Trixie Mattel, the world-famous drag queen, musician, and entrepreneur, has become a true icon since winning RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars Season Three. Beyond her successful music career, web series "UNHhhh" with Katya, and her own makeup line, Trixie Cosmetics, she has also embarked on a significant fitness journey. This article explores Trixie Mattel's weight loss journey, her motivations, and the lifestyle changes that have contributed to her transformation.
The Genesis of a Fitness Push
Fans following Trixie on social media have noticed her dedication to fitness. She openly discusses her Hollywood fitness routine, working with a trainer, and making healthier choices. Trixie admits she finds talking about going to the gym "gross", comparing it to "posting about brushing your teeth". However, she acknowledges the importance of exercise and healthy eating in maintaining her overall well-being and enhancing her drag performance.
Trixie's fitness journey began with a combination of factors, including closing of gyms during the pandemic, which led her to running. She recalls making ice cream and gaining weight, then pivoting to running when gyms closed.
Key Elements of Trixie Mattel's Weight Loss
Several key elements have contributed to Trixie Mattel's weight loss:
Regular Exercise
Trixie commits to working out five days a week, focusing on cardio and strength training. She lives close to Gold's Gym in Hollywood and incorporates 30 minutes of cardio followed by upper body and squat exercises into her routine. She also enjoys biking and running, often sprinting to her boyfriend's house for exercise.
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Abstaining from Alcohol
One of the most significant changes Trixie made was stopping drinking. She notes that weight "just falls off your body" when you stop drinking. This allows her to enjoy cheat meals without the added calories from alcohol. "You can have a cheat meal and not worry about it, because you're not stacking a cheat meal on five drinks."
Healthy Eating Habits
Trixie has been a vegetarian since she was nine years old, which naturally reduces calorie intake. She strategically plans her meals and snacks, ensuring healthy options are available on tour. Her tour rider includes fruits, vegetables, trail mix, and SmartPop popcorn.
Prioritizing Fitness on Tour
Maintaining a fitness routine while on tour presents unique challenges. Trixie overcomes these by utilizing gym memberships at Anytime, 24 Hour, and Planet Fitness, allowing her to work out in different cities. She instructs her assistant to provide her with the salad option at each venue, avoiding the temptation of other menu items. Green juice and black tea are also staples in her daily routine.
Diet and Nutrition
Trixie's vegetarian diet plays a crucial role in her health and fitness. She avoids coffee and opts for tea, using black tea as a pre-workout beverage. While traveling, she finds it difficult to maintain a supply of raw ingredients and has to be careful to avoid unhealthy choices when hungry.
At one point, she worked with Clean LA, a meal delivery service providing pre-portioned vegan food. However, she didn't see results until she stopped drinking alcohol and started feeding herself.
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Cheat Meals
Even with a focus on healthy eating, Trixie allows herself cheat meals. Her favorite cheat foods include nachos, vegetarian burgers from Veggie Grill, and French fries. Her ideal cheat day involves staying home, playing PlayStation, and indulging in Veggie Grill nachos and a burger.
The Motivation Behind Trixie's Fitness Journey
Trixie's fitness journey is closely tied to her drag performance and overall comfort. She explains that being slimmer makes her more comfortable in drag, allowing her to wear shapewear instead of restrictive corsets.
Comfort in Drag
"For me, it's about comfort in drag. The bigger I am, the more physically uncomfortable I am in drag." She aims to minimize discomfort by achieving a smaller waistline through exercise and diet.
Enhanced Performance
Drag is physically demanding, requiring stamina for singing, playing guitar, and performing costume changes. Maintaining a cardio lifestyle helps Trixie handle more per show and perform at a higher level. "If I can keep my cardio lifestyle up, I can handle more per show. I can do more for longer. It makes you a better performer."
Artistic Vision
Trixie's vision for her drag persona involves looking impossibly thin and tall, like a fashion doll. She adjusts her body to align with her artistic vision, aiming to create a specific look that enhances her performance. "My vision for Trixie being this sort of fashion doll toy, I want her to look impossibly thin and tall with this giant blonde hair. So as an artist, it's like, 'Well, how can I change my body in a way that is advantageous to my vision for my work?'"
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Embracing Masculinity Out of Drag
In contrast to her drag persona, Trixie enjoys embracing a masculine look out of drag. She prefers dressing like a "trucker," showing off her arms and enjoying her physical appearance. "I dress up like a woman for a living, and I love to look like a man out of drag. I dress like a fucking trucker… I love to show my arms. I love having arm definition. I love feeling sexy out of drag."
Overcoming Challenges
Trixie acknowledges the challenges of maintaining a healthy lifestyle while constantly working and traveling. She emphasizes the importance of staying busy to avoid overeating and making unhealthy choices.
The Impact of a Hectic Schedule
Trixie's demanding schedule often leaves her feeling "completely trashed" after spending hours in drag. This makes it difficult to find the motivation to work out. "When I'm in drag, I can't do anything… It's so hard to get out of drag and feel like working out because you are completely trashed. Your body is dead from being pinched and pinned and painted and braided. Drag is really hard on your body."
Early Struggles
Reflecting on her past, Trixie recalls a period of unhappiness after Drag Race, marked by excessive drinking, unhealthy eating, and lack of sleep. This led to weight gain and the realization that she was no longer "naturally skinny." "When I was my unhappiest, I was working in nightclubs right after Drag Race. I was drinking the most, eating the craziest, sleeping the least… It was the first time I actually had to think, 'Oh wow, I'm not naturally skinny like I was when I was 20.'"
Trixie's Running Journey
Trixie's foray into running began during the pandemic when gyms were closed. What started as a way to combat weight gain from ice cream-making evolved into a passion. She found solace in the solitary nature of running and appreciated the ability to "run away from [her] responsibilities."
Running Schedule and Goals
Currently, Trixie's running schedule includes cross-training due to lower back pain from corseting in drag. She aims for three to four-mile runs a couple of times a week, supplemented by weightlifting and biking. Her dream schedule includes longer runs on the weekends.
Trixie has several running goals, including participating in the London Marathon and the Malibu Triathlon. She also aspires to complete a mini triathlon, focusing on overall wellness.
Running Tips
Trixie shares three essential tips for a successful running journey:
- Start slow, finish fast: Begin at a comfortable pace and gradually increase speed to avoid burnout.
- Wear sunblock: Protect skin from sun damage during long runs.
- Set reasonable goals: Align fitness goals with lifestyle and professional demands to avoid disappointment.
Must-Have Gear
Trixie's running essentials include:
- Salted Caramel GU Energy Gels
- Tiger Balm
- AirPods
- HOKA Clifton 8 shoes
- Attitudes! Podcast
Ginger Minj's Health Journey
Ginger Minj, another prominent drag queen, has also undergone a remarkable health transformation. After competing on multiple seasons of Drag Race, including All Stars 10, Ginger revealed that her weight loss journey was driven by serious health concerns.
Health Issues
Prior to All Stars 10, Ginger was pre-diabetic, had high blood pressure, and suffered from severe sleep apnea. These health issues motivated her to prioritize her well-being. "I was pre-diabetic, my blood pressure was through the roof, my sugar levels were ridiculous, I had horrible sleep apnea, so I never got any kind of restful sleep. I was on the verge of a heart attack, like all of these things went into me going on this health journey and losing weight."
Aesthetic Goals
While health was the primary motivator, Ginger also acknowledges that weight loss has improved her confidence and allowed her to take more fashion risks. "I never set out to lose weight as an aesthetic goal… But also aesthetically, I just am starting to feel more like who I’ve always wanted to be. I’ve always felt really beautiful on the inside."