WWE Star Brie Garcia In Workout Gear Lifts Weights as "She's Crushing It"
Former WWE star Brie Garcia knows one of the best ways to motivate yourself to work out is to do it with a buddy. Garcia shared a video of herself wearing black workout gear, going through an intense workout with sister Nikki Garcia (the other half of their Bella Twins persona) who took the video. "Look at her! She usually hates doing this but it's been so much fun making her my lifting partner. And she's crushing it! Hard work truly pays off!" Nikki captioned the Instagram story. Here's how Garcia stays fit and focused at 40.
Yoga Sessions and Weights
Garcia loves yoga and, as the video shows, lifting heavy weights. Both were instrumental in her postpartum fitness regimen. "Yoga can decrease stress and cortisol levels, enhance mood, decrease anxiety and depression, improve sleep, and improve chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, reducing the need for medications that can cause weight gain," Chika Anekwe, MD, MPH, and Niyoti Reddy, MD, tell Harvard Health. "Yoga is not a band-aid for excess weight, but it may work on the underlying causes. Its benefits extend beyond the calories-in-versus-calories-out equation."
Family First
Garcia makes a point to be more present in her everyday life, focusing on her family. "I am honestly the Pinterest mom, I always have arts and crafts ready for the kids," she told PEOPLE. "I feel like I have been more present than ever in the last couple years. I finally had to admit to myself I was a workaholic and I fixed that totally."
Running With Nikki
Garcia runs on the treadmill for a healthy cardio workout, alongside sister Nikki. "Running is one of the simplest natural exercises available to us," Jeff Carson, D.P.T., tells the Mayo Clinic. "All we have to do is step into our sneakers and go outside. It is a great way to burn calories. However, running will help with weight loss only if it is a sustainable program — meaning weeks and months."
Whole30 Diet
Garcia adapted the Whole30 diet as part of her postpartum fitness efforts. "Whole30 focuses on eating foods that are not processed, such as fruits, vegetables, lean meats and eggs, and it prohibits sugar, dairy, grains, legumes and alcohol for 30 days," says Jennifer Oikarinen, a registered dietitian with Banner Estrella Medical Center in Phoenix, via Banner Health. "As well, you're not supposed to weigh yourself or take any measurements during the 30 days."
Strong and Focused
These days, Garcia focuses on strength and longevity vs. looks. "Before, I just wanted to look great. I went into my workouts with a vain mindset," she told Us Weekly. "These days it's about feeling good from the inside out. When I look in the mirror and start to get negative, I look at my kids running around. They're healthy. This is the body that birthed them. I feel blessed."
