Why model Jessica Gomes is not a fan of extreme diets: ‘Carbs are good’
“CARBS are good.” It’s not something you expect to hear from a professional model but, when it comes to food, Jessica Gomes likes to “keep it real”.
The David Jones ambassador, who has graced the cover of Sports Illustrated numerous times, is not a fan of extreme diets and food phobias.
“Keep it real, eat natural foods that come from as close to the source as possible, and learn how to cook to make it fun,” she says.
“I drink full-cream milk, I love my lean meats and fish with a lot of green vegies … but then I love my brown rice, I love my pastas and, yes, I eat carbs.
“Carbs are good. As long as I am giving my body the nutrients that it needs, I am feeling really good.”
Gomes’ focus is on overall health, not just her physical appearance. This includes looking after her mental health too.
“Being healthy and fit is about the mental and having a good relationship with your body and having good conversations in your head,” she said.
“We can be really tough on ourselves, especially young girls who worry about their weight and how they look.
“There is a lot of pressure to become a perfect person. I am not perfect and people often look at you as if you must be perfect. Stop being so hard on yourself, you will find your own groove.”
EXERCISE SMART
IF you want to rock a bod like Jess, then she suggests that you train smarter and not harder.
So no need to pound the pavement or slog it out at the gym for hours.
“The most important thing when it comes to exercise is to mix things up and keep it fun and simple,” Gomes said.
“When I’m back in Australia I love coming down to Bondi and doing soft sand runs and getting in the ocean.
“I also love to dance so when I am in LA I do Tracey Anderson dance classes to mix things up.
“You don’t have to kill yourself to look good, but you do need to keep it fun and vibrant and this will also give your body good endorphins.”
SMOOTH START
GOMES is always travelling and on the run so it’s not always practical to sit down and eat breakfast.
She starts her day with a green smoothie that is both a healthy and easy on the run.
“I love to put half a frozen banana, some spinach, some kale, some coconut water, some blue berries and a green powder into a blender and mix in,” she said.
“Greens are really good for you as they are high in iron and include all the good stuff your body needs to feel good.”
SKIN FIT
“I think that having good skin is a reflection of health and obviously diet is important but staying hydrated is the key to having glowing looking skin,” she said.
“I’m really passionate about beauty and skin care, which is why I’ve created a skin care range called Equal Beauty. We will be launching this in mid March in DJ’s and online, and yes, guys can use it too.”
Originally published as ‘You don’t need to curb the carbs’
