Judy Finnigan on why she’ll never put her health over happiness
January was a long month for us all, but it seems that Judy Finnigan is still struggling with the winter slog. And while many of us are still on health kicks, Judy has admitted that her happiness will always come first – even if it means neglecting a healthy lifestyle.
Reflecting on January – a month where many shun alcohol – she said, ‘That hellish month when, without even the prospect of a rewarding glass of wine at the end of the day, we’re all chomping through the holy Mediterranean diet, going for runs and sweating at the gym. Or if we’re not, we’re feeling guilty and anxious during the gloomiest month of the year, cold, dark and wet, only fit for roaring fires, telly and comfort food.’
A new mantra
Judy continued, ‘It’s amazing how we’ve become hell-bent on making winter even more depressing than it is already by denying ourselves any indulgence at all.
‘New Year’s resolutions are as old as time, but our obsession with health and fitness rather than happiness, grows more demanding (and, I think, mentally damaging) every year.’ And revealing her new life mantra, Judy, 75, added that she refuses to worry, saying, ‘Life’s to be lived, not constantly fretted over.’
It’s no secret that Judy has battled with her weight over the years and it seems her mindset has somewhat changed compared to a few years ago, when daughter Chloe revealed that Judy had worked hard to lose weight by changing her diet. She said, ‘I have to say her diet is now amazing. Her palate has changed. She has got into sushi, raw fish and wholegrain salad. She has dropped the pounds naturally.’ However, personal trainer Chloe did add that Judy ‘wasn’t interested’ in exercise.
Rows with Richard
Something else that could be getting Judy down at the moment is the fact that she’s been clashing with her husband of 37 years, Richard Madeley. She recently admitted, ‘We’ve been married 37 years and marriage is hard, there is no doubt about it.’ She even admitted that things can get so bad, they often end up not talking. ‘We might sometimes be absolutely furious with each other and not speaking.’ Their arguments, no matter how petty, are well documented. When reacting to news that King Charles has ordered staff to turn the thermostats down in Buckingham Palace in a bid to go greener, the
