CELEBRITY INTERVIEW
MY LIFE IN HEALTH
Davina McCall, 55, has been gracing our screens for three decades. Not only TV gold, she’s a much-loved fitness icon who’s passionate about exercise as well as championing menopause. The mum of three chats about her attitude to growing older – and wiser.
I don’t think you keep or lose confidence but I think you can keep and lose self-esteem. To me they are different things. I am a lot more confident now than I was in my 20s, 30s, and even 40s because I’m older and wiser – I love myself, warts and all! There is a big change that happens when you start loving yourself for all the good bits as well as also understand and accept that some of you needs working on. You always need to be prepared to work on the bits of yourself that you don’t like and to not give much attention to what anyone thinks about that.
As women, we are often critical of ourselves. But, and this is major, this morning I got up and I said to myself: “My body is looking bang tidy at the moment!” That’s because I’m exercising a bit more – four days a week rather than three – and I have also increased my strength training and it’s making me feel amazing!
It’s so important to include strength training when you work out, especially in midlife. Working out is great for your bones, heart, mental health and so much more. I am loving my yoga on Sundays, which is always the last exercise session of the week for me. Yoga is literally the best way to start a Sunday and it really helps me physically and mentally to unwind and focus on the coming week.
Women often tell me they have no coordination when it comes to following exercise routines. My advice is not to worry and just to concentrate on keeping your body moving. The only way you get results is with consistency. And be sure not to miss doing a cool down post exercise as this isn’t just for your body to relax, it’s for your mind too.
I’ve got to give a shout-out to the influencers who have spent their youth taking photos of their cellulite to showcase their imperfections. Hand on heart, women such as Chessie King have made me feel a lot better about myself and my body. Since seeing influencers such as her online being out and proud about their bodies, I started wearing more shorts and miniskirts than I ever did in my 30s and 40s, or perhaps that’s more about getting older and feeling more confident.
Have I got a bit more of a jelly belly now? Yes! I also have some crepey skin around the tops of my arms and my knees, but, overall, I like the way I feel, which comes from having body confidence. I feel strong and beautiful; being totally accepting of my imperfections is just part
