Yolanda Hadid, mother of Gigi and Bella Hadid, brings a new meaning to the term ‘ageless’—and it’s all through diet, exercise, and a longstanding dedication to natural wellness.
On January 14, 2018, the mother-of-three celebrated her 55th birthday with a jaw-dropping lingerie-clad selfie, showing us exactly where her genetically-blessed supermodel daughters inherited it from.
Many famous over-50-year-olds are suspected to have undergone cosmetic surgery to stay youthful, but don’t assume that Hadid’s appearance is artificial in any way. In the caption of her selfie, she wrote: “Living in a body free of breast implants, fillers, Botox, extensions and all the bulls–t I thought I needed in order to keep up with society conditioned me to believe what a sexy woman should look like, until the toxicity of it all almost killed me.”
So, without further ado, here’s everything Hadid has said she does to maintain her trim physique, and stay looking as ageless as possible.
What Is Yolanda Hadid’s Diet?
For fans of Hadid, it comes as no surprise that she lives a wholesome, nourished life, and abides by a strict diet.
The ex-model and reality television star has lived with chronic Lyme disease for over six years, which has served as even more of an incentive to live cleanly and avoid any unhealthy foods.
In May 2017, Hadid told Nine Honey: “I’m no saint—I love pizza, sweets and wine as much as everyone else, but I have such sensitivities to these foods that it’s almost not worth the price to pay. However, I do indulge once in a while because I believe we should enjoy everything, as long as it’s in moderation.”
Sharing her daily meal plan with Harper’s BAZAAR US, Hadid said she starts her day with a huge glass of lemon-infused water, to detoxify and immediately cleanse her body. She tries to avoid snacking throughout the day, but loves to enjoy a goat’s milk latte as an afternoon pick-me-up.
For lunch and dinner, Hadid makes sure to incorporate plenty of protein and cooked vegetables—telling BAZAAR US that her favourite recipes are curried chicken with arugula and vegetable soup, and that she loves to incorporate carrots, kale and onions into all of her meals.
Like Mariah Carey, Hadid told BAZAAR US that she always makes dinner her smallest meal of the day. This form of dieting is supported by science, with plenty of research agreeing it can damage your metabolism to go to bed on a full stomach.
Hadid has also said that sticking to a completely organic diet has been one of the keys to her wellness, and eases the pain she experiences from Lyme disease.
She told Nine Honey: “I am definitely convinced that you are what you eat, and that food is thy medicine. I have learned that some foods severely affected my fatigue, joint pain and inflammation.
“I try to eat a lot of organic vegetables because pesticides that are sprayed on conventional produce can be toxic and affect the immune system. Veggies contain a lot of important antioxidants and fibres.”
Hadid has also broadcast her love for anti-inflammatory foods that help minimise inflammation in your bloodstream and around your body. She even completed a week-long anti-inflammatory diet in 2016, involving “over 35 different types of vegetables and 14 different types of beans, nuts and seeds”.
At the time, Hadid wrote on her blog: “I’ve learned [since being diagnosed with Lyme disease] that a lot of toxicity that is in our body comes from food and preservatives and the things we eat.
“You really are what you eat, especially for those of us who battle chronic disease. Keeping the inflammation down to a minimum is key and relieves a lot of symptoms.”
What Is Yolanda Hadid’s Exercise Routine?
Considering Hadid raised her children on a ranch in Santa Barbara, California, it’s no surprise the mother-of-three developed a passion for horse riding. Her daughters also share her love for the sport—with now-model Bella even aiming to compete at the 2016 Olympics, before she was forced to drop out due to her Lyme disease.
As expected, horse riding carries with it a multitude of health benefits, which include strengthening your posture, core and abdominal muscles, and shedding unwanted stomach fat.
A 2017 report from the British Horse Society (BHS) also showed that horse riding has been proven to boost serotonin levels in the brain, leading to longstanding improvements in mental health for riders. Considering Hadid has struggled with mental health since her Lyme disease diagnosis in 2012, this makes for the perfect workout.
For those who don’t have access to equine-related sports, you can try working on your abdominal muscles at the gym, as well as correcting your posture (and avoiding an arched back) any chance you get.
