Michelle Waterson is one of the most well-known female UFC fighters. She’s known as the “Karate Hottie” and is a former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion. Waterson just shared a stunning new photo on Instagram this week. In it, she posed in a black bikini, her muscles on display. She captioned the photo, “116 locked and loaded!!! Let’s go!” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Michelle Waterson 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!
Waterson opened up about her training secrets to Women Fitness. She says that she does methods that hone her skills. “I think it is important to drill over and over again until you are sick of drilling, then drill some more,” Waterson reveals. “I also like to shadow boxing which is like fighting an imagery opponent. Shadow boxing allows you to fix your mistakes and make your movement smooth so that it becomes second nature. Doing bag work is also a good workout routine. It allows me to work on my power and footwork.”
Being an athlete, Waterson makes sure to eat healthy. She shared her secrets in her Women Fitness interview. “I stay very hydrated, and eat very clean,” Waterson says. “I try to stay away from processed, fried foods. Towards the end of my camp, I stick to leaner meats and lots of green veggies.”
Waterson tells Women Fitness that she likes to do workouts that improve her stamina. She says that she likes to do sets of tabatas. “One of my favorite things to do to improve my stamina are tabatas. 20 seconds high intensity, 10 seconds rest, seven times, then rest for one min in between sets. Do it three times. This is very short but very effective way to build your explosive muscles.”
In her Women Fitness interview, Waterson was asked about what advice she would give others. She says that she suggests learning from your mistakes. “The best advice I can give is to take it day by day,” Waterson says. “Some days will be harder than others, but allow yourself to make mistakes. Mistakes are good, if you learn from them, and get better. The only person that can truly stop you from achieving your goals is yourself, so don’t get in your own way!”
After becoming a mom, Waterson learned to embrace her body. She talked about this in an interview with Onnit.com. “I’ve finally come to a place in my heart and my soul that has embraced my body and the things that it does for me — and the way that it makes me feel. I’m really at peace with who I am. That peace came after I had my daughter. I really gained an appreciation for the work that I put in to get my body where it needed to be.”