Camila Mendes Workout and Diet

Actress
Born: 1994

Born in Virginia, Camila Mendes’ Brazilian parents divorced when she was young and moved around a lot, including spending a year in Brazil, before eventually settling in Florida. She attended the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU and graduated in 2016. Mendes hit the ground running with the role of Veronica in Riverdale. She has also appeared in films such as The Stand In and Coyote Lake. Mendes has millions of followers on social media. She is 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs about 110 lbs.

Known For:

Acting

Camila Mendes’ Diet

Summary

Mendes has admitted to having an eating disorder. It was during a session with her naturopath that she realized she was wasting tons of energy obsessing over food rather than channeling that energy into more positive directions, such as her education and career goals. After that breakthrough, she freed her mind and now follows a moderate, balanced diet that allows plenty of room for enjoyment and minimizes stress. She says she is much healthier eating the occasional piece of cake than she ever was when she obsessed over being as thin as possible.

Estimated Macros

Medium Carb 35% 35%

Medium Fat 35% 35%

Medium Protein 45% 45%

Diet Details

Done With Diets

After her battle with bulimia, Mendes says she’s through with diets, and has committed to eating a balanced one. Other celebrities who have struggled with eating disorders include Demi Lovato and Jennifer Lawrence.

Healthy Choices

Mendes says she is doing great sticking to her resolution to eat wholesome, nutrient-rich foods. Research shows diets don’t usually last, so her approach is a smart one.

Sweet Treat

As part of her healthy eating plan, Mendes doesn’t deny herself the occasional indulgence, such as chocolate cake. She knows that following a diet that is too strict often backfires, so it’s smart to cut loose once in a while.

What to Eat

Everything in Moderation

Eggs

Lean Protein

Fresh Vegetables

Salads

Whole Grains

Nuts

Fresh Fruit

Kombucha

Water

Coffee

What to Avoid

Fad Diets

Obsessing About Food

Empty-calorie Foods

Junk Food

Processed Foods

Fast Food

Artificial Additives

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Mendes on Health

‘My happiness always starts with my health.’

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Mendes on Her Eating Disorder

‘I was really obsessed with dieting.’

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Mendes on Treats

‘It’s fine to eat dessert when I want to eat dessert because that will give me the peace of mind I need. I’ll know that if I ate chocolate cake, maybe I won’t the next day.’

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Mendes on Making Choices

‘I’ve learned to trust myself that I’m going to make healthy choices because I care about my health.’

Camila Mendes’ Workout Routine

Weekly Routine

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Always Active

Mendes says exercise has always been a part of her lifestyle. Whether at a gym or outdoors, movement has always been a natural part of her day.

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Yoga Addict

Mendes says she was positively addicted to yoga when she was in high school. She joined a hot yoga center at age 15.

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Mix It Up

Mendes does a mix of cardio and weight training, and will also do yoga (natch) or go for a hike when she has time for unstructured exercise.

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Heal the Body & the Mind Will Follow

Mendes says that when she’s struggling with a problem, she looks for a physical way to tackle it, such as building up her strength, and that this often leads to mental strength.

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Cardio Queen

Mendes considers cardio to be at the top of her list of exercise priorities, but she mixes it up. She’ll do the treadmill, bike, rower, Stairmaster or take her exercise outside. Her cardio routine usually lasts about 45 minutes, including a 5-10 min warm-up and cool-down.

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Circuit Master

Mendes does a full-body circuit using bodyweight, including things like burpees, mountain climbers and push-ups.

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Lift for the Win

To be in shape to battle her arch-rival Archie, Mendes also lifts weights, using both machines and free weights.

Exercise Style

A Camila Mendes Routine

Cardio
Warm up: 5-10 min
Work out: 25-30 min Stairmaster, treadmill, rowing machine, bike, whatever suits your mood.
Cool down: 5-10 min

Full Body Circuit
Do 3 rounds of each of the following exercises for 30 sec on followed by 30 sec rest.
Burpees
Squats
Squat jump
Mountain climbers
Push-ups
Jumping jacks
Leg raises
Crunches

Abs Circuit
Do 15-20 reps x 3 sets with 30 sec rest between sets
Crunches
Incline crunches
Russian twists
Leg raises
Cross crunches
Plank (30 sec hold)
Plank jacks
Side planks
Plank leg lifts

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Mendes on Working with a Trainer

‘Invest in a trainer. You see the progress so quickly, and you push yourself in new ways.’

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Mendes on Fitness

‘A healthy body…will look different for every person.’

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Mendes on Overcoming Her Body Issues

‘I’m done believing in the idea that there’s a thinner, happier version of me on the other side of all the tireless effort.’

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Mendes on the Mind-body Connection

‘Sometimes curing the mind is really just about curing the body and finding your physical strength.’

Camila Mendes’ Supplements

Lavender

Mendes uses lavender essential oil to help her combat stress. She applies it to her temples, wrists and neck.

Get it here

Probiotics

Mendes is into kombucha, a fermented tea drink that is full of antioxidants and healthful bacteria.

Get it here

Camila Mendes’ Lifestyle

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Soak Your Stress Away

Mendes says she always loved baths, and the lockdown has given her the chance to engage in one of her favorite stress-busting activities: taking a bubble bath.

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Alternate Stress-Buster

Mendes finds caring for her adopted dog instantly provides stress relief because it takes the focus off herself. She got the Maltipoo from the Labelle Foundation, an animal rescue in LA.

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Timing Matters

Mendes landed the role in Riverdale right before graduating from college. The audition process was grueling however, making for a rough final semester.

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Music Therapy

Mendes danced for 8 years, and enjoys the physical connection to music. She loves to sing and says nothing is better than getting completely caught up in every word.

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Dyeing for the Part

Mendes has to dye her hair darker to play the role of Veronica on Riverdale. Fellow co-star KJ Apa’s red head requires a lot of upkeep also, with touch-ups every week or two.

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Hair Theory

Mendes says her hair is part of her personal style. Because she gets it done in so many different ways for work, she has a go-to look for her downtime to remind herself who she is.

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Serious Skin Care

Mendes says wearing heavy makeup has done a number on her face. She starts each day by giving herself a face massage with a chilled rose quartz roller.

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Fan Girl

Mendes says she looks up to Nicole Kidman, whom she considers to be elegant, talented and committed to the characters she plays.

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Pretty Polyglot

Mendes speaks fluent Portuguese, the official language of Brazil. She has a lot of extended family there, and says she misses them very much.

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Mendes on Stress Relief

‘I’m…taking care of my adopted dog, Truffle, who makes me feel less stressed immediately. And I’ve made a bubble bath playlist that’s filled with songs by Kelsey Lu and Frank Ocean.’

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Mendes on Skin Care

‘Working long hours and wearing a lot of makeup on set has not done my skin well.’

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Mendes on Her Childhood

I spent a lot of my childhood moving around, so I was constantly adjusting to different environments and finding a new identity.’

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Mendes on Brazil

‘When I was living there, that was nice. Brazilians value family so much.’

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Mendes on Hair

‘I always consider what the hairstyle is going to be because it changes the way people perceive me.’

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Mendes on the Portrayal of Latin People on TV

‘It’s rare that you see Latin families being portrayed as intelligent, sophisticated and powerful entities.’