Paige VanZant, the AEW fighter, is, needless to say, fit. And she has extra energy, finding time to appear on Dancing with the Stars and Chopped. Her fans recently asked which superhero powers she’d want. “Would you rather have super speed or the ability to fly,” she was asked in an Instagram Q+A. (She’d want to fly.) She also shared a photo in a swimsuit and captioned it: “The Life.” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Paige 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!
VanZant was asked about her workout a while back. “Every day is different it depends on what day of the week it is,” says VanZant to Vogue. “We have lots of classes, wrestling, jujitsu. I do a lot of Pilates, yoga, CrossFit as well. I also try to include one relaxing workout through the week like hiking.”
CrossFit is a great way to build strength. “Strength training can help you tone your muscles and improve your appearance. With a regular strength training program, you can reduce your body fat, increase bone strength, increase your lean muscle mass and burn calories more efficiently,” says the Mayo Clinic. “Better yet, strength training doesn’t have to take as long as you might think. Do strength exercises for all the major muscle groups at least two times a week. Aim to do one set of each exercise using a weight or resistance level heavy enough to tire your muscles after about 12 to 15 repetitions and stamina over time.”
Trying to make her weight for feights was detrimental to her health. She told People: “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,” she said. “It’s because of that I’m like ‘I can’t do this anymore.'” “I recently went up to the Flyweight division which is 10 lbs. heavier, which is a huge difference,” she added.
While getting healthy in fight camp, VanZant ate meals high in protein and healthy vegetables. For example: “Spinach is high in vitamins A and C and folate. It’s also a good source of magnesium. The plant compounds in spinach may boost your immune system. The carotenoids found in spinach — beta carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin — also are protective against age-related vision diseases, such as macular degeneration, as well as heart disease and some types of cancer,” says the Mayo Clinic.
“Protein is made up of essential and non-essential amino acids. A complete protein source is one that contains all nine essential amino acids to support human dietary needs,” says the Cleveland Clinic. “Not only does a complete protein contain all essential amino acids, but it also contains them in perfect proportion in terms of biological function. Great examples include whey (dairy sources), lean meat, egg whites and soy.”