Rocky Barnes in Bathing Suit Shares "Instagram vs. Reality"

Model and influencer Rocky Barnes is pulling back the curtain on those “perfect” social media pictures. Barnes shared pictures of herself posing on the beach in a two-piece swimsuit—and then getting smashed by the waves. Spoiler alert, she looks amazing in all the pictures. “Instagram vs Reality 🫠 At least my suit looks cute,” she captioned the post. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Barnes stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

1. Healthy Diet

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Barnes enjoys a healthy yet delicious diet. “Over the years I have become more aware of what I eat and which foods make me feel my best,” she says. “Don’t get me wrong, I have my moments of weakness when there are french fries in front of me calling my name…but for the most part, clean eating is key to looking great. I try and steer clear of processed foods, and stick with lean meats and veggies. I eat tons of kale salad, grilled fish, quinoa dishes, and water! Also, I love avocado and put it on everything.”

2. No Snacking

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Barnes avoids snacking between meals and keeps dinner the lightest meal of the day. “I like to eat three meals a day, no snacking!” she says. “I am a big breakfast person! It’s my favorite meal of the day! Someone once told me at breakfast you eat like a king, lunch you eat like a queen, and dinner you eat like a pauper. It’s always stuck with me.” Experts back up Barnes’ food philosophy. “Ideally eat an early dinner and don’t snack at night – that way you’re not activating the insulin pathway again until you eat breakfast the next day,” says longevity researcher Professor Luigi Fontana.

3. She’s a Black Belt

Barnes likes to keep things interesting when it comes to her workouts. “I grew up practicing martial arts (I have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do), so I have always had a more muscular frame,” she says. “When I started modeling, my goal was to create longer and leaner muscles. I definitely don’t have a standard workout routine, I tend to switch up my exercises to keep things fresh. I have done everything from Pilates, spin, yoga and even an occasional boot camp…but my current rotation is a combination of yoga and long (usually about 2 hour) walks or hikes. I am currently obsessing over the hiking options at Torrey Pines.”

4. Watermelon Lover

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Barnes enjoys fresh fruit when it’s in season, especially watermelon. “I love watermelon in the summertime, & also, jicama and lots of hummus; I eat a ton of hummus,” she says. “I have a million different kinds I make at home in my VitaMix!”

5. No Sugar

Barnes avoids sugar as much as she possibly can. "Reducing your sugar intake can help improve your complexion by strengthening elastin and collagen and reducing the level of inflammation present in your skin," says Robert Glatter, MD. "When you reduce or eliminate sugar, storage of fat will decline slowly, and you will lose some weight. However, this takes time, with the effect typically beginning at one to two weeks."