Plus, her takeout hot take.
Key Points
- Ilona Maher prioritizes high-protein snacks, like Perfect Bars, to fuel her active lifestyle.
- She emphasizes body positivity, focusing on what her body can do rather than how it looks.
- Maher’s self-care nights include cooking, reading, and relaxing with candles and peppermint tea.
Ilona Maher shot to fame in 2024 thanks to her role in helping the USA women’s rugby team earn a bronze medal at the Paris Olympic Games, but the athlete didn’t stop to rest after the podium. Maher went on to become a runner-up on Dancing With the Starscreate her own podcast (House of Maher) with her sisters Olivia and Adrianna and gain an audience of over nine million followers across social media to which she shares her humor, personality and body-positive content.
We got the opportunity to have a conversation with Maher about her new partnership with Perfect Bar and the launch of their new Protein+ Prebiotics line. Plus, we got the scoop on her experience on DWTSher dream guest on her podcast, what her perfect self-care night looks like and more.
You’ve had experience doing two very different sports: rugby and ballroom dancing. How did your fitness routine change?
You know, it was interesting, Dancing with the Stars. I didn’t lift at all, because it was so busy being in the studio for four hours a day. I remember people commenting that I was getting slimmer, my body’s changing, more like a dancer’s body. It was a weird battle because I was getting slimmer, but losing what makes me good on a rugby pitch. I wasn’t lifting weights or running, and I wouldn’t be able to just get to a pitch and play. It was really different. It was cool though, because I just focused on Dancing with the Stars and didn’t worry about the other stuff. It was cool to see my body change and figure it out, because as I get older, my body will continue to change and I’ll have to figure it out.
How did your nutrition change, if at all?
Well, no matter what, I’m always focusing on protein. It was a weird time because I was working out, but to me I didn’t really consider it much because it was dancing, but I was moving my body for four hours a day. It wasn’t very structured. I’m trying to be more structured now, like breakfast, lunch, dinner with snacks in between—very high-protein, quality snacks, like a Perfect Bar. So I will say my diet was not the most consistent.
Do you have a certain amount of protein that you like to eat in a day?
People always ask me this. I should be eating something like 200 grams of protein a day. I do try to hit that, but I try to hit it organically and not be a stickler for it. For me, it’s more what my body needs, what’s available, what I’m craving. I’ve never counted things like that. I have a great dietitian who I talk to. I’m just eating protein and carbs and fats and trying to get it all in when I can.
When you’re training or working out, what snacks do you always like to have on hand?
Perfect Bars are great, really easy to grab and go from my fridge. The Protein+ Prebiotic bar is great because it’s 20 grams of protein and really wholesome ingredients, so when I’m done working out or beforehand, I know that I’m getting real stuff in, which is important to me. It’s that, eggs [or] jerky. I like pretzels for a quick carb, and a little sugary something like a gummy bear.
If you’re ordering takeout, what’s your go-to cuisine or dish?
Olivia, my oldest sister and I really love sushi, so we’ve been getting sushi takeout recently. My sister and I love a good Thai. I am kind of a hater of takeout; I like to sit in the restaurant, eat it when it’s fresh. I don’t want it to get cold.
What do self-care nights look like for you?
It’s gonna be at home, so either I’m making a meal for myself that’s fun, maybe having a glass of wine. I like to put on candles, have some music on my TV. I like to have a movie I’m excited about to watch after dinner. I do like to read too—so peppermint tea, read my book, maybe even take a bath. I sometimes have a busy schedule and feel like I need to be on the go, so even on self-care nights I feel like I gotta be working, but it is important for me to do that.
Do you have a favorite home-cooked meal?
I always say anything my mom makes, cause that to me is just home at its core. She’s an amazing cook. She’s a Vermonter, so Cabot butter, cheese, heavy cream, everything. So, whatever she’s making to me is full of love, warmth, and comfort.
Who is your dream guest on your podcast, House of Maher?
We would like to get other great authors like Ali Hazelwood, Sarah J. Mass. I think we would have hit some hard-hitting questions because I’ve read every single book five times. Who else in terms of famous people? If Michelle Obama’s free, that’d be really cool. We like to chat with anybody in any space. It’s so cool to learn.
If you could give young women athletes one piece of advice, what would it be?
We focus so much on what our bodies look like instead of what our bodies can do and how amazing they are. Comparison is a thief of joy. As a young athlete, I was comparing myself to the girls on my team, like, “Why don’t I look like her?” But I was still the fittest on the team. It’s a struggle at times, but it’s about treating your body with respect and seeing what it is capable of. Not what some other girl can do, but what you are capable of at your best.
Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
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