Supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has said that she practices intermittent fasting – meaning that she eats within an eight to 10-hour window.
'It gives my body a chance to digest everything,' she told this weekend's issue of The Sunday Times Style magazine. Whether this is an evidence-backed lifestyle is still pending.
One study in the International Journal of Obesity found intermittent fasting to be more effective for fat loss in young women than a calorie controlled diet and further improved insulin sensitivity – but a scientifically conclusive answer is still out when it comes to confirming the eating plan's actual efficacy.
For Huntington-Whiteley, her typical fast breaks with an oat milk matcha latte at 8am. She then tries to finish all her daily meals by 6pm, to allow her body to enter the 'rest and digest' cycle. However, should she be venturing out for a dinner or event she would simply shift her eating window back slightly, breaking her fast later in the day, instead.
A little while ago the 32-year-old mum-of-one spoke to Women's Health about how she stays healthy – covering her fitness, nutrition and wellness habits too.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's fitness routine
Whenever my day allows it, I’ll be at the gym by 9am. I’m always active – my mum was an aerobics instructor when I was young and she was always encouraging my siblings and me to be sporty.
So despite the fact I have to keep fit for my career, I’m one of those people who genuinely loves exercise – what I do just depends on my mood or schedule.
If I’m jet lagged or just fancy doing something gentler, I’ll do a yoga or Pilates session with instructor Andie Hecker at Ballet Bodies in LA. She’s a former ballerina so she knows how I want my body to look – long, lean and toned.
When I want something upbeat, I’ll head to Tracy Anderson’s studio and Simone De La Rue at Body By Simone. I love their mix of aerobics and dance – their classes are really intense and challenging.
When I’m in London, I work out with my brother Toby at Workshop Gymnasium, or he'll come to my hotel and squeeze in a circuits sessions between my work schedules. [Toby Huntington-Whitely is now a personal trainer at Kobox.]
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's diet
Every morning, I’ll get up and chug back a litre of water. I aim for at least three litres a day; since getting strict about it I’ve seen a massive difference to my digestion and my skin. After my water I’ll make myself a soy latte and then whip up scrambled eggs and spinach before hitting the gym.
I try to incorporate lots of lean protein like fish and chicken with fresh salads and vegetables.
For the past year, I’ve laid off the red meat a little as I’m convinced it was making me feel heavy and sluggish.
I’m also a big advocate of juicing so I always try to have several vegetable juices a day – my juicer is definitely the most used piece of kit in my kitchen and my cupboards are stocked with organic fruit and vegetables.
It all sounds quite virtuous, but my strategy is to eat clean and simply at home so I can enjoy myself when I’m out.
That doesn’t mean I don’t stay mindful about what I’m eating – I’m certainly not going to chow down on a massive bowl of pasta the night before a lingerie shoot – but I never want to be the girl looking miserable pushing a salad around my plate or nibbling on a celery stalk.
Life’s too short and food is too good: French fries, cheese, bread, bacon….
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's favourite beauty items
Clarisonic Mia Prima Facial Cleansing Device - Bright Pink
Clarisonic Mia Prima Facial Cleansing Device - Bright Pink
I’m very diligent with my skin because it isn’t always blemish free. If I’ve been in heavy make-up for work all day, I’ll cleanse my face using my Clarisonic brush – it gets rid of every last trace of make-up and dirt.
For the past few years, I’ve been using iS Clinical and the results have been awesome; I swear by Active Serum to prevent fine lines and spots. When I’m in LA, I see my facialist Shani Darden and I love her Resurface Retinol cream, too. I apply it every other night and wake up with smooth skin in the morning.
When I’m not working, I like to keep things simple and natural; I also don’t want to spend ages getting ready, so I focus on skin, adding a little bronzer and blush, mascara and a lip balm. I actually like myself better this way.
I think I look at my best when I’m either working out or after a day on the beach with a little sun-kissed glow.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's wellness routine
If I’m feeling stressed, I try to carve out some time with a good book. I prefer non-fiction and the last book I read was The Essential Zohar: The Source of Kabbalistic Wisdom by Rav PS Berg. I’m pretty interested in the spiritual side of things and I’ve tried to incorporate various aspects like meditation into my everyday life.
The Essential Zohar: The Source of Kabbalistic Wisdom
The Essential Zohar: The Source of Kabbalistic Wisdom
Practising simple mindfulness techniques is great for helping you rise above a stressful situation though I haven’t got the discipline to sit down and meditate every single day. Besides that, just being near the ocean relaxes me.
I’ve just passed my Padi open-water scuba diving exam, which I’m thrilled about – that feeling of being underwater in an entirely different world is pretty indescribable.
