Undefeated UFC women's champion Ronda Rousey revealed that she gained weight for her debut on the 2015 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, which was released earlier in February.
Yahoo! Sports reported that compared to her shoot in the Body Issue of ESPN Magazine, where she aimed to look defined, she shared that she felt that she appeared best when holding a few more pounds above her fighting weight.
Rousey said in an article by USA Today, "The ESPN Body Issue is about celebrating the peak of human potential and the kind of form the human body, when specialized, can really look like. The Swimsuit Issue has a lot more [of a] sexual side to it, while I don't think the Body Issue is overtly sexual whereas Sports Illustrated is," Rousey said. "The difference in how I approached it is when I posed for ESPN Body, I really tried to be a lot more cut and a lot more close to my prime fighting shape because I was being photographed as a fighter and trying to look more like a fighter."
She added in the same report, "I purposely tried to get a little bit heavier for the SI issue so I was a little bit curvier and not in top fight shape look but the look at which I feel I'm the most attractive. It's very natural for a person's body to go through seasons."
Business Insider reported that Rousey needed to stay at 135 pounds maximum to stay in the women's bantamweight division. To stay within her weight class, Rousey shared that she had to eat a very salty diet for one week so that her body bloats. Before a fight, she would eat eggs, spinach, turkey bacon and pink Himalayan salt. As the fight draws closer, she will eliminate salt from her diet to let go of all the fluid she is holding. She also hits the steam room to get rid of the excess water. She also increases the intensity of her training in the final days, which helps her burn more fat and get rid of water in her body.
In the SI Swimsuit Edition, Rousey looked stunning and sexy as fans expected.
Rousey has been very active in her filming and modeling lately, saying that she intends to keep doing shoots in between fights. She added that the new goals she set for herself keeps her inspired.
She said in the same USA Today report, "I've found an amazing balance. I'm always happy and engaged and motivated."