IndyCar winner. Former NASCAR racer. Vineyard owner. Author. And now fitness coach? Is there anything Danica Patrick can’t do in life? It would appear not, although wearing that many hats would require anyone to stay in total harmony with their mental and physical health. Now, it’s not like Patrick has gone out to register herself as a Certified Personal Trainer. But when you’re the most decorated female driver in American motorsport history, even your everyday habits could feel like tips to the ordinary.

Six years after retiring from full-time racing, the Wisconsin native aims to be a beacon of total holistic well-being. And although what she said on Kaylor Betts’ Awake & Winning podcast might spark a little controversy (as usual), Patrick shared a few pointers that have helped her stay in top shape for so long.

Nature’s bounty powers Danica Patrick

Few jobs worldwide can place you under the immense stress that racing does on an individual. It’s hard to assume the storms Danica Patrick has weathered, but just for the record, she’s been dealing with it since she was a little kid. It takes years of perseverance to reach the highest level. And she showed the world her drive when she became the first woman ever to win an IndyCar race in 2005.

When Patrick finally made the stock car switch in 2010, she brought that same tenacity to JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series, with whom she scored seven top-10s in 58 races. Fast forward three years, she snagged the first-ever pole position as a woman at the 2013 Daytona 500. Throughout her career, Patrick has also been what some would call a highly marketable star. From winning the Most Popular Driver title in both IndyCar and NASCAR to appearing in Jay-Z and Maroon 5 music videos, a lot of behind-the-scenes effort goes into shaping her image.

For starters, controlling stress is a must. As Patrick told Betts, “Even hunger is a stress. So, like fasting is so not my jam–It just doesn’t agree with me.” Instead, what she does is try to implement healthy eating habits. After her full-time retirement from NASCAR racing in 2018, she told CNBC, “A good way to look at food is, if the sun made it, then it’s probably good for you… Things that are made in a factory, that are in a box, they’re not made by the sun. In contrast, if you go pick an apple off of a tree, the sun made that, and you know it will add to your well being.”

Another one of her fitness benchmarks might go against the grain a little. “I don’t cold plunge if I’m doing a lot… cause it’s another stress,” stated Patrick, as the conversations continued on the Awake & Winning podcast. Many fitness industry professionals suggest ice baths and cold showers for various health benefits like increased blood circulation and reduced inflammation. But then again, each individual speaks for themself. How your body reacts to certain forms of therapy will differ from the next person, simply because we, as humans, are incredibly complex individuals. 

Some might have high cold tolerance. Others could be incredibly susceptible to extreme temperatures. High-performance athletes like mixed martial artists or F1 drivers might need to regulate their eating habits to stay under a certain weight. Conversely, sports like sumo wrestling or rugby do not put their stars under such stringent stipulations. In simple words, necessity births habits. Either way, Patrick’s 2017 book “Pretty Intense: 90-Day Mind, Body and Food Plan That Will Absolutely Change Your Life” might do that for those interested in learning more about her intricate ways.

A glass half-full

“Pretty Intense” hit the shelves in 2017. It was the second book Patrick had written while she was a full-time NASCAR driver. Many people struggle with juggling more than one task at a time, but Patrick took on and accomplished two arduous milestones alongside each other. Writing a book is no ordinary gig, and neither is being a high-speed athlete for a good part of over a decade. That speaks volumes about her mental fortitude.

During book promotions in 2018, Patrick emphasized that to be successful with the “Pretty Intense” plan, you need to understand that “your mind plays a crucial role in everything you do.” She elaborated on the Morning Daily, “You are creating your life day by day with your thoughts. Think positive things. Believe in yourself. Have great reasons for why you’re doing what you’re doing… Eat good food because food is medicine. You’re either adding to your well-being or reducing your well-being.”

Patrick brings that same fire to her daily workouts. She explained, “When you get to working out, just hurry up. Get it done. Work hard. Make it intense.” But down to specifics, what kind of workout routine would someone who’s graced the covers of magazines like FHM, Sports Illustrated, TV Guide, and ESPN recommend? “The burpee is probably the most effective,” according to Patrick. “Full-body movement and there’s so many ways you can slightly modify it to make it more hard.” 

However, that is hardly all it takes to become one of the most decorated females in auto racing history.