MMA star Joanna Jędrzejczyk is enjoying some much-needed downtime on the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean. Jędrzejczyk posted a photo of herself looking serene as she posed in a bright lime green bikini, with an inspiring caption about the importance of rest. “I already felt that I was reaching the limit (and after all limits are only in our heads) but I am happy that I found at least 5 days in the schedule for a total reset and recharge [of] batteries,” she says. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Jędrzejczyk 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!
Jędrzejczyk is passionate about the 80/20 rule, where she sticks to a healthy diet and workout regimen 80% of the time and lets loose for the other 20%. “In life is all about balance,” she captions a video on social media, roughly translated from her native Polish. “The golden middle between what is healthy, good and valuable and what is fleeting and pleasant.”
Jędrzejczyk follows a very healthy diet while training, with the help of an expert. “Now, after the fight, I want to eat all kinds of stuff but I have a good nutritionist in Poland, Jacob Mauricz,” she says. “He’s one of the best. He’s taking care of me and it’s like a gluten-free diet. I make lots of fish and rice. Lots of eggs and fruits. I’m drinking special cocktails after training with eggs and coconut oil.”
Jędrzejczyk is a star athlete—and she trains like one. “Joanna’s schedule is a tough one,” says Mike Brown, one of her coaches at American Top Team. “It’s a lot of volume, it’s a lot of hard work. It’s not like one sport where you’re training for just one thing. It’s six sports all in one: it’s kickboxing, it’s wrestling, it’s jiu jitsu, it’s judo, it’s boxing and on top of that, it’s strength and conditioning.
Jędrzejczyk is adamant that athletes need nutritionists who understand the needs of athletes specifically. “The other thing is, same with the nutritionist. They’re trying things. But they were never athletes. Maybe they read books about it, but it’s a science for them,” she says. “‘Eat, eat, you’re going to be fine.’ No. At the end, we, fighters, have to struggle. I broke my hand two times, right after the fight, because of the wrong diet.”
Jędrzejczyk’s breakfast tends to be the same thing—scrambled eggs, coffee, and fruit. “Eggs keep you fuller longer,” says Caitlin Beale, MS, RDN. “Since eggs are a good source of protein, they tend to be digested slower, which also helps you feel fuller in between meals. Compare that to eating a muffin or low-fiber cereal for breakfast, where you probably feel hungry an hour later. Less hunger keeps you from overeating at your next meal.”