Australian fitness star Kayla Itsines is an internationally recognised health role model, and one who stands at the very top of her game.
The Adelaide-based personal trainer – who has an Instagram following of more than eight million – has years of training under her belt, and is respected the world over.
Despite the fact she’s all over the latest trends in diet and exercise, Kayla, 26, isn’t a fan of following fads and instead revealed she prefers a more ‘sensible’ approach to fitness.
Health and fitness superstar Kayla Itsines is a social media sensation with more than eight million followers
Being at the top of her game doesn’t mean she believes all diet and exercise trends are created equal
Kayla believes embracing a sustainable approach to diet and exercise is key to maintaining results over the long term
The 26-year-old, who heads up a global exercise empire, recently shared some of her extensive knowledge on how she aligns diet and fitness with her active lifestyle.
Speaking to Sporteluxe, Kayla – who was named the top Forbes influence for 2017 and is the driving force behind Bikini Body Guide – revealed each day begins at 5am.
Though she heads out in the early hours with a group of like-minded friends for a round of boot camp, she doesn’t take on the challenge without a decent breakfast – or two.
The Adelaide-based fitness entrepreneur up a global exercise empire and is the driving force behind the Bikini Body Guide
The successful fitness mogul shared she is a firm believer in maintaining her energy levels through food, and revealed that before she heads out the door in the morning she will eat an egg on toast and drink some green tea.
When she returns, she has the ‘second half’ of her breakfast, one she’s happy to ‘change up 1000 different ways’.
Sharing her thoughts on Instagram, Kayla revealed one her most favourite breakfast combinations: blueberries, cream cheese and honey on rye bread.
One of Kayla’s favourite breakfast combinations: blueberries and cream cheese served on rye toast (stock image)
‘My Papou eats toast with olive oil, cheese, tomato with salt, olives and a Turkish coffee every morning,’ she wrote. ‘He’s 80-years-old and fitter than me.’
While the fitness star makes a point of starting her morning well, her commitment to eating healthily extends over the course of the day.
Kayla told Sporteluxe her snacks generally consist of fruit and yoghurt, and lunch is a combination of carbs and protein.
Kayla makes a point of starting her day eating well, and continuing this over the course of the day
‘If I get hungry later, I might have a little can of tuna. For dinner, again it’s just quality protein and a small portion of carbs.
‘If I’m craving sugar, I’ll have a cup of tea or something like that. I think a lot of people confuse hunger with boredom.’
With the warmer weather well and truly here, Kayla firmly believes in stocking the fridge full of fresh food – and saying goodbye to soup!
With warmer weather firmly on the horizon, the fitness star shared how happy she was to be stocking her fridge with fresh fruit and vegetables (stock image)
Kayla takes a more controversial stand on supplements, detoxes and on the subject of cutting out food groups – none of which she believes contributes to health
She revealed her standard shop always includes rye bread, mint, basil, chilli, tuna, as well as plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Kayla doesn’t advocate for detoxing, or cutting out certain food groups
Though the subject of supplements is often hotly debated among those in the health and fitness industry, Kayla doesn’t believe these are altogether necessary, especially as her diet tends to cover all her nutrition needs.
‘I believe I eat a very balanced diet and therefore don’t feel that my body NEEDS any more protein or supplements so the answer is no, I don’t regularly take protein or supplements,’ she wrote in response to this question on Instagram.
Kayla, who radiates good health, also said health and nutrition should be embraced in a holistic way and doesn’t advocate for detoxes, or cutting out foods.
She said she likes eating a range of foods, including carbs and fats, all with in moderation, and flatly states ‘there are no secrets’.
‘It’s just healthy eating and common sense,’ she concluded, ‘and people need to realise that. It’s not hard.’