Victoria's Secret models have to stay in tip-top shape for work.
Strict dieting and rigorous exercise prepare them to brave the runway, and the world, in
their underwear and heels.
The diets alone may be enough to scare you away from attempting to join their ranks,
but if you're wondering what the lovely ladies of Victoria's Secret eat to stay so thin and
trim, here's a glimpse into some of their eating habits.
Three square meals
Not only are Victoria's Secret models generally very thin, but many of them are also ripped.
Naturally, they need a lot of fuel to get in that kind of shape.
Personal trainer Stephen Pasterino, who prepared two Victoria's Secret Angels for the 2017
runway show, told Popsugar,
"I'm not a fan of snacking.
I like to focus on three main meals and occasional dessert spread out throughout the week."
That's right, his clients may not get to snack much but they do get to eat an occasional
dessert.
Pasterino's recommendation includes a light breakfast and a, quote, "normal" portion of
both lunch and dinner.
He explained,
"This improves the immune system and heals the digestive tract.
Time between meals can be anywhere from three to six hours."
No crazy diets
Not all Victoria's Secret models cut out snacking.
Model Stella Maxwell told Byrdie,
"I like nuts and those dried peas.
They're really addictive."
Okay, so her idea of snacking is a little different than the average American.
Maxwell also advocates for portion control instead of making any strict cuts to her diet,
saying,
"I kind of eat in moderation.
I don't think it's good to cut anything out 100 percent or go on some crazy diet."
For breakfast, she routinely enjoys having scrambled eggs with avocado or oatmeal, which
she claims to love.
Yogurt with granola is another one of Maxwell's go-to morning meals.
Moving on to lunch, she sticks with proteins, like salmon or chicken, alongside a salad.
Burgers and fries?
Victoria's Secret model Devon Windsor described her ideal day's worth of food to Elle magazine,
and it may not be what you expect from someone so fit.
She likes eggs Benedict, but instead of the traditional Canadian ham she opts for bacon.
Her lunch is a sensible salad with protein, and for dinner, she and her friends will…
"...barbecue and have burgers and hotdogs and French fries, and then a coffee."
Oh, and depending on the weather, she'll snack on a smoothie or some ice cream.
Now that's a diet plan.
Of course, Windsor balances out her food choices with a combination of cardio and bodyweight
exercises, like kickboxing.
Needless to say, it's working.
The 80/20 rule
Model Josephine Skriver told Byrdie her travel schedule is so hectic that she treats food
simply as energy fuel.
She follows the 80/20 rule, meaning, 80 percent of the time she eats healthy and works out,
and 20 percent of the time she allows herself to be more flexible with food choices.
Skriver also explained that she's not a fan of dieting and "quick fixes."
She added,
"There's no such thing as doing 30 ab exercises and then you get a six-pack."
An avocado a day
Victoria's Secret model Georgia Fowler follows her own version of an 80 percent rule.
She told Women's Health Australia,
"I try to keep it 80 percent fruit and veg, 10 percent fat, 10 percent protein.
[...] I say an avo a day."
If you're an avocado-lover, that part is easy.
Additionally, Fowler cuts out all unnecessary carbs, limits dairy products, and doesn't
consume processed food, those parts aren't quite as easy.
Timing is everything
Part of Victoria's Secret model Bridget Malcolm's routine involves fasting.
She wrote on her blog,
"I leave a large window between dinner and breakfast.
Again, I am an accidental intermittent faster.
I find it helps me sleep better if I am not too full, but still a little full.
Goldilocks level of full."
Intermittent fasting has been credited with promising results, according to a study published
in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
One researcher explained that if a person doesn't eat for 10 to 16 hours, the body will
look for energy in its fat stores.
Victoria's athletes
Nutritionist Dr. Charles Passler told Elle that most of the models he works with are
down to only 20 percent body fat, and that each model he works with has a highly customized
eating plan.
The American College of Sports Medicine suggests that women who are between 12 and 22 percent
body fat, like the Victoria's Secret models, fall within the range typically seen in athletes.
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