Kansas City Chiefs heiress Gracie Hunt recently opened up about her health philosophy on "The Riley Gaines Show," revealing that heavy strength training and a simple approach to nutrition keep her energized and confident.
Speaking on a recent episode of the podcast, the former Miss Kansas USA and marathon runner dispelled misconceptions around women's fitness — specifically the belief that lifting heavy weights leads to a bulky physique.
"There's so much misconception out there that if you lift weights, you're going to be bulky and big," Hunt told host and women's sports advocate Riley Gaines. "That is not how it works."
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Hunt said that over the past three years, her routine has changed significantly, as she stepped back from long-distance running to focus more on heavy strength training.
"When you have enough muscle, you can sustain a healthy diet with lots of variety," the former pageant queen noted, adding that building muscle eliminates the need to track every calorie or macronutrient.
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Instead of relying on meal tracking, Hunt said she applies a sort of litmus test to determine whether a food fits into her clean-eating lifestyle.
"If I was a farmer, could I grow this or make this?" she asks herself. "If I don't know how to make it, maybe I shouldn't eat it."
Hunt's passion for physical fitness began early in life, she told Gaines. Originally, she planned to go into competitive soccer, but her athletic trajectory changed after she suffered multiple concussions. The injuries forced her to pivot away from soccer into pageantry, marathons and strength training.
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Reflecting on her shift away from competitive team sports, the football heiress emphasized how physical activity shaped her self-image and mental resilience.
"Sports empower women," Hunt said. "They teach you how to be healthy and also to not attach health and wellness to how you look and to vanity. It's more about, 'Am I healthy? How can I perform?'"
She said she believes that physical strength fosters body confidence, regardless of societal standards.
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"I'm strong. So even if I don't look like what society idolizes as beauty, I'm confident in my skin because I know I'm strong."
For women seeking a healthy, strength-focused routine, Hunt recommends building workouts around consistent weightlifting, balanced with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and a favorite form of cardio, whether that's hiking, walking or trail running.
Above all, physical fitness should be viewed as a long-term lifestyle aimed at overall well-being, not just a quick goal to hit, according to Hunt.
"Fitness isn't about reaching a certain aesthetic and calling it a day — it's about pursuing a life where you can be your best for everyone else around you," she said. "Find something that you love and can do for life."