Maria Garcia is a model, Olympia Pro athlete, personal trainer, influencer, and mom to 4 kiddos, who works incredibly hard to consistently improve her mental and physical strength. “Prozis sports set,” she said on Instagram, while showing off her insanely fit figure, but how does she keep herself looking so incredible? Here are some of Maria’s go-to habits that keep her looking and feeling her best.
She truly enjoys spending time outdoors, soaking up the sun and some vitamin D. “Good vibes,” she said on Instagram (translated to english) on a video of her at the beach. “Studies have shown that our minds and bodies relax in a natural setting. This increases feelings of pleasure and can help us concentrate and focus more effectively, according to studies in the National Library of Medicine,” as seen in this article on UC Davis Health. “Being outdoors can also have relaxing effects on our minds. Nature can provide a mental break by allowing us to temporarily escape the demands of everyday life. It can also boost your creativity and problem-solving abilities.”
She enjoys getting activity in by dancing and having fun, as well as serious workouts. In a video of her captioned, “Saturday [night],” on Instagram (translated to english), she’s seen dancing up a storm. “No matter what your current weight is, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol, and it decreases unhealthy triglycerides,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
She knows that it’s important to maintain leg strength. “Today it was my turn for legs đź’Şđź’Şđź’Ş,” she said on Instagram (translated to english). “Legs are the foundation for most activities,” says Vijay Daryanani, a physical therapist at Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. “They’re home to some of the body’s largest muscles, and building healthy legs can improve one’s performance, reduce injury, and increase endurance,” as seen in this article by Harvard Health.Â
Squats can be incredibly beneficial for your health. “Monday legs đź’Şđź’Ş,” she said on Instagram (translated to english). According to Dr. Laskowski on the Mayo Clinic, “the squat is a body resistance exercise that works the leg muscles. Specifically, the squat targets the quadriceps and the hamstring muscles. Strengthening these muscles can help protect your knees and boost your performance in a variety of sports.”
She focuses on strength training and building muscle. “Training 🍑💪💪💪💪💪,” she said on Instagram (translated to english) on a video of her working hard in the gym. “Your body fat percentage will increase over time if you don’t do anything to replace the lean muscle you lose over time. Strength training can help you preserve and enhance your muscle mass at any age,” according to the Mayo Clinic.