Michela Persico loves sharing life with soccer star husband Daniele Rugani with fans, frequently posting videos and photos of themselves on social media. The TV presenter is frequently in the public eye, and works hard to stay in shape. Persico posted a series of pictures of herself on Instagram, wearing a bright metallic bikini, much to the delight of her followers. “Stupenda,” one person commented. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Persico 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!
Persico’s workout routine includes frequent visits to the gym for strength training sessions. “Numerous studies have shown that strength training can play a role in slowing bone loss, and several show it can even build bone,” says Harvard Health. “This is tremendously useful to help offset age-related declines in bone mass. Activities that put stress on bones can nudge bone-forming cells into action. That stress comes from the tugging and pushing on bone that occur during strength training (as well as weight-bearing aerobic exercises like walking or running). The result is stronger, denser bones.”
Persico travels a lot, but she always finds a hotel gym with a treadmill to keep up with her exercise. “Running before having breakfast means your body will store the food as energy, and not fat,” says Şirin Atçeken, psychologist and EMDR specialist, “so you’ll have more energy throughout the day, and you’ll avoid that mid-afternoon slump.”
Persico loves playing tennis, which is a great way to get some cardio in while still having fun. “A good lifestyle includes a balanced blend of adequate physical activity and a modulated diet. While dietitians can advise people to eat a balanced diet and even curate a dietary schedule, it is important to supplement that with a good exercise regime. And for those, who find that too boring, you could invest in a sport like tennis. Tennis requires full body coordination and hence, it keeps the brain active. This further results in the active release of serotonin, which helps you to sleep soundly,” says dietician and fitness expert Vidhi Chawla.
Persico enjoys fresh coconuts, especially the milk or water as a drink. “About 50% of the MCFAs in coconut oil are a type called lauric acid, which is converted in the body into a highly beneficial compound called monolaurin, an antimicrobial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory that destroys a wide variety of disease-causing organisms,” says registered nutritionist Jo Lewin. “It’s therefore thought that the consumption of coconut milk and other coconut-derived foods may help protect the body from infections and viruses.”
Persico loves to cook at home with her husband and their toddler son. Home cooking is not only healthier as a general rule, it also offers mental health benefits. “Cooking at home, or other places are good for your mental health because cooking is an act of patience, mindfulness, an outlet for creative expression, a means of communication, and helps to raise one’s self esteem as the cook can feel good about doing something positive for their family, themselves or loved ones,” says Julie Ohana, LMSW.