Christie Brinkley, the iconic supermodel who rose to fame in the 1970s, continues to captivate the world with her timeless beauty and vibrant health. At 64, she turned heads and at 69, she still looks incredible. Now at 71, she’s still slaying since her Sports Illustrated days. Her journey offers inspiration and practical tips for anyone seeking to improve their well-being. Brinkley's approach to fitness and weight management is refreshingly relatable, focusing on sustainable lifestyle changes rather than quick fixes. She’s spilling the secret of her youthful spirit and appearance.
A Vegetarian Diet: A Lifelong Commitment
Brinkley has been a vegetarian since she was 13 years old. She told the magazine that a book about a slaughterhouse prompted her to switch to a vegetarian diet at 13. “I took one look and said, ‘But I love animals. I do not want to take part in this barbaric system,’” she said. “I gave my kids the gift of being vegetarians as well. It’s the way to go!”
She has been a vegetarian for decades and although she’s had different variations of her diet, she hasn’t eaten meat in years. “I became a vegetarian when I was about 13,” she has said. This long-standing commitment underscores the importance of aligning dietary choices with personal values. Limiting meat can help someone stay slim because meat, especially processed and fatty meats, can be high in calories and saturated fats,” Susan Schachter, MS, RDN, and co-founder of 120/Life, explains.
Research suggests that plant-based diets can significantly lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes, while also promoting leanness and saving money. For lunch, the 64-year-old fills her plate with emerald leafy greens, scarlet tomatoes, and golden bell peppers flecked with crunchy nuts and stripes of creamy avocado, she recently told Shape.com. Breakfast is comprised of earthy whole grains topped with fruit and walnuts. Eating plans that center around vegetables and whole grains reign supreme for health, according to a growing body of evidence. Research suggests these diets may be helpful for losing weight, staying lean, and keeping the mind sharp. Brinkley's plan contains many elements of the Mediterranean diet, a plan that is rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, and olive oil, and also incorporates fish and seafood. Dietitians and clinicians say the approach is a great way to fuel the body. Two types of healthy fat - monounsaturated and omega-3 fatty acids - are staples of the plan, as well as several antioxidants found in berries and dark chocolate. Previous studies have found a link between both of these ingredients and a reduced risk of dementia as well as higher cognitive performance. While sticking to an eating plan like the Mediterranean diet might sound costly or inconvenient, there are plenty of ways to start implementing it in your life relatively cheaply and easily. And it doesn't mean you can't occasionally indulge. To start, dietitians advise adding variety to your diet in the form of different kinds of fresh vegetables and whole grains. Where you can, add spinach, kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, or any other leafy green to your plate.
The Power of Low-Carb Strategies
When aiming to shed extra pounds, Brinkley advocates for cutting carbs. While the debate continues regarding the long-term benefits of low-carb diets, recent studies indicate that they can be effective for weight loss maintenance. However, Brinkley emphasizes the importance of balance, allowing for occasional treats.
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Research indicates that incorporating rewards, such as a favorite carbohydrate-rich indulgence, can be a successful weight loss strategy.
The "Rainbow Diet"
Christie’s “rainbow diet” is vegetarian, packed with colorful fruits, veggies, and whole grains. Picture this: breakfast is raw oats with berries and nuts, lunch is a kale-packed salad with beans, and dinner’s roasted veggies on quinoa. No meat, no refined sugar, minimal dairy-just vibrant, whole foods. “I have a real awareness of how food is fuel,” she told New You (Prevention, 2023). Experts like Amy Beney, RD, say her lemon water kickstarts digestion, while the fiber from veggies keeps you full (Eat This, 2023). Christie’s trick? Skip the sugar. “Avoid the sugar and do exercise-it’s not about the size of your thighs,” she posted on Instagram (Instagram, 2022).
Exercise: Finding Joy in Movement
Brinkley is a firm believer in incorporating exercise into daily life, emphasizing variety and enjoyment. She told Forbes. "The key is mixing things up, maintaining variety, integrating exercise into your daily routines and making exercise fun," She told Women’s Health (Women’s Health, 2023). At 71, she’s cycling on her Peloton, doing 20-minute spin classes, or using her Total Gym for arm and core work (People, 2024). Gardening’s her sneaky workout too-“It’s rigorous!” she laughed, noting how bending and lifting make her legs tremble (Women’s Health). Even brushing her teeth turns into calf raises! “It’s a waste of time not to,” she said (Women’s Health). Dr. John Carter from Cleveland Clinic (2025) says this kind of consistent, varied movement burns calories and boosts mood. Christie’s proof you don’t need a gym to get fit.
She enjoys spinning classes for their intense cardio benefits, which improve heart health and tone the legs, glutes, and core. Spinning is easy on the joints, making it a suitable aerobic exercise for individuals who find running too strenuous. As for those instructors? Well, a little motivation never hurt anyone.
Specific Exercise Habits
- Morning Movement: "Don’t stop moving because you’ll rust. You have to grease the joints and keep moving," she told The Cut. "As long as I do that I feel great.
- Weight Training: Brinkley is a big fan of the Total Gym (she's a spokesperson for it). "But I also might go to a spin class or work with weights," she added.
- Avoiding Prolonged Sitting: "Sitting still is enemy. Holding still is rust," she told Forbes.
- Cardio: Brinkley is a huge fan of running. "I would say running is my favorite way to sweat, but I’m not really supposed to do that anymore because of injuries," she told The Cut.
- Arm Movements: "When I was doing [the musical] Chicago I noticed that the second you do any activity and you add your arms as though you’re dancing, it revs you up," she told The Cut. "Whether it’s walking down the beach and moving your arms like you’re swimming, or picking up rocks and walking with them, you really start sweating and breathing heavily. The second you try to adjust those teeny changes, they make a huge difference."
- Multitasking: "While I’m brushing my teeth, I’m doing leg lifts. When I’m drying my hair, I do all kinds of squats," she told The Cut.
- Spinning: The new judge on Lifetime’s beauty competition American Beauty Star shared with the magazine that she actually adores those tough-as-nails spinning instructors. “I love spin instructors. Yeah, sometimes you need a little drill sergeant to inspire you and keep you going.”
Morning Rituals
Brinkley starts her day with a "big cup" of hot water with lemon. "Sometimes I’ll put in a little cayenne just to rev up the engine," she said. Many celebs turn to hot lemon water in the morning because it helps with digestion, but there are other health benefits as well.
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- Hydration: “Drinking warm water with lemon can help promote hydration, which is essential for various bodily functions.
- Vitamin C: “Lemons are rich in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that supports the immune system. Adequate vitamin C intake is essential for a healthy immune response and can help protect against certain illnesses.
- Detoxification: “Lemons have natural detoxifying properties.
- Skin Health: “The vitamin C content in lemons, along with their antioxidant properties, may support healthy skin.
- Weight Management: “Drinking warm water with lemon is often associated with weight management. Some people find that it helps promote feelings of fullness, potentially reducing overall calorie intake.
Another thing the mother of three will do in the morning is add cayenne pepper to her hot lemon water. “Cayenne pepper contains a compound called capsaicin, which can make you feel fuller sooner, [and] which could curb the tendency to overeat,” Laurie Thenedy, RD, CEO and owner of Nutrition Renewed tells us. “If you are not overeating, then you can start seeing more results from your workouts.” But there are other reasons to consider including the spice in your diet. “Capsaicin in cayenne pepper has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties,” Casey Atwood MS, RDN, LD, of Innovate Nutrition & Wellness says. In addition, it can help enhance your immunity. “Cayenne pepper contains vitamins A and C, which are important for a healthy immune system,” Atwood states. Finally, cayenne can boost your metabolism. “Cayenne pepper contains a compound called capsaicin, which has been shown to increase metabolism and thermogenesis (the production of heat in the body),” Mary Sabat MS, RDN, LD, nutritionist and ACE Certified Trainer, tells us.
Brinkley doesn't shy away from caffeine. "I’ll drink like, five cups of coffee," she told The Cut. "When I finish that, I try to get exercise in."
The Mind-Body Connection
For Christie, it was 2020, stuck at home like the rest of us, baking banana bread and feeling the pounds creep on. “I couldn’t do downward dogs, planks, push-ups,” she shared, blaming injuries like a broken arm from Dancing With the Stars and a painful hip (Today, 2021). At 135-140 pounds, her usual 120-pound frame felt heavy, and her confidence took a hit. “I started to feel limited, restricted-dare I say, old!” she wrote on Instagram (Today). But Christie’s not one to wallow. After hip replacement surgery in November 2020, she declared, “I am overjoyed to move my body again!” (Today). That was her spark. By 2025, she was back to 120 pounds, rocking a toned glow that screams vitality (Oregon State Blogs).
“When you’re 70, it’s not just about looking good-it’s about feeling light in your own skin,” she said, sipping lemon water with a grin (Oregon State Blogs, 2025). Her 15-pound loss wasn’t just physical; it was mental. “I’m not chasing youth. I’m chasing vitality,” she declared (Oregon State Blogs). Christie’s no stranger to body image struggles-she once starved herself in the ‘70s for runway gigs, a habit she now calls “self-imposed starvation” (RadarOnline, 2025). But at 71, she’s done with that noise. “I’m finally happy with the person looking back at me,” she wrote in a poem for her 70th birthday (People, 2024). Journaling and gratitude keep her grounded. “People ask how much weight I lost, but I want to ask-how much joy have I gained?” she said (Oregon State Blogs).
Food as Medicine
Brinkley told Forbes that she's huge on nutrition and knowing what's in her food. "Dinner is more of the same except maybe I’ll put my vegetables on a bean pasta, rice, grain, or quinoa."
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Brinkley includes a lot of greens and vegetables in her everyday lifestyle, which helps her stay healthy and fit. “For lunch, I go into greens and do a salad, then add a protein like a bean or nuts,” she told The Cut.
“Vegetables provide great health benefits because of the different vitamins, minerals, and fiber they provide. Getting the essential nutrients needed is vital for your overall well-being and one way to do that is eating different colors of food.
“Eating food from all five food groups: fruits, vegetables, dairy, protein, and grains make up a balanced plate full of color,” Halee Cusack, MS, RDN, says. “When you eat a variety of foods with all different colors, you are consuming a wide range of essential vitamins and minerals.
Brinkley mixes up what she eats and will have eggs, which are a great source of protein and healthy fat. “Eggs are also generally low in calories and can help keep you feeling full for long periods of time,” Jesse Feder, RDN, CPT, at My Crohns and Colitis Team, says. Eggs are also loaded with essential vitamins. “Eggs are nature’s multivitamin,” Andrea Mawson, BSc, RD, explains. “They’re rich in vitamins such as vitamin B2, B12, D, and minerals such as selenium and iodine, which are all crucial for various body functions. The yolks contain choline, which is an important nutrient for brain health. Furthermore, eggs contain antioxidants that support eye health!
Avoiding Fad Diets
Like many others, Brinkley tried all the latest weight loss crazes but learned that wasn’t the effective and healthy way to go. “I tried some pretty weird diets in the beginning … everything from juice fasting to eating one kind of food at a time, to eating a grapefruit first before everything,” she explained to New York Magazine.
“Fad diets are designed to be quick and easy ways to lose weight… but in reality, they are not sustainable and they do not have health top of mind,” Whitman says.
Small Changes, Big Impact
Brinkley's always working hard to squeeze in activity. "While I’m brushing my teeth, I’m doing leg lifts. When I’m drying my hair, I do all kinds of squats," she told The Cut.
Even supermodels have trouble squeezing in a workout sometimes. "Some days, the only thing I can get in is a seven-minute run on the Total Gym," Brinkley told The Cut. Every little bit counts.
Staying Hydrated
Brinkley told Forbes that she feels "so much better" when she drinks lots of water.
Smiling
Brinkley told W magazine that she's big on smiling. "My mom always told me to smile because it brightens up your whole face," she said. Easiest anti-aging trick ever.
A Glass of Red Wine
"I like a glass of red wine with dinner because it doesn't interfere with my sleep," she told Harper's Bazaar.