Elizabeth Smart's Bodybuilding Career: The Survivor Revealed Her Intense Fitness and Diet Regimen
Elizabeth Smart is having a renaissance as a bodybuilder, and she's opening up about how she achieves that incredible physique.
The survivor and child safety advocate, 38, who rose to notoriety at just 14 years old when she was kidnapped from her Salt Lake City bedroom, recently shocked fans with the transformative photos of herself taken while battling for the top slot in a bodybuilding competition. The advocate and athlete, who recently took top honors at the Wasatch Warrior bodybuilding and fitness competition in the Fit Model Novice Category, is now opening up about her diet and fitness regimen that helps her look so strong every day.
What Does Elizabeth Smart Do For Exercise?
In a new interview with the Wall Street Journal, Smart revealed her bodybuilding routine.
"I lift probably five to six times a week. It's maybe 45 minutes. And then I aim for 10,000 steps a day-that can just be running my kids around and cleaning around the house, or it might be walking my dog or maybe the treadmill for a little bit if I had a lazier day," Smart shared. "And then I macro count [track grams of protein, fat and carbohydrates href="https://parade.com/1099736/ashleylauretta/can-you-eat-too-much-protein/"]. I have a coach, and she sends me meal plans. It's always very protein heavy."
A former marathon runner, Smart was looking to embrace something physical that was far outside her comfort zone. But no matter what, she likes pushing herself.
"Taking on any kind of challenge in my life reminds me of how strong I am. When I was running and I'd get to mile 19 and I'd just want to give up, my mind would go to: Elizabeth, you survived nine months of kidnapping. You can finish this marathon. You are stronger than you think you are. So stop complaining and just keep putting one foot in front of the other," she added.
What is Elizabeth Smart's Diet Like?
When asked if she pares down her diet before a competition to slim down, Smart made it clear that it's quite the opposite.
"Oh, my heavens, no. Before this last competition, I probably was eating 2,500 calories a day. So much rice, so much chicken, to the point that I felt sick," she shared, noting that since becoming a bodybuilder, she dropped about three sizes and lost about 30 pounds.
Of course, she still indulges in junk food, admitting that after her first show, she enjoys everything from Nerds Clusters and tacos to "a giant piece of cake" right after a bodybuilding show.
Related: Elizabeth Smart Wins First Place in Bodybuilding Competition
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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 7:12 PM.