I Tried Megan Thee Stallion’s Workout, and I Understand How It Got Her Through Hell

Megan Thee Stallion has three Grammys, writes songs that top the charts on the regular, sells out arenas, and just generally has a lot going for her.

As for me, sometimes just getting out of bed is enough of an accomplishment. Ever since the passing of my uncle, who had been my father figure throughout my life, I’ve managed to neglect my well-being, allowing both my physical and mental health to decline to a point that I’m not proud of.

I realize that it isn’t realistic to compare myself to a celebrity, especially under these circumstances. However, Megan Thee Stallion knows a thing or two about picking yourself up and rebuilding after going through something life shattering. Her father passed away while she was a freshman in high school, and she lost her mom just a few months before her hit song “Hot Girl Summer” put her in the spotlight. A year after, Megan was shot by her ex-friend, and that — and the media frenzy that ensued — causing her to spiral, she revealed in a recent interview with Women’s Health.

So that’s why I couldn’t help but notice when Megan shared bits and pieces about what helped her heal from what she considers some very dark times of her life. The rapper had to make intentional decisions surrounding her mental health, and over time she built a nourishing wellness routine that she continues to keep up with.

I was so inspired by the honesty, vulnerability, and hope in the artist’s story, that I was excited by the idea of trying her plan myself. I’m currently on day four of Megan Thee Stallion’s wellness routine, and I’m already starting to understand why it’s worked so well for her. Here’s what she does every day, and how the journey has been for me so far.

Megan Thee Stallion’s Morning Routine

My day usually starts out pretty rushed. After spending some time on my phone, I get out of bed and almost immediately get ready and start work.

Megan, on the other hand, told WH that she deleted social media apps to avoid doomscrolling. Additionally, she carves out time in the morning for herself. “In my everyday life, I speak with so many people. When I perform, I take on so many energies,” she explained in the interview. “Let the start of the day be about me; then, I can give my energy to everybody else.”

Her morning routine is stacked. She meditates and prays about her plans for the day out on her balcony before playing with her dogs. She also journals about how she’s feeling, listens to music, and may apply a face mask. Megan is a morning shower type of person, using the time and space to ground herself to the present moment by listening to the sound of running water, and write lyrics in her head. Not every day, but regularly, Megan makes time for therapy and massage appointments. As she shared in a YouTube video that accompanied the WH interview, she also unwinds by taking Epsom salt baths, during which she lights candles, listens to R&B, and keeps her phone strictly on Do Not Disturb mode.

I followed Megan’s exact routine every morning for four days, and while I initially didn’t like the idea of having to wake up earlier than normal to accommodate such an involved a.m. self-care routine, soon enough my not-a-morning-person grumbling was drowned out by an appreciation for just how clear-minded I felt going into my day.

It was also very freeing to not feel an obligation to reply to texts or check notifications first thing in the morning, and without social media on my phone I found I had more time to devote towards the other self care activities she does, like relaxing in a bath.

Megan Thee Stallion’s Exercise Routine

Whenever I actually find the motivation to exercise, it’s usually at night after work, but Megan Thee Stallion exclusively does it in the — you guessed it — morning. Four to five days per week she works out at the gym, her home, or the beach.

But no matter where or what time of day she’s working out, what she wears is an important aspect. She opts for clothing that makes her feel confident, or more specifically anything that makes her look “like an anime character” or a superhero, which usually means a matching set.

We know from past interviews and social media posts that Megan Thee Stallion’s workout routine is notoriously challenging. In the WH interview, she names 40-minute cardio sessions (involving an elliptical, stair stepper, or sand hills for running), and strength and conditioning workouts that include weighted sit ups, hip thrusts, and, of course, plenty of stallion kicks. Sometimes she switches things up by attending a Pilates class. Her soundtrack is up-tempo — she loves listening to her own song “Freaky Nasty” and “Ain’t it Fun” by Paramore, plus a lot of Key Glock and Young Dolph.

I swapped a treadmill in for sand hills and her at-home YouTube workouts for a personal trainer, but other than that I stuck to her workout routine to a T.

The exercise portion honestly ended up being the hardest but most rewarding part of Megan’s routine for me, not so much because the workouts were difficult, but because they were mentally challenging. I had recently gained weight in a short amount of time, and being a hockey player in college, it was extremely discouraging to struggle through her workouts more than I hoped.

However, the fact that part of her workout routine is specifically to dress like a superhero helped a lot with feeling more confident. After working out I also felt a sense of accomplishment that made me motivated to tackle the rest of the day with the same level of determination and intensity from the workouts.

Megan Thee Stallion’s Eating Routine

Megan Thee Stallion also talked food with WH, and while she clearly used her diet to help her physical health — she mentions some stomach issues — she’s also clearly a believer in the mind-body connection, and eating to feel good is part of that.

The rapper isn’t a coffee girl, so her routine had me drinking green juice (with spinach, kale, ginger, turmeric, apples, and collagen powder) and smoothies (with strawberries, bananas, almond milk, and protein powder) instead.

The artist’s eating plan wasn’t hard to follow, since it wasn’t restrictive. She prioritizes nutrient-rich foods: lots of fish, vegetables, greens, and fiber-rich grains. She also drinks about a gallon of water every day.

The biggest adjustment for me was breakfast, because I usually just drink coffee. Unsurprisingly, I’m also usually starving by lunchtime, and ever since starting Megan’s routine I haven’t felt that way, which has been a welcome change.

In fact, eating more frequently may be why I’ve felt more energetic during this experiment, despite the fact that I’ve been ditching coffee while also waking up earlier to get started on a self-care morning routine. Although that could also have something to do with the fact that on workout days, Megan (and I, during the past four days) follows breakfast with a preworkout.

What I Learned

It’s only been four days, but even though it’s too early to see major changes, Megan Thee Stallion’s routine has shifted my mood and perspective enough for me to want to continue following it.

Based on my experience so far, the best part about this routine is how it begins with a focus on productivity and self-care, setting a positive tone for the rest of the day. It also made work feel like such a small part of my day, almost like my day was about self-care with work squeezed in the middle, instead of the other way around.

I’ve also found myself feeling more in control of how the day unfolds and more in tune with my emotions, which makes me more motivated to keep working on myself.

To be clear, Megan Thee Stallion didn’t intend for her interview to be used as a roadmap for a mental health-building wellness routine. But she’s someone who demonstrated strength and resilience during intense pressure, while on a public stage. And this window into how she took care of herself during the difficult times she experienced over the past few years was incredibly inspiring.

I don’t feel like the epitome of wellness after trying this slice of Megan Thee Stallion’s routine, but I do feel a bit better than I did going into it — and for that reason alone, I’d highly recommend it to anyone who wants to jumpstart their wellness journey.

Kalea Martín is a lifestyle writer and PS contributor who mostly writes about food and cooking, but also covers fitness as a former figure skater and hockey player herself. You can find more of her writing in Tasting Table, Better Homes & Gardens, and Martha Stewart Living.