Donna Vekic is soaking up the sun in Croatia – in her swimsuit. In a new social media post from vacation, the tennis star sits by the ocean in her bathing suit and enjoys a relaxing afternoon. "Lots of views and shades of blues," she captioned the Instagram post, adding the hashtag "vitamin sea." How does the athlete keep herself ready for the court? Celebwell compiled some of the ways she stays fit and healthy.
"Nutrition is very important—up to 70 percent of helping you play your best—but we can also get away with taking a few liberties here and there. It all comes down to timing, and when you're eating right," Donna told Tennis.com. "I started working with a nutritionist in the last off-season, so I had a set meal plan, but it's a bit trickier to follow it when I'm on the road. I have to eat a lot in restaurants, which can make it harder to plan ahead, as opposed to when I'm able to cook at home." She also fuels up before she hits the court. "I try to eat about two hours before a match, but if the match before mine goes longer than planned, I will have a small snack, like an energy bar or a banana. Afterward, I try not to eat carbs for dinner, and I try to eat my dinner early because I think it helps me sleep better," she says.
Donna rides a stationary bike for cardio. The Cleveland Clinic explains that biking, a low-impact aerobic exercise, is great for building muscle, improving strength and flexibility, and improving balance. It can also boost mental health and help other health conditions, including arthritis.
Donna loves hitting the trails. "A hike a day when in LA," she captioned this post from her "Sunday funday" in Malibu. "Hiking is one of the best ways to get exercise. No matter what type of trail you find yourself on, hiking is a great whole-body workout—from head to toe and everything in between," says the National Parks Service. Some of the physical benefits include building stronger muscles and bones, improving your sense of balance, improving your heart health, and decreasing the risk of certain respiratory problems. It also offers many mental health benefits, according to a Stanford University study.
When she is on the water, you can find Donna paddleboarding. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) agrees that paddle boarding is great for the core and also a great form of cardio. The water sport can burn an average of 385 calories for a 140-pound male and 436 for a female the same size, per a study conducted by Arizona State University.
Donna loves taking a celebratory cheat day when she wins a big match. "I would probably have a drink first, and then order a burger, followed by a Nutella pizza for dessert," she says about her dream day of indulgence.
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