OnlyFans star said she gained 20 pounds of muscle and improved her sex life by lifting weights

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• Adult entertainment star Swedish Bella said lifting weights helps her feel sexier and boosts her energy. 
• She hits the gym about five times a week for at least an hour of exercises like squats and hip thrusts. 
• She said she's gained muscle, making her feel more confident as a nude model and in her own sex life. 

Popular adult entertainment star Monica Huldt said regularly lifting weights has made her feel sexier, helping her build muscle and boost her mental health. Known professionally as Swedish Bella, Huldt models nude as well as in lingerie and bikinis. She has millions of followers on Instagram and OnlyFans.

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"I love being in the gym," she told Insider. "It's a great way to release negative energy and keep my depression in check."

Huldt, 38, said she's long been a fan of exercise, and in the past two years has been working out more intensely with a trainer, hitting the gym five times a week to lift weights.

Her workouts are typically about 90 minutes. The first hour involves weight training, with exercises like hip thrusts and heavy squats, followed up with a short session of high-intensity work such as battle ropes and weighted sled pushes and pulls. She rounds out each gym session with 15 to 20 minutes of cardio on a treadmill or StairMaster.

Huldt said the workouts have enhanced her sex life, giving her improved mental health, energy, and confidence in her body. 

Huldt gained 20 pounds of muscle from weight training

As a teenager, Huldt was into working out, but was underweight and struggled with bulimia and body image issues. 

Since starting a weight training program, she said she's added about 20 pounds of muscle mass and vastly improved her self-esteem.

"I feel way sexier when I'm working out. I feel good about my body right now," said Huldt. "The confidence to show people your naked body is a big deal." 

Contrary to common misconceptions, Huldt said weight lifting and gaining muscle didn't make her feel less feminine.

"It's a myth that lifting weights for a woman will make you bulky. You'll lean out, you'll develop lean muscle, but no matter how much you lift, you won't get bulk," she said. 

To support her gains, she eats a low-carb diet with plenty of protein from whole food sources like chicken and turkey. 

"I don't do protein shakes," she said. 

Courtesy of Swedish Bella/Instagram @swedish_bella

Experts say exercise can improve your sex life both mentally and physically

Huldt said working out helps her keep a healthy, active sex life because it gives her energy and confidence. 

"If I don't go to the gym, I feel tired. When you're depressed and upset, you're not interested in being close to your partner," she said. "I'm more positive, happier, and much nicer to be around when I'm working out." 

Exercise can help improve not only your mood but also your relationship to your own body, helping you be more present and connected with a sexual partner, sex therapists previously told Insider. 

According to personal trainers, regular exercise can also help you develop better body awareness during sex, leading to a better sexual experience for everyone involved. 

Working out can also enhance the physical sensations of sex. Exercises that build strength in your core and pelvic floor, such as heavy squats, can help make sexual pleasure more intense and lead to better orgasms, experts say. 

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