CELEBRITY INTERVIEW
MY LIFE IN HEALTH
Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas, 62, opens up about dropping two dress sizes, the anxiety she often feels, and why 2023 is looking set to be super busy!
In the past year I’ve dropped two dress sizes. I went to a Juice Master retreat in the summer where I was walking, Spinning, doing yoga and having spa treatments, which kick-started a belief that I could get back into shape.
During lockdown with my boyfriend Danny [actor Danny Taylor, 46], I gained 20-odd pounds. I enjoyed that time. We ate butties, cake, sweeties, had three meals a day and cocoa at night. Now I do intermittent fasting and no longer eat sugar, cakes and cookies. At my age, I don’t think my body needs that much fuel. I have enormous willpower. If you set me a task with my work or my figure, I stick to that mission.
My physique could be better. In my mind, it could always be more toned and I always keep working at it. I never look at my body and think, “That’s great”. When I’m with Danny, he makes me feel like everything is acceptable. If I gain a few pounds, it’s fine. If I lose weight, it’s fine. If I’ve got a dimple, he won’t see it. If I’ve got stretch marks, he doesn’t see them. I feel my prettiest around him.
Self-care is in process for me! There’s something about down time and days off that I struggle with. It’s like I have a big red button on my shoulder. It doesn’t matter how tired I am, if I give it a prod, it gives me a burst of energy and I just get on with it because it’s the job.
Pre-Christmas, I’m running up to the International Bsallroom Dancing Championships l, so my days start at 5am and I’m not in bed until 11pm. I don’t even have time to hang up any clothes! That’s why it’s great that my mother [Audrey Rich, 85] lives with me because she takes care of the washing, ironing, cooking and cleaning, so I just go to work. I’m like the husband and she’s the wife! My mother is a whirlwind of energ y. She has cancer but is getting on with life. She’s got a bigger red button than me. You’ll never hear one complaint.
I spoke out about the menopause to help others. I started going through the menopause at 47, and I became depressed and anxious. My skin and nails dried out, I began gaining weight and I lost my confidence. I started on bioidentical hormones [an alternative to HRT].
At the end of 2020, Strictly viewers spotted a lump in my arm and tests revealed I had elevated testosterone levels and depleted oestrogen. After being treated under the NHS in the UK and using an oestrogen gel, I had an appointment in America with the doctor who took care of me when I lived there. Dr Christopher Asandra put me back on bioidentical hormones to raise my energy levels and libido, and stop me feeling sorry for myself.
