What does it mean to be healthy?
To be healthy is to be happy and nourished in mind, body and soul. Healthy is to be in balance.
Do you follow any specific way of eating?
I am generally carb-free, and I go in and out of trying to be paleo, trying a juice cleanse, being gluten-free, being sugar-free, being a vegetarian, haha – I switch between applying so many different theories to eating and the results that can be achieved. What I have realised through all of that is that each body is unique and reacts differently to specific eating habits.
“Each body is unique and reacts differently to specific eating habits… Only you know your body and how it reacts, and therefore, you know where to get the best results.”
Only you know your body and how it reacts, and therefore, you know where to get the best results. For me, maintaining a mostly carb-free diet works works wonders – the rest I can take or leave. At the end of the day, I love dairy, I love meat, and I love to snack. My biggest issue is that I don’t drink enough water. I have to force myself to be more conscious of it – I always find water a chore, but it just has so much goodness to offer.
Do you like to cook?
I don’t cook often as my mum and boyfriend are both amazing in the kitchen! But if I were to cook, it would be a baked dukka chicken dish with mashed sweet potato and coconut oil, and a guacamole salsa on the side. I also love to cook meatballs and I’ll go as far as a layered vegetarian lasagne… haha!
It’s a long flight to anywhere from Australia – how do you stay on track when you travel?
I try to sleep in the pattern of the country in which we will be landing. I take melatonin on the flight to help with sleep and I basically eat my way through the flights! I love plane food, and I love lounge food.
Where are your favourite foodie haunts in Sydney?
I love to eat at Bondi Iceberg Club, Bill’s and Da Orazio Pizza + Porchetta – plus The Shop Wine Bar in Bondi Beach. Then there’s Fratelli Fresh and The Apollo in Potts Point, and 10 William and Fred’s in Paddington.
- The Apollo
- Da Orazio Pizza + Porchetta
How do you ensure your son eats a healthy, balanced diet?
My mum is a fantastic cook and she pretty much ensures that both my son and I are well-fed with a balanced diet! I might have lived away from home for a long time, but she always cooks for both of us –from bolognese, to chicken, to veal with a plate of fresh veggies and fruit. As I’m on the run and my son is too – with after school classes and sport – we both have my mum to make sure we eat well and right.
What’s your favourite way to treat yourself without food?
Retail therapy, of course!!
Who and what are your greatest design influences?
It changes over time, but I love Louis Vuitton and Prada at the moment. I’m also having a real moment with Gucci menswear, purely as it’s so sport-inspired. I love a lot of different artists for colour and colour-blocking – Paul Kremer, Alex Hubbard, Clare Rojas and Ellsworth Kelly – very inspirational for colour palettes and prints.
“I love Louis Vuitton and Prada at the moment. I’m also having a real moment with Gucci menswear, purely as it’s so sport-inspired.”
What’s your exercise routine?
I have always been active. It changes seasonally as I do prefer to be outdoors. I love soft sand running and walking the dog. I love boxing outdoors and was really into circuit training. Recently I’ve switched to pilates to help with a shoulder injury.
When P.E NATION launched I did a lot more with a personal trainer, but now that I am juggling a lot of commitments professionally and personally, I’ve cut back on PT and squeeze in what I can in the mornings and weekends.
Do you power-up for exercise with specific foods?
I don’t mind a coffee or a boiled egg before I train in the morning. I find it really helps with energy levels. I can’t really train on an empty stomach – or a full one. It needs to be just right.
- Paul Kremer
- Clare Rojas
Favourite new exercise trends?
Pilates is everything to me as I injured my shoulder blade a while back from strenuous training. Having a super strong core and working on my posture has fixed so many of my shoulder and back ailments. I tend to be all-or-nothing with most things in life, so although I was doing pilates purely as rehabilitation, I now find the balance between pilates and cardio is perfect, and I get a good mix of core and sweat.
What exercise do you love most?
In summer I absolutely love to soft sand run… it’s hard to get back into it after hibernating in winter, but once you get over that hurdle, the benefits/results are just so obvious.
“Be interested, not interesting.”
Pip’s words of wisdom?
Don’t bother doing it if your heart is not in it.
Be interested, not interesting.
The grass is greener where you water it.
