-minute training, just to stretch and sweat," she says.

4. Recovery is Important

With such a rigorous workout schedule, recovery is important and something Shevchenko takes seriously. When she has downtime, she spends a few hours at a lake in Vegas she enjoys. "Just being in nature, recharging enough to get back," she told Women’s Health. "My trainings are super intensive and super difficult," she says. "That's why you try to save your energy as much as you can."

5. Sports is her Religion

Shevchenko entered the world of fighting at a young age. She was only 6 or 7 when she competed for the first time, and her first professional fight was at 12. When she joined the UFC, she was a 17-time Muay Thai World Champion. "Fighters, they have to know how to box, have to know how to kick, how to wrestle, how to grapple, everything," she told Women’s Health. "They have to do it, not just okay, they have to do it in perfection." She compares her passion for the sport to religion. "For me, martial arts, it's kind of [the] same as religion, because you have to believe in what you are doing and your temple is your dream," she says.